Yoga is a holistic treatment that can help those in recovery heal both their mind and their body. Yoga involves breathing exercises, postures, guided imagery, and meditation to enhance overall well-being. The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® offers a women’s yoga therapy program integrated into your personalized recovery treatment plan. Reach out to 855.773.0614 to speak with a trained representative who can tell you more about the value of yoga for addiction recovery.
What Is Yoga?
There are stereotypes about yoga that, unfortunately, make people think it must not be for them. The truth is that yoga is available for anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background.
Yoga is a form of physical exercise that uses a variety of poses to focus on:
- Deep breathing
- Flexibility
- Balance
- Coordination
- Strength
- Self-awareness
Meditation is an aspect of yoga and involves being present in the moment, focusing on awareness of your breath, bodily sensations, and thoughts.
Forming New Healthy Habits and Routine
Many of those in recovery report that ritualistic aspects of their substance abuse is part of the allure and a source of difficulty when trying to break an addiction.
Yoga is a healthy and methodic ritual that can replace old habits. It requires dedication, consistency, and practice, all of which can be helpful as you progress on the road to recovery.
There are spiritual aspects to yoga that can make the ritual feel more satisfying and purposeful. This practice aligns well with the search for a spiritual approach to life that some seek on their path to sobriety.
Yoga can help regulate stress hormones and can therefore be effective for those struggling with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic disorders
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The Benefits of Yoga for Addiction Recovery
Yoga is well-known in Western culture for its physical benefits. These can include pain relief, sleep improvement, and an increase in energy. The meditation element of yoga can help people better integrate their mind-body connection. This can help those in recovery manage high-risk triggers and, in turn, prevent relapse.
In addiction recovery, yoga is also useful for:
- Stress management-Learning how to use breathing techniques to keep calm can help you manage high-stress situations during sober life.
- Anxiety-Yoga can help you calm your mind and body.
- Mindfulness-Yoga can help you focus on the present without dwelling on past negative experiences or worries about the future.
- Self-soothing-Yoga can help you practice self-compassion and forgiveness and help you find a sense of fulfillment without reliance on substances. It can also help you feel emotions without letting negative thoughts cause harm.
- Medication management-Yoga can help decrease reliance on medications which can be especially useful for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
Yoga therapists often emphasize that you do not have to focus on new ways of thinking but rather on new ways of feeling. This focus on the body can allow those in recovery to consider different approaches to healing.
One of the overall goals of yoga is to gain comfort and confidence with a sense of being at home in your own mind and alone with your thoughts. This means you can find the ability to alter negative thought patterns and come to peace with negative personal experiences and trauma that has historically resulted in problematic behaviors. Yoga can help you gain a sense of control over your emotions and avoid spontaneous decisions that could lead to negative consequences.
Learn More About Yoga Therapy at The Willows at Red Oak Recovery®
Yoga therapy is generally most effective in conjunction with other addiction treatment methods. Yoga is a holistic tool that can help those in recovery develop their mindfulness and stress-reduction skills. However, they also have access to more traditional forms of therapy with an expert mental health counselor.
Let us tell you how yoga can play a useful role in a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. Reach out to The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® at 855.773.0614 to speak with a trained representative.
