An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Rising Above Sexual Assault: Yoga at dawn

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kaitlin Daddona
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  The rising of the sun represented a lot more than an early start to the day for Airmen and their families who got their toes in the sand during the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month morning yoga session at Hickam Beach April 24.  

The sunrise class led by Missy Cornish, a local yoga instructor, was just one of the many events held by the Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Response office to honor the month dedicated to the support of sexual assault victims and their loved ones.

"When you talk about sexual assault awareness, that's resiliency, and that's exactly what you do when you come out and do yoga," Cornish said. "You let everything go, and you think about how you can be a better person and live a better life."

Throughout the class, students were reminded to clear their minds, relax their bodies, and take time for themselves.

"We came up with the sunrise [yoga] to let those who have loved ones who are survivors and survivors themselves know that they can rise above what they have experienced," said Machelle Terrell, 15th Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. "We look for opportunities to engage the community and this was one of them."

Airmen relaxed, stretched and breathed to the sound of the ocean, but were also exposed to the difficulty of the practice, as well as the strength and concentration needed to get through a class.

"With yoga, you get better as time goes on, and I think that's a good message also for survivors," Terrell said.  "It may seem difficult at the start, but as time goes on, it will get better."

The SAPR office will close out the SAAPM activities with a Beach Bash April 30.
For more information, contact the 15th WG SAPR office at 808-448-3192.