Derik chats with Erik Milosevich, a military veteran and retired police officer turned breathwork instructor. They discuss his career of service, the role yoga has played, and how breathwork can inspire compassion for police officers and for the public they serve.
Continuing our series of interviews with first responders, Derik Mills chats with Erik Milosevich, a military veteran and retired police officer turned breathwork instructor. We met Erik through photographer, and fellow Glo podcast guest, Robert Sturman (episode #14), who photographed Erik and other military veterans who use yoga as a healing practice for PTSD and mental, emotional, and physical health.
Erik was a US Army 82nd Airborne Division Recon/Sniper and an international competitor on the All Army Taekwondo Team. As a police officer with the Santa Monica Police Department, Erik served on a variety of assignments, including collateral SWAT, Field Training Officer, Narcotics Investigator, and Neighborhood Resource Officer. He was also a Krav Maga Law Enforcement Instructor and taught classes on implicit and gender bias as well as defensive tactics.
Erik has spent the last 25 years designing programs and training police officers in yoga, meditation and breathwork, and is a certified Wim Hof Method Instructor. In today’s episode, he shares his career of service, how he discovered yoga and breathwork, and the powerful benefits they have had while training law enforcement.
TRIGGER WARNING: We discuss PTSD and suicide in this episode.
Photo Credit: Robert Sturman
GLO classes:
Pranayama, An Introductory Practice
Balance Your Heart and Mind - Breathwork
Recenter Yourself - Breathwork
Manage Anxiety - Flow
Shining Skull Breath - Breathwork