Yoga Therapy

Role of Yoga in Addiction Recovery

Substance abuse recovery can cause a variety of emotions and physical ailments to surface and as individuals work towards their recovery, they need to learn how to cope with these emotions and pain. Yoga can provide the tools a person needs to deal with stress and physical discomfort and when used as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan, yoga can be very effective.

How Yoga Works

There are a variety of different disciplines of yoga. Essentially, modern yoga entails practitioners going through a series of postures called asanas. These movements are designed to help an individual stretch and work their muscles. For this reason, yoga improves circulation which has a ripple effect in terms of additional health benefits.

Some of the physical benefits of yoga include:

• Reduced muscle pain and tension
• Improved flexibility which can help prevent future injury
• Increased energy
• Weight reduction and weight management
• Improved cardiovascular and respiratory health
• Increased muscle strength and muscle tone
• Reduced inflammation

While the primary focus on inpatient treatment is helping individuals recover from substance abuse, overall health is important. Yoga is an excellent workout that can be performed individually or as part of a group. It is a great way to maintain physical health both during inpatient treatment and as an individual continues on their journey.

Mental Aspects of Yoga

Meditation is part of yoga practice. As an individual works through a series of postures, they focus on their breathing. This helps the practitioner clear their mind and focus on what they are doing. Typically, a yoga session ends with mindful thinking. This is an opportunity to clear one’s mind and learn how to listen to their body. Some of the mental benefits of yoga include:

• Body awareness
• Stress relief
• Improved concentration and attention
• Increased feelings of calmness
• Improved quality of sleep

Using Yoga to Heal

Inpatient treatment is a very difficult time emotionally and physically. As an individual goes through the treatment process they often feel anxiety and stress and possibly experience pain and discomfort they may have been attempting to mask through their substance abuse. Recovery is about learning how to address and cope with addiction, and inpatient treatment is often an individual’s first encounter with these emotions and physical symptoms. Yoga is one tool a person can use to better themselves as they learn to overcome their addiction.