Addiction can be difficult to identify and treat. That said, it’s important to remain hopeful during the recovery process and realize that the path to sobriety is not the same for every individual.
Since there are many forms and levels of addiction, it can affect people differently. Addiction can cause suffering for addicts and their loved ones through emotional, financial and physical hardships. However, proper treatment may lessen the burden inflicted by the disease. With the evolvement of modern medicine, there are options for treatment and tools for recovery. Yoga can be a powerful complementary tool to strengthen and support your recovery journey.
Traditional Treatment Options of Addiction
To treat addiction, one must admit to having a problem and be open to the extensive journey of treatments and therapies. Whether it be through inpatient or outpatient rehabs or a drug and alcohol detox, understanding the course of recovery is crucial in maintaining long-term sobriety.
The effects of addiction take a toll on the mind and body. While the impact may be stunted by early intervention, it is a disease that can have detrimental lifelong effects. By targeting some of the areas affected by addiction — such as psychomotor skills, neuropsychiatric functions, impulse control and other central nervous system operations — one can determine the correct treatment option depending on the severity of the addiction.
Treatment may include behavioral, medical and psychiatric evaluations; medical management to control withdrawal; individual, family and group therapies; preventive care; and recovery coaching. Natural remedies might also be used as supplementary recovery tools to assist with more intense treatment regimens.
Why Yoga?
Yoga has many benefits that could grant physical and mental relief. Through following the yoga practice, one can experience the advantages in just a single session. Allowing the body to release stress hormones and stretch stiff muscles can help with relaxation. Yoga can play a part in regulating stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. When the body produces too much of these hormones, it can affect brain function and motor skills.
Yoga is all about mindfulness. Engaging in the practice could improve self-awareness and action accountability. A few types of yoga use meditation and selective stretching to turn inward and provide relief to the nervous system, inducing deeper sleep. Doing yoga a few times a week can influence a healthier lifestyle and may even improve depression due to the increased levels of serotonin.
Benefits of Yoga in Terms of Addiction Recovery
By using yoga to help treat addiction, its benefits can be applied to the recovery process. Yoga encourages the body to relax. Shifting the body’s fight-or-flight response to a more constructive outlet can facilitate a calmer and more restorative response to stress. By regaining control of the body, experienced yogis can use meditation and targeted practices to improve blood flow and induce heavy relaxation.
Yoga taps into a discipline that extends into other areas of life. Individuals may find that using yoga as a treatment tool can help them overcome other tasks because of the inner strength they develop through the practice.
For more information on how to apply the benefits of yoga to addiction recovery, refer to the accompanying infographic.
