Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Judy Weaver. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Judy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I met a man in early 2007 that had just been diagnosed with ALS, which you may know as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He wanted to learn yoga to keep his healthy mind connected to his physical body. He fought this terrible disease with humor and discipline, showing up on the mat day after day without concern for the outcome.

He learned yoga quickly – how to breathe, modify life, focus and meditate while ALS destroyed his physical body. Learning and practicing yoga was this man’s last journey, and while he was neither pretzel man nor handstand man – he was a yogi. He never got his leg behind his head, but you should have seen his smile when he was able to use his mind to move a finger on his weak side. He lived in the moment, truly present without fear of the outcome and with complete acceptance. He lived his life with humility, grace and courage and he was the bravest person I have ever known.

By the way, this young man was an Army Ranger who served five (5) tours in the Middle East. He was a son, brother, uncle and friend to many and he was only 33 years old when ALS took his life. His name was Beau MacVane and I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of his journey and was reminded again and again of the purpose of yoga – acceptance and peace.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

South Florida yoga therapist and teacher turned mental-health and self-awareness champion Judy Weaver has provided services to veterans through her non-profit organization Connected Warriors for over ten years. Founded in 2010 to provide services for veterans who suffer from the invisible wounds of military service, Connected Warriors has succeeded in changing the dialogue within the department of defense by bringing yoga practices to the active-duty military as well as veterans and their families. As of 2021, Connected Warriors has expanded to nine countries and accommodated over one hundred and seventy thousand visits, all while positively impacting countless amounts of lives.

Born in South Korea and upon being adopted, Weaver’s passion for health began at the spry age of three, “My parents enrolled my sister and I into ballet. It saved my life. Since then, I have always had an affinity for movement,” she says. In her later years, Weaver would become a yoga teacher in San Francisco, refining her skill by actively teaching and training within her community.

However, in 2007, when Weaver met Army Ranger Beau MacVane, she felt compelled to offer her talents to the military in a more profound way. Having contracted Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), MacVane began yoga training with Weaver so he could stay “as strong and connected to his body as humanly possible as he fought his terminal illness.” During their collaboration, what arose within Weaver was a mental focus that would change them both. When it comes to mental health and self-care, “veterans are often and sadly not at the top of the list,” Weaver admits. Realizing this need for an expansion in programming for veterans and active duty, Connected Warriors recently opened its first mental health center in Boca Raton, “It’s the first time there will be a mindfulness and behavioral health center in South Palm Beach. Everything we do is free for the veterans and family members, and that’s a big piece because family is incredibly important in recovering from any trauma,” Weaver says.

1 in 3 veterans suffers from a mental health diagnosis, and in 2020 the veteran suicide rate reached its highest level in 30 years. The issues faced by servicemembers and veterans deeply affect their children, spouses/partners, siblings, parents, and the entire extended community. Connected Warriors is motivated by the stark reality that suicide among past and present members of the military has now surpassed combat as a cause of death. It is the most lethal threat facing the U.S. military, our veterans, and their families. Social isolation is recognized as a primary contributing factor to suicide. As such, through work with trauma-conscious yoga instruction, Connected Warriors is directly battling our current suicide epidemic.

Trauma-Conscious Yoga is based on the understanding that trauma is held in the cells of the body and mind – it is physiological rather than psychological. Reconnecting the body and mind with the synchronization of conscious breath, movement and concentration in a safe, secure and predictable environment supports healing and wellness. This protocol has been used in 3 university clinical studies and is currently being used by Connected Warriors and other health care practitioners.

Connected Warriors incorporates evidence-based practices. In a landmark study published July 25th 2017 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Dr. Erik J. Groessl and researchers from the VA San Diego Healthcare System found that veterans reported improved behavioral-based pain management, demonstrating a significant decline in opiate use (Veterans Affairs Research Communications). Additionally, a Connected Warriors-partnered scientific study from 2015 operated in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs found that 62% of participants reported a positive reduction in pain, 70% an increased level of flexibility and balance, and 100% reported an increased level of social interaction and stress management behaviors. Of the over 170,000 visits Connected Warriors has zero reported suicides in over 11 years – reported suicides is the benchmark efficacy for all mental health programs.

Ultimately, Connected Warriors has made great strides in offering a different approach to mental health while also destigmatizing the need for treatment among military personnel, “Yoga is a connection to your own self-awareness. Once you are aware, you can evaluate and make changes in a positive way. To me, self-care is becoming aware,” Weaver states, “and the practice of yoga and mindfulness allows you to learn how to be present amidst chaos and peace.”

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

The most important aspect is the amount of hours I have spent with clients, one-on-one. The journey to mastery of any craft that integrates art and science starts with 10,000 hours hands-on. The other critical skill is the ability energetically connect with my clients, physically, mentally and emotionally – they have to feel safe and secure so they can explore their edges.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, Connected Warriors had reached the end of the fundraising road with our limited programming and we needed to expand our mindfulness program to include traditional behavioral health treatment. CW has opened a wellness center that includes mental health therapy with licensed clinicians, trauma-conscious yoga, case management and other veteran resources in a community setting. This transition became a bigger risk with the pandemic starting while we were beginning the transition. We were able to pivot and opened our center November, 2021. It took dedication and an unwavering belief in the mission to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Contact Info:

• Website: connectedwarriors.org, bmrecal.com
• Instagram: judyconnectedwarriors
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judy.weaver.3705
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/judy-weaver-87ba4654
• Twitter: Twitter – @judyconnected
• Youtube: [email protected], [email protected]

Image Credits
Robert Sturman, NBC Sunday Today Show, USAF Photography