U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Coleman and his wife Nicole, front row; U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Seth Richey and wife Kristina Richey, second row, listen to instruction during a retreat at a hotel in El Segundo, Calif. on Friday, March 28, 2008. The couple is participating in a first-of-its kind program called a 'Warrior Couple Readjustment Retreat.'
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
**the t-shirt says MAKE LOV ENOT BABIES ---I think**
U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Frankie Wood, left, and his wife Ivy Wood, 25, learn yoga
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Coleman kisses his wife Nicole, as they hold a Tree yoga pose
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Marine Retreat Aids War-Strained Couples
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=104&sid=1378538So the pair marked their first anniversary this past weekend at a Marine Corps retreat that took a decidedly un-military approach to saving marriages: Combining classes in communication with massage therapy, yoga and meditation. It's an effort by the military to ease the strain on married couples when soldiers return to civilian life after long, repeated deployments.
The first-of-its kind program is called "Warrior Couple Readjustment Retreat." Joining the Patricks were 12 other couples, mostly wounded Marines and their spouses from Camp Pendleton.
Patrick, wounded in Fallujah in November 2006, was skeptical about yoga, with its "spandex and funny music." But he was willing to try anything to preserve his relationship with his wife.
"It's been a rough year because of me not getting the help I needed at first," Patrick said. "I wasn't willing to admit I had problems. Now that I am getting help, things are a little better."
The Marine wants his wife to see the strides other wounded service members are making.
"Seeing that there are other wives going through this, I don't feel so alone," she said.