You may already know that the practice of yoga and meditation are used to be able to center oneself, to focus and to relax. Those who deal with a lot of stress often use yoga and meditation to bring themselves peace, so it makes sense that those dealing with drug addiction could use it for the same reason.
Addiction is a stressful terrifying disease, and yoga is a mindfulness activity that can help you to deal with that stress. The practice is not just a physical one, but a mental one that will help to target parts of the brain that can help to reduce cravings for the drug. The idea behind yoga is the improved mood and sense of well-being in those practicing it. With body postures, breathing and meditation, those dealing with addiction will be able to feel physically stronger, more relaxed, and able to be more open to spirituality.
Yoga can help to reduce things like heart disease risks, high blood pressure, chronic pain and insomnia: all things that addicts have to deal with much of the time. Yoga can help you to manage depression and anxiety, too, and as these are two conditions that often occur alongside addiction, the benefits are too good to pass up.
Of course, yoga is not going to work by itself. Rehab and other treatment options need to be used alongside it. If yoga alone would work, no one would need more than a yoga class to get through their addiction recovery. There are plenty of different types of yoga to consider if you want to practice it alongside your rehabilitation, and these are listed below. For centuries, those who worship Hinduism have used yoga to alleviate physical pain and induce calm into their routines. These yoga practices may help you to do the same while you manage your addiction.
Bhakti Yoga
This is a spiritual form of yoga that focuses on devoting love to a high power with the practice of mantra and meditation and chanting.
Hatha Yoga
Careful poses, meditation, exercise and healing are all involved in Hatha yoga. It’s a popular option for those who require help with their addiction and the breathing and posing techniques used are there to strengthen and enhance calm.
Jnana Yoga
This type of yoga uses meditation to focus on self-realization and wisdom. The mental techniques employed in this type of yoga include self-reflection and self-questioning, which are very important things in recovery from addiction. Jnana yoga helps you to be more conscious of yourself, and that’s what you need while in recovery.
Karma Yoga
If you haven’t heard of it, Karma Yoga encourages the elimination of self-centered behavior and a reduction in ego. With the movements being slow and deliberate, you learn to remove yourself from your actions and remember that you are more than your addiction.
Bikram Yoga
There are 26 physically demanding poses in Bikram Yoga, and the goal of this particular activity is to release tension while cleansing the body at the same time. The room is very hot during Bikram Yoga and the body cleanses through sweating.
