Veteran Education Classes

Our goal is to make sure that Veterans who have deployment-related health concerns receive the most up-to-date information and education about these concerns.

Military Environmental Exposure Telehealth Classes

These live, virtual classes are held throughout the year by WRIISC clinicians who discuss military environmental exposures such as Gulf War exposures, Agent Orange, and Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits.

Upcoming class topics include:

• Gulf War Exposures & Health Concerns
  Next Class: May 15, 2025
  This class provides an overview of the history and potential exposures during service in the Gulf, and discusses potential health effects. Register here.
• Agent Orange: What you need to know
  Next Class: September 25, 2025
  This class provides an overview of the history and potential exposures during the Vietnam era. It focuses on Agent Orange, including what it is, where and when it was used, and potential health effects.

To register to attend these free classes, call the NJ WRIISC at 1-800-248-8005.

Integrative Health Classes

WRIISC offers free meditation and yoga classes to Veterans to help optimize wellness.

Phone-in iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation Classes:

These guided phone-based meditations are open to all Veterans every Tuesday and Thursday — no registration is required. This meditation class blends several styles of meditation, including breathing exercises, visualization practice, body awareness, and relaxation techniques. During class, Veterans can expect to:

• Discover a heartfelt mission and purpose and establish a goal for the meditation
• Establish and connect with an inner safe haven
• Explore the connection between body sensations, emotions, thoughts and beliefs with an awareness of how thoughts and emotions affect the body and mind
• Experience the inner joy that is always present and develop a deeper awareness
• Connect with an inner strength and resiliency in order to more appropriately respond rather than react to situations in life
• Veterans may also benefit from the restful sleep-like state achieved during the meditation

This class is appropriate for all levels. You can access the class flyer here.

If you have further questions regarding the phone-in Yoga Nidra Meditation Classes, contact DC WRIISC Yoga Staff at 202-550-4248 or CA WRIISC Yoga Staff at 650-815-9463.

Mindfulness Mediation Classes:

This class provides an opportunity to learn about and practice mindfulness meditation techniques. During each class, a topic related to mindfulness is introduced, followed by a guided meditation practice. Typically, these classes are held every first Friday of the month from 11am — 12pm ET via telephone.

You can access the class schedule on the class flyer.

Online Yoga Classes:

All VA-enrolled Veterans with an Inter-Facility Consult (WRIISC YOGA WELLNESS) are eligible to attend virtual yoga classes currently offered through VA Video Connect. These classes are appropriate for all levels and include breathing exercises and mindful movements to strengthen, stretch, and relax. Yoga can provide relief of symptoms from chronic pain, fatigue, stress and anxiety, enhance balance, and improve general health and sense of well-beng. Yoga can help improve flexibility, but you do not have to be flexible to begin taking these yoga classes.

Your VA clinician will need to enter a "IFC WRIISC Yoga Wellness" consult request in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and indicate "for yoga" in the comments. Veterans will receive instructions for how to join the classes once they are referred.

Current Class Schedule:

• Monday 3 PM PT/6 PM ET Chair Yoga
• Tuesday 3:15 PM PT/6:15 PM ET Yoga Qi Gong Meditation
• Tuesday 5 PM PT/8 PM ET Yoga for Women Veterans
• Wednesday 11 AM PT/2 PM ET Mat Yoga
• Wednesday 6 PM PT/9 PM ET Yoga for Pain and Chronic Pain
• Thursday 10 AM PT/1 PM ET Trauma Sensitive Chair Yoga
• Friday 10 AM PT/1 PM ET Chair Yoga

You can access the class flyer here. For more information please contact Jennifer.nelson-criss@va.gov.