Why add a yoga practice to your addiction recovery? In the grip of addiction, our body and our mind lie to each other. The body sends signals to the mind that it needs the drug of choice, and it needs it now. Headaches, nausea, shaking, and general discomfort lead to the belief that by not following the body's cravings, severe discomfort and even death will result. On the other side of the equation, the mind rationalizes substance abuse by promising that just one drink, dose, or hit on the pipe will suffice till the situation at hand is better under control. It's a deadly cycle.
The simple translation of the word "yoga" is "union." Yoga is meant to bring our physical (body) and spiritual (emotional) sides back together and re-establish truthful communication, there-by allowing a sense of wholeness back into our lives.
Upon entering any detox situation, all drugs of choice will be permanently removed. Many facilities will offer clients various medication to ease potential withdrawal symptoms. There will also be extra-large doses of new addiction vocabulary, new success and failure stories, several proven treatment systems offered up to choose from in support of your recovery upon discharge from the facility. All of these facets of treatment are absolutely necessary. Learn them and use them. They are lifesavers.
As you approach the end of your detox period, you will be weaned off of the medications meant to control your withdrawal discomfort and cravings. In-patient gradually becomes out-patient, and out-patient gradually becomes hopeful "attend-your-meetings" encouragement. You will retain the vocabulary and the success stories. You can recite the prayers and list the slippery slopes. You will have your wellness-plan and your recovery schedule. All in all, you will have a great deal of information to keep in mind as you trod the "one day at a time" path. You will have accessed the "mind" portion of recovery, but what have you been taught to do with your body? Do you have something to do that will support the information you have learned about your addiction. EXERCISE. Most addicts absolutely hate exercise. Hate, hate, hate exercise. It ruins the buzz.
I would like to suggest a very gentle form of exercise to reunite your body and mind. Reunite your physical with your spiritual self. Yoga of Recovery suggests a gentle practice of movement followed by relaxation and simple meditation while lying down, not seated cross-legged with an aching back. You will move joints and muscles that have been ignored for years during addiction, and you will do it gently, coming only to the threshold of intensity, but never crossing into excessive repetition, exertion, or next-day pain. Mindful and steady movement combined with self-affirmation and supportive intention will help you climb out of the addiction cycle slowly, the same way your substance abuse started.
Yoga of Recovery will ease the "what-do-I-do-now" feeling of recovery that arises when the book-learning isn't enough. The detox process opened the "mind" part of your recovery. Let Yoga of Recovery continue that very important part of your journey, adding physical movement and reintroducing appropriate communication between the body and mind. This is an opportunity for unification. Your spiritual self-healing and the reawakening of a healthy body.
Many Blessings,
Namaste.
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