Conversations with Mary Beth Wheeler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Beth Wheeler.

Hi Mary Beth, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story starts when I joined the military in 2006. During my military career I would do yoga on and off but never showed it any kind of commitment. I saw it more as a workout or elaborate stretching. By the time I had been in the military 10 years I had deployed a few times and had a build-up of stress. If you do not have the tools to release stress then it just builds up and will at some point explode. I would get so stressed that I would have a hard time breathing. I felt like I could never get a full breath. The good news was I was stationed in Hawaii and I re-fell in love with a sport I had loved as a teenager, SCUBA Diving! SCUBA was my saving grace. Being immersed in nature, slowly floating around with methodical breathing was everything I needed. SCUBA was my off-gasing of stress. It kept me in the moment and focused on my breath. SCUBA was my first mindfulness love. It was everything.

Unfortunately it was time to leave the islands and we started a life in Georgia. SCUBA several times a week was not an option. I started looking for ways to get that same off-gas of stress. I started doing yoga but more focused on the breath and being in the present moment, not to get that perfect Instagram pose. Once again I found my breath and a way to release stress in a healthy and productive way. Consistent yoga led me to want to share yoga with my military community. I found VETOGA which specializes in certifying veterans and active-duty to serve the community. That was just my launching point. I went through other military/trauma-informed yoga programs. I was teaching on-base yoga when I found Humble Warrior Wellness & Yoga. I found a space that allowed me to build connection and wellness among my female veterans. Female veterans are not always considered when thinking of veteran program offerings. But that is what we do! We build connections and wellness so that female veterans and first responders can continue to serve their communities by putting on their mask first and taking care of themselves. That is where we are today. Building community and living wellness all while breathing. The beautiful powerful breath. If you have breath you have time. Time to make a decision, time to take care of yourself, time to serve your community, time to do whatever it is you need to do.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road but much of that was due to myself standing in the way. I was full of self-doubt, lacking time, and being in a location long enough to build a presence. I am thankful to Humble Warrior Wellness & Yoga for providing me a space to serve while also not always being in one location.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My professional career is in the Air Force as an Intelligence Analyst. I am still serving while balancing my service to my community. I am most proud my resilience. I have been serving almost 20 years now and I am not done yet. Military service is anything but easy, but it is a career and life of service. I can be proud that I served in defense of our nation. Resilience is what keeps me in the game. The ability to deal with stress as it comes and knowing how to release it in healthy ways.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My husband (Aron Cartes) is the absolute best life-partner and deserves so much credit. He served in the Army for 20 years before retirement. Now he provides me stability as I continue to serve. He has been through every separation and hard time there with me. He is my partner, sounding board, cheerleader, and best friend. We have built quite a beautiful life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://humblewarrior.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humblewarriorwellnessandyoga?igsh=OTB5a2R2NWo5d2Vu
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumbleWarriorWellnessandYoga?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblewarriorwellnessandyo2992