Romy Cuppernell

Yoga Guide

Veterans Yoga Project

Veterans Yoga Project Graduate My name is Romy and I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. Most of my childhood was spent participating in competitive gymnastics, Irish dance, and various other sports. This athleticism led me to join the Marine Corps in 2004, and I served for 8 years. After sustaining a serious spinal injury as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, my career on active duty came to an end in 2013. I spent many years after my discharge trying to find mental and physical relief for my injuries. I tried all kinds of gentle physical exercise, but none of it was really helping with my emotional struggles from the past. Eventually, a veteran friend of mine invited me to a yoga class led by fellow military veterans. It was just what I needed and more! During the 2020 pandemic, I seized an opportunity to become a yoga teacher. The training experience was life changing and gave me a sense of purpose with my life. Yoga is a way of life for me now, and it has allowed me to navigate the human experience with a little more peace.    I currently live in Canandaigua, New York with my two children and two dogs. My husband is an active duty Marine and is deployed overseas until 2023.