As you break the bonds of addiction in your life, take advantage of any treatment program or method that helps you during your Recovery journey. One such tool is yoga.
Today, more and more experts realize that a holistic approach to Recovery can enhance a person’s ability to break free from Drug or Alcohol addiction. Yoga has long been considered an alternative health practice and thus less important to overall well-being. However, a growing body of research shows that besides helping people build physical strength, yoga has many mental health benefits that are perfect for those walking the road to Recovery.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is a complementary health practice that can be successfully used in tandem with a number of addiction treatment methods. It’s also considered a natural form of medicine in its own right. Whether you struggle with addiction or not, yoga has a number of potential health benefits, including that it:
- Provides stress relief
- Promotes healthier eating and exercise habits
- Heightens self-confidence
- Improves self-image
- Increases self-awareness
- Relieves pain
- Enhances sleep
- Increases energy levels
- Reduces fatigue
- Promotes emotional healing
- Improves overall health and wellness
How Yoga Can Help on Your Journey to Recovery
Yoga is increasingly being used in addiction treatment programs — not just because of its many health benefits, but also because it has distinct advantages in Addiction Recovery, such as that it:
- Helps prevent relapse
- Reduces withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings
- Provides a healthy outlet to cope with triggers and life’s stressors
- Does not require expensive equipment or a special location
- And more
You may be wondering how yoga can do so much for those struggling with addiction. When drugs or alcohol are regularly abused, certain brain pathways can become altered, negatively impacting your perception of pleasure, emotion regulation, impulse control and decision-making. As your body withdrawals from drugs or alcohol, the brain’s circuitry can heal naturally, and yoga can help this process. During the withdrawal process, stress, anxiety and depression are common side effects. The use of yoga works to relieve these symptoms, balancing some parts of the brain and body impacted by drug abuse.
Practicing yoga also offers many emotional benefits to those in Recovery. For instance, the exercise helps people become attuned to their bodies as they regulate their breathing and develop self-awareness. This clarity of mind can help you take ownership of the way you feel and gain control over your actions. When you recognize your cravings as they occur instead of just ignoring them, you can better cope and manage your feelings.
Learn More About Our Yoga Program at 7 Summit Pathways
At 7 Summit Pathways, we incorporate yoga into our holistic treatment approach. Our certified yoga therapist, Chelsie Polcha, offers both group and individual sessions as another tool that can help you on your journey to sobriety. We believe yoga is an amazing outlet to de-stress, relax and find healing.
Our Yoga for Recovery class weaves together yoga and recovery principles, gently blending each element to create a beautiful experience for each of our patients. If you’re struggling with the chaos and destruction brought about by addiction to drugs or alcohol, you may want to consider incorporating yoga into your overall Recovery program. Contact us today to learn more, or schedule an appointment online to begin the healing process from the inside to the outside.