At Crestview Recovery, we offer yoga therapy for addiction recovery & other rehab programs in Portland, OR. Contact 866.580.4160.Quoted From: https://www.crestviewrecovery.com/rehab-blog/yoga-therapy/
"Alcohol and drugs alter the reward system in the brain. This system controls emotions, decision-making, impulses, and pleasure. The damage that drugs cause in the brain begins to heal and repair during recovery. Rehab centers use yoga to enhance this natural healing process of the body.
Research shows that yoga and pilates therapy can increase the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. This is a natural tranquilizer that the brain produces to manage anxiety and stress. The more GABA that the brain produces, the less anxiety and stress people feel. Along with depression, these are common withdrawal symptoms, and studies show that yoga can lessen their effects.
When individuals are stressed, their blood pressure, body temperature, breathing, and heart rate quicken. According to research, yoga acts on the response system that causes this reaction. It balances and regulates adrenaline and cortisol, which are stress hormones, to reduce the symptoms of stress. Yoga can also enlarge the hippocampus and other regions of the brain that control stress.
YOGA BALANCES THE BODY AND MIND
Drug abuse and addiction also cause an imbalance between parts of the brain and the body. Yoga can help people in recovery become more in tune with their bodies. This helps them learn how to listen to what their bodies need and to regulate their breathing.
Yoga therapy also teaches those who practice it how to channel their energy inward. Individuals in addiction treatment programs can use this to learn how to own their feelings and control them. As a result, the practice makes them more confident and self-reliant. For example, they may be able to better recognize cravings and manage them so that they don"t fall into relapse.
Furthermore, yoga as an addiction therapy can enhance the spiritual concepts of 12-step programs. This helps individuals in recovery to make a connection through breathing, meditation, and mindfulness. They can use self-reflection to find inner peace and determine what they need to change to make their lives better.
OTHER BENEFITS OF YOGA FOR DRUG ADDICTION
Yoga clearly has many physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits for individuals in drug addiction treatment. It improves flexibility and concentration and can make the spine longer and stronger. The practice can also help those in recovery develop patience and calm their minds. Some other benefits include:
Better sleep
Emotional healing
Healthier eating and exercise habits
Increased energy and stamina
Pain relief
All of these benefits combine to improve the overall health and wellness of people who are recovering from drug addiction. This is what makes yoga such a great complement to traditional treatment methods."
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