A lot of addictions start as a coping mechanism or a method of filling an inner emptiness. Hence, those who are under alcohol abuse treatment have to learn to manage their emotions and their environment more positively, such as through yoga. This is the reason many conventional rehabilitation centers today are integrating yoga into their overall treatment programs. True enough, over the years, yoga has demonstrated effectiveness in complementing more traditional alcohol abuse treatment, which is mostly chemical in nature.
Here are the most common advantages of yoga for those who are trying to get their lives back from alcohol addiction:
Mind Healing
According to research, yoga has the ability to stop the dopamine surge that addicts are known to experience every time they take or imagine taking alcohol. Furthermore, it was revealed that certain yoga types’ intense breathing patterns – an example is Kundalini – causes the body to release pleasure-inducing biochemicals called endorphins. What this means is that yoga can control addictive behaviors while regulating the brain’s dopamine functions.
Stress Management
Stressful circumstances can bring out trigger addictive behavior as well as cravings. Any recovering addict will find reorienting to a sober life extremely tough. As yoga encourages willpower and living a peaceful life, those in recovery can better handle all that stress, resist temptations, and gain total control over their bodies once again. There are different intensity levels for all the various types of yoga, so people can just select which one feels the best to them. For example, yin yoga mostly involves meditation and passive stretching, while vinyasa yoga is much faster in pace and is designed to build strength. Bikram yoga detoxifies the body through perspiration and is thus done in a hot room. There are so many forms of yoga, including laughing yoga, which is said to boost the immune system, minimize pain and stress, and give happiness.
Spiritual Enhancement
Regardless of a person’s religious beliefs, yoga provides a spiritual environment. Taking it slow, mindfulness and acceptance are essential to yoga and the health of the soul. Routinely setting aside time for growth will certainly help in attaining complete recovery for someone who is undergoing alcohol abuse treatment.
Striking a Balance
Yoga therapy helps a person find that perfect balance of mind, body and spirit. Those whose lives had been once out of control will immensely benefit from this balance.
Recovery is a long, typically very difficult process. By integrating yoga into their recovery efforts, people can use new ways of releasing stress and tapping into their undiscovered strengths. When deciding which alcohol abuse treatment center to choose for a loved one, consider those that include yoga therapy in their approach to treatment.
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