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Yoga for Addiction: 5 Reasons to Consider Yoga for Treatment

When you think of drug or alcohol addiction, what comes to mind? Most commonly thought of is 12 step meetings and individualized therapy sessions. Although these methods seem to be relatively effective, there are still several individuals who don’t seem to get all the help that they need from the traditional forms of treatment. Yoga for addiction treatment can be incredibly effective for those considering it.

Addiction is a disease that does not have one specific approach to treatment because there is no one form of treatment that works for everyone. It can affect each person’s life differently, so treatment should be approached differently for each patient. Traditional approaches to treatment focus on identifying and treating the symptoms of addiction. On the contrary, holistic approaches to addiction treatment concentrate on addressing an individual as a whole, not only the physical being.

Yoga for addiction is a method of treatment that focuses on an individual’s body, soul, and mind as an entire entity to promote health in all aspects of life, not just the symptoms of addiction.

1 – Reconnection with the Body

Addiction allows for the unbalance of life. Instead of listening to cues that the body sends to signal something that is off or unbalanced, the addicted body is worried about the next fix. Additionally, addiction can create unsurpassable feelings of disconnection and isolation from the rest of the world and even the universe.

Yoga in addiction treatment allows for individuals to regain unity with the rest of the universe so that they are aware of the imbalances of life.

2 – A Sense of Peace

Attending drug or alcohol addiction treatment can seem daunting. It’s a decision to make a large change in lifestyle that can bring about anger, resentment, feelings of betrayal, loneliness, frustration, and many other negative emotions that can get in the way of recovery success.

Yoga for addiction treatment can help reduce these emotions by focusing on acceptance and mindfulness. Through yoga, individuals in drug or alcohol addiction recovery can regain an inner sense of peace that they would not have had without a holistic approach to therapy.

3 – A Spiritual Connection

Practicing yoga in addiction treatment can lead to an increased spiritual connection to a higher power. Spirituality does not necessarily mean religion for those who do not consider themselves to be highly spiritual. Rather, a spiritual connection is the idea that each being has a purpose to life and is connected to all other beings.

This is imperative for those seeking successful recovery so that healing can take place and meaning can be restored to life. Often, those that utilize yoga in addiction recovery use the time to focus on a deeper meaning in life and also pray to promote inner peace and comfort.

4 – Using Yoga as an Addiction Treatment Strategy

Not being able to cope with difficult situations, emotions, and relationships can lead to relapse for those in recovery. This is why it is so important to develop relapse prevention strategies during drug or alcohol abuse treatment.

Therapy techniques used in yoga for addiction treatment can help individuals develop coping mechanisms since the exercise focuses on controlling involuntary reactions of the body like breathing. The idea is that when individuals can control their bodies, they are more likely to be able to control their thoughts and reactions, helping to develop coping strategies.

5 – Practicing Self-Esteem and Discipline

Those that have been affected by addiction are likely to have low self-esteem and also a lack of self-discipline. Essentially, the development of addiction can be caused by a lack of self-esteem. Additionally, those that are addicted to a substance are likely to feel shame and guilt about their addictive behaviors, resulting in a lack of self-esteem. Furthermore, drug and alcohol addiction can cause a person to develop the characteristic of impulsivity.

Addicts are likely to take a little time in deciding what is best for them since addiction has affected their decision-making capabilities over the course time. Both characteristics can be dangerous outside of treatment since they can provoke addictive behaviors and eventual relapse. Yoga for addiction therapy helps with both impulsivity and self-esteem since all aspects of an individual seek to be balanced through yoga.

Do you or a loved one wish to benefit from yoga recovery? Talk to us today!