Vadim Panasyuk

I immigrated to the United States in August of 1997 from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine when I was 13 years old. Upon graduating from high school I joined the United States Army and served as an infantryman for 5 years with the 3^rd Infantry Division. I deployed to Iraq twice spending 27 months there altogether. I completed my service at the rank of Sergeant, holding the position of a sniper team leader within the battalion task force sniper section. As a sniper team leader, I planned and executed over 70 independent sniper operations ranging from 24 hours to 4 days in length and was involved in active combat on numerous occasions. I started to practice Yoga to keep my mind and body sharp and also to deal with the lingering effects of PTSD. Yoga has become an integral part of my life and routine and I get a lot of joy from sharing that with my students. I truly believe Yoga is a great tool in helping people achieve equilibrium in their body and mind.