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Beneath the Surface

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Hi!

I am so glad you found this page. I am thrilled to be able to support Beneath the Surface Foundation, an organization that combines all things I'm passionate about- yoga, surfing, & helping veterans.

I am hosting an all-day event at HOME power yoga on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), in which all classes will be "donation based", & all of the proceeds will go to Beneath the Surface. I will be teaching the 5:45AM, 9:30AM, and 7:30PM classes. I would love for you to join us, and if you can't, you can be part of the cause by donating to this gofundme page.

Below is a little bit about the organization. Thank you in advance for all of your support, it means so much.

Love, 
Matt



Beneath the Surface Foundation supports veterans on their healing journey through YOGA & SURF. Their collective mission is to provide these genuine, proven, and authentic healing modalities to our brothers and sisters in arms.

At present there are more than 20 million veterans in the United States. Of those, approximately 15% suffer significant mental, emotional, and spiritual trauma with nearly 10% more living as victims and casualties of physical traumas. An ongoing, and growing, suicide epidemic plagues veterans, while drugs, alcohol, and destructive behaviors are an overwhelming commonality amongst the surviving.

It’s not just the individuals suffering; families have been torn apart, lives ruined, and the emotional & physical burden of combat related trauma is often carried by spouses, children, family, and friends. While treatments, awareness, and support for veterans and healing programs has increased exponentially in recent conflicts, there is still a magnitude of work to be done.

War changes everyone. There is no way to be exposed to the horrors and traumas of combat and escape unscathed. There is no way to describe the experience to someone who hasn’t been. Healing needs to come from within our ranks as veterans. We must want to heal, and we must want to help heal our brothers and sisters in arms.



The journey of healing is deeply personal and frequently misguided. Masked relief from prescription medications, alcohol, and illegal drugs lessens the hurt, and drives us further away from our true selves and purposeful path of healing. Rather than face our demons in a guided and productive way, we learn to run from them, stuff them deeper, and cling to our bandaids. What works for one person may not for another.

Despite our commonality as veterans and service members, all of us are unique, with individual lives and experiences. It is in this quality that the true, inner work of healing must be sought out and embraced. When healing comes from within ourselves through hard work, deep reflection, purposeful living, community, support, and service, the effects are systemic and rich. Light can return, purpose can be found, and hope restored. The decision to embark on a journey of healing can be profoundly rewarding.

THIS is WHY Beneath the Surface Foundation was created. It is the embodiment of a powerful healing journey; a lighthouse for those struggling to navigate the rocky waters. BtS was founded on the overwhelming need, and desire, to provide combat veterans with the lifelong, whole-person, resiliency practices of yoga and ocean therapies.
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Donations 

  • Ron Borys
    • $100
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Matt Werner
Organizer
Cranford, NJ
Amanda Tomac
Beneficiary

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