Substance use disorder can affect your brain, body, and spirit. It’s often accompanied by shame, guilt, and low self-esteem, making recovery challenging. Yoga therapy is one approach to addiction treatment that is growing in popularity due to its ability to address the spiritual component of addiction alongside other therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, detox, and medication. Find out how yoga therapy services in Tacoma, Washington can enhance your addiction treatment program.

Bayview Recovery emphasizes a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment, including holistic therapies like yoga therapy. Reach out to us today at 855.478.3650 to learn more about yoga therapy expectations and what it can do to help you achieve your recovery goals.

What to Expect in Yoga Therapy

If you’ve never tried yoga or are curious about how yoga can support addiction recovery, you will likely want to know what to expect in yoga therapy. Yoga therapy is a form of integrative therapy that includes the mind, body, and spirit in the healing process. Yoga can be used for various purposes and is highly recommended for those struggling with addiction. The goal of yoga therapy for addiction is to help you manage your symptoms, reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and connect you with others who share similar experiences.

When you enroll in yoga therapy, this is what you can expect:

Elements of traditional talk therapy may be woven into yoga therapy sessions

Yoga therapy is integrative, meaning it uses many different methods to address the whole person. It takes into account all aspects of your life when dealing with addiction. Yoga therapy incorporates physical, mental, and spiritual approaches to healing. Therefore, your yoga therapist may incorporate cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques into your practice.

Breathing exercises will likely be a part of your yoga therapy sessions

Learning how to use the power of your breath to calm your mind and body is a powerful tool for stress relief and dealing with triggers.

Your yoga therapist may go through guided meditations with you

Guided meditations can include progressive relaxation or visualizations that help you relax your muscles and imagine yourself in a healthy, happy place. To help you overcome addiction, your yoga therapist may have you visualize how a healthy mind and body free of substances feel.

Restorative yoga poses may be used to promote stress relief

Restorative yoga focuses on relaxation. It involves poses where you lie on your back on the mat or use yoga props like pillows and bolsters to support your body. You stay in these poses for a longer period, focus on your breath, and allow your body to release tension.

Along with the above, your yoga therapy sessions will also include traditional yoga poses to stretch and strengthen your body. Incorporating healthy lifestyle habits such as a regular yoga practice will support your new sober lifestyle.

Yoga Therapy Benefits

Some of the key benefits of yoga therapy for addiction include:

• Help managing withdrawal symptoms – Yoga can help ease common withdrawal discomforts like insomnia, anxiety, inability to concentrate, and irritability.
• Improved coping skills – Stress is one of the top reasons that people turn to drugs or alcohol. Yoga therapy can help reduce stress and build your resilience so that it no longer holds power over you.
• Better emotional balance – As your mind and body heal from the effects of addiction, you can experience a range of emotions. These may include anger, frustration, and nervousness. Practicing yoga regularly can help you feel more even-keeled, reducing urges to self-medicate.

Yoga therapy benefits addiction recovery by giving you more control over how you respond to the world around you. It’s much easier to stay focused on recovery when you feel calm and relaxed. The better you can manage stress and physical and emotional discomfort, the lower the risk of relapse.

Heal with Yoga Therapy at Bayview Recovery

Your healing journey begins with a phone call. Now that you have clearer yoga therapy expectations, contact Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650 to schedule an assessment. We can determine the right course of treatment for your recovery, including a combination of support, medication, and behavioral and holistic therapies, like yoga therapy.