Yoga has emerged as an important supplementary component in both drug use treatment programs and ongoing care recovery efforts. Yoga, as a healing strategy, offers a way to soothe the mind while simultaneously boosting physical fitness, both of which aid in maintaining stability throughout recovery.
For instance, stress management is critical in recovery, particularly during the first years of recovery when unfavorable life events or stresses may undermine sobriety. Yoga reduces stress and anxiety by regulating stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol. Persistently elevated hormone levels are harmful to the body and the nervous system in general, and yoga has been proven to help lower or balance stress-related hormones in the body. It makes sense to conclude that if you are less stressed, you will be less likely to turn to drugs for coping. This shows how yoga therapy is beneficial to yoga therapy.
This guide by our experts entails more information regarding yoga therapy, including what it entails and the benefits of yoga therapy. Skyward Treatment Center is a full-service addiction treatment facility that accepts persons who are addicted to alcohol, heroin, cocaine, or other addictive drugs. We offer our patients a balanced combination of behavioral and holistic therapies (including yoga therapy), as well as medication-assisted treatments, to ensure a comprehensive rehabilitation experience. Each treatment strategy is tailored to the individual’s needs and the underlying reasons for the abuse. Continue reading for more information regarding the benefits of yoga therapy.
What is Yoga Therapy?
According to historical sources, yoga originated around 5,000 years ago and is continuously practiced all across the globe today. Yoga therapy for addiction combines the practices of many yoga types to naturally relieve withdrawal symptoms and stress while also promoting self-confidence and retention in therapy programs. Yoga exercises both the mind and the body, allowing patients to acquire more self-awareness.
Below is an in-depth discussion of the benefits of yoga therapy.
Benefits of Yoga Therapy
- Detoxes the body. Yoga is a slow but intense physical practice, and the shifting postures and motions will have you working up a sweat. Increased oxygen delivery to cells can then aid in the elimination of toxins from the body.
- Promotes inner peace. Frequent relaxation and meditation exercises promote inner peace and tranquility. Individuals who practice yoga frequently feel stronger emotionally. Yoga teaches individuals to concentrate on mindfulness rather than temptations, which helps with impulse control. This inner power helps individuals struggling with addiction restore their confidence.
- Minimizes stress. As aforementioned, stress reduction is one of the numerous benefits of yoga therapy. Mastering mindfulness and even practicing basic breathing techniques can help to reduce stress. Yoga therapy is effective as a kind of residential therapy due to its stress-reduction benefits. When stress leads to addictive behaviors, yoga techniques can help avoid them. Recovery patients generally feel better about themselves after resisting temptation. Yoga also enhances one’s mood and willpower, which can help one minimize stress.
- Reduces anxiety and GABA. Yoga also has the added advantage of increasing GABA, or Gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA is a neurotransmitter that lowers anxiety and tension. Anxiety and stress are frequent in individuals going through drug withdrawals. When someone is stressed or anxious, their heart rate and blood pressure increase. Stress chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline increase the reaction to that emotion. Regular yoga practice may improve and enhance the growth of particular parts of the brain involved in stress reduction, such as the hippocampus.
- Promotes self-awareness. Yoga and mindfulness meditation are extremely comparable practices. Both teach us to manage our thoughts, which increases our self-awareness of our environment and sensory experience, as well as our sentiments.
Enroll in Yoga Therapy at Skyward Treatment Center To Begin Your Journey To a Fulfilling Life.
Maintaining your mental and physical health while undergoing addiction treatment is critical. Skyward Center’s therapy methods address the full individual, mind, body, and spirit. Yoga is only one of several therapeutic modalities that can be used to develop a unique and personalized treatment plan. We also offer other holistic therapies, including MAT, DBT, EMDR, CBT, animal-assisted therapy, meditation, trauma therapy, etc. Reach out to our online team of experts to learn more about how yoga therapy at our Houston facility can help with addiction recovery.