At the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Chelsea on Saturday afternoons, participants spread green mats on the bright hardwood floor and perform a variety of poses and stretches with help from a guide.

But what would otherwise appear to be a normal yoga class is unique because of its distinct clientele: the class serves entirely veterans.

Yoga for Veterans, taught by instructor Adam Vitolo, is a free 90-minute class designed specifically for participants who have served in the military. Veterans in the class say that it can have a variety of beneficial effects, including relief from mental symptoms brought on by post-traumatic stress disorder.

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