Navigating Addiction Through the Practice of Yoga

Navigating Addiction Through the Practice of Yoga

Diane had been in and out of drug rehab for years. Despite logging over 300 hours of therapy, she just hadn't found her way to lasting recovery - that is, until she was admitted to an addiction treatment program that specialized in alternative, holistic therapies like acupuncture, music and art therapy, and yoga. The more aware she became of her mind and body, and the more time she spent doing the activities she enjoyed, the less attractive drugs and alcohol became.

Despite being used to enhance physical and mental well-being for more than 5,000 years, it is only in the past decade that yoga has made an appearance in drug rehab programs. Although it has always been popular for increasing flexibility, strength, and agility, it is now in high demand in the field of addiction medicine.

Controlling the Impulse to Use

One reason for yoga's appeal in addiction treatment programs is its emphasis on focus, concentration, and impulse control. Individuals who abuse drugs and alcohol or engage in other addictive behaviors often feel compelled to follow their urges and let their thoughts and emotions dictate their actions.

Yoga, which teaches slow, controlled movements instead of reactive, automatic behaviors, helps practitioners become more aware of their self-defeating thoughts and triggers for use and achieve greater self-mastery and self-control. As an individual becomes more adept in the art of yoga, these skills spill over into every area of life, encouraging moderation rather than extremism or compulsive behavior.

By becoming more aware of our bodies and the sensations of movement, we can become more mindful of the present moment, more skilled at resisting temptations, more appreciative of our aliveness, and more willing to endure pain and discomfort for the benefit of our well-being. Rather than misinterpreting their body's cues as a need for drugs, alcohol, food, or sex that must be instantly satisfied, yoga trains addicts' brains to interpret those cues as an emotional need that can be accepted as is or satisfied in healthy ways.

While addiction is about much more than willpower, developing healthy coping mechanisms like deep breathing, yoga, and physical activity can build an addict's strength to fight their disease while balancing self-forgiveness with continued growth. When a person is confident in her abilities to manage her own thoughts and behaviors, she regains power over her addiction and her ability to control her own happiness. By counteracting the habitual, negative thoughts that led to the abuse of drugs and alcohol, yoga can help addicts slow down their thoughts and put an end to obsessive, dysfunctional behavior patterns.

The State of Inner Calm

Unlike traditional talk therapy that treats the emotional mind and some alternative body-centered therapies that treat only the physical body, yoga is unique in its ability to treat body and mind simultaneously. Originating from the Sanskrit word for union, yoga represents the union of the organ systems in the body and the consciousness of the mind to bring about a state of stillness or calm.

This state of calmness or serenity comes from the practice of moderate, conscious, gentle yoga exercises that counteract the imbalances in the body caused by drug and alcohol abuse. Deep breathing techniques, which can be practiced anywhere, help balance and soothe the mind, increasing mental acuity, calming the nerves, and reducing tension that is held in the body.

Those who abuse drugs or alcohol, in many cases, have over-stimulated their bodies for long periods of time, which can result in insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness. The conscious relaxation exercises in yoga, such as tensing and relaxing every muscle of the body from head to toe, and repeating positive affirmations to oneself can stabilize both mind and body.

Detoxify the Body

By the time a person needs residential or even outpatient drug rehab treatment, he has probably abused his body for years. The stretching and strengthening poses in yoga help cleanse the body and make the process of detoxification more comfortable by stimulating the pineal and pituitary glands in the brain, which in turn stimulate the endocrine, metabolic, digestive, circulatory, and lymphatic systems to cleanse the body of toxins more efficiently. At the same time, yoga builds the body's strength, decreases stress levels, and boosts the body's natural systems of detoxification.

Studies suggest that the practice of yoga can actually result in physical changes in the brain. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine and McLean Hospital have found that practicing yoga may elevate brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels, the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. The findings, which appear in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, suggest that the practice of yoga may be effective in treating depression, anxiety, and other disorders associated with low GABA levels.

In addition, yoga (like most forms of exercise) can help regulate levels of the "feel good" neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, and can trigger the release of endorphins, producing a natural high.

A Spiritual Connection

A thread that runs through most 12-Step programs and Alcoholics Anonymous teachings is the importance of connecting with a higher power as a means of dealing with emotional pain and filling the void most addicts feel. Most people who turn to addictive behaviors, whether drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, sex, or something else, are using that substance or behavior in a misguided attempt to satisfy a deep spiritual yearning.

The practice of yoga is a healthy way to reconnect with a higher power through quiet self-reflection, prayer, and meditation. Rather than reacting to negative thoughts or difficult situations by lashing outward, yoga turns the focus inside where all of life's most valuable answers lie.

A Positive Social Support Network

In the process of recovery, the company of a new social network of well-adjusted, like-minded people is critical. Being surrounded by people who are content, optimistic, and compassionate and who can offer unconditional support can make the path to sobriety a smoother one.

For most addicts, returning to the old, drug-abusing party culture and negative peer group is a recipe for failure. It can be difficult to meet new people in a completely unfamiliar social circle, especially people who have similar interests and are sensitive to the process of recovery. Yoga classes and other activities that aren't centered on bars, parties, or staying home alone are a prime social outlet for recovering addicts.

Yoga is a popular and effective adjunct to traditional therapies. When combined with individual therapy, processing groups, and other sober social activities, yoga can help addicts of all kinds find the courage to face their problems, become whole again, and re-learn where genuine happiness lies.

(this article courtesy of http://www.best-holistic-addiction-treatment.com/yoga.html)