When Anu Bhagwati supervised 38 staff members and 450 new Marines monthly in combat skills as company commander, it was one "incredibly intense, high-adrenaline experience after the next" — but she never thought it would lead her to yoga.
Calling it "an act of survival" navigating stress, trauma and sexual harassment, the now 39-year-old Upper West Sider discovered yoga while on vacation in upstate New York in 1999.
"The schedule was very ascetic. You're up at 5 a.m. doing the yoga version of Marine Corps training before the sun even comes up," she recalls. "Instead of running and pull-ups you're doing meditation."
Although it was challenging integrating Zen into military life, she rediscovered it off-base and brought it back to comrades.
Nick Taranto (far left) with two of his platoon sergeants during his last USMC reserve drill weekend in Fort Dix, New Jersey last April.Photo: Handout
After serving in Camp LeJeune, NC, Virginia and Japan, Bhagwati became a certified yoga instructor in 2008, four years after completing her military service. She launched Yoga for Vets, a free service, at the Integral Yoga Institute in the West Village.
More and more veterans like Bhagwati are realizing that the military can help them find their true calling, connecting the dots to their next civilian role.
"You don't have to dive into your new passion immediately — it's OK to take your time to ensure you feel comfortable pursuing it," says Dorie Clark, author of "Reinventing You."
"Over time, you'll learn the steps you need to take to move up to the highest levels professionally."
Plus, she says, "It's not uncommon to explore paths by leveraging quintessential military skills. Those skills — discipline, grit and teamwork — are invaluable to any future pursuit."
Nick Taranto returned from active duty as a Marines infantry officer in 2011, joining Goldman Sachs as a private wealth advisor. He began working "crazy hours" and eating takeout, gaining 25 pounds in a few months. "I was depressed by the lack of mission," says the 30-year-old Hell's Kitchen resident.
Taranto ditched Wall Street and co-founded Plated.Photo: Zandy Mangold
He loathed takeout, which sparked memories of military grub. He was frustrated by the lack of accessible, cheaper, healthier options.
"I distinctly remember eating a pork rib ready-to-eat meal that had more chemicals on the ingredient list than actual food," he says.
So Taranto ditched Wall Street and co-founded Plated, a fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service for healthy meals. He credits his time in the service to his ease in the startup world.
"You have to make a lot of fast decisions with limited information, charge hard for months with no break in sight while leading your team."
Clark isn't surprised by these career reinventors.
"Military service gives you all kinds of baseline skills — leadership, teamwork, courage in the midst of stressful situations," she says. "In the military, you learned how to be adaptable."
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