Our bodies and minds are constantly seeking balance with each other. According to an article from The European Molecular Biology Organization Reports, research has shown a distinctive relationship between health, emotions, and behavior. This mind-body connection is found in how we treat our bodies and minds. Therefore, holistic approaches to care, like therapeutic yoga, can have a profound impact on your physical and mental health.
At Insight Recovery Center, we know substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex condition that harms more than just your physical health. SUD can stem from various things, from untreated mental health disorders to adverse and traumatic experiences that continue to live in your body. Moreover, SUD changes your brain and exasperates or helps develop mental health symptoms and disorders. Therefore, we have dedicated our work to providing you with holistic care that considers the whole person.
Now, you may wonder what therapeutic yoga is. Is therapeutic yoga different from the mainstream yoga you hear about in the media? How can yoga support your recovery from SUD?
What Is Therapeutic Yoga?
According to an article from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), yoga is an ancient practice based on Indian philosophy. Moreover, yoga found its origins in spiritual practice, but over time it has grown to incorporate physical health and mental well-being as core tenets of the practice. While classical yoga includes other elements, the westernized yoga we see in places like the United States typically includes physical poses, breathing techniques, and meditation.
As noted in the International Journal of Yoga, therapeutic yoga focuses on using the practice of yoga and its postures to treat health conditions and reduce or alleviate psychological, emotional, and spiritual pains. Western yoga typically utilizes the postures and breathing practices of Hatha yoga and meditation. Even within Hatha yoga, there are many different styles that can be explored, like the Iyengar style. Therefore, in the west alone, a wide variety of yoga styles can be utilized to support your physical and mental health recovery.
Types of Yoga
As stated by Medline Plus, listed below are some of the different types of yoga that can be used to support wellness:
- Hatha yoga
- Iyengar
- Viniyoga
- Kundalini
- Integral
- Bikram or hot yoga
- Ashtanga or power yoga
Through physical movement, it may be clear how yoga can support your physical health. Yet, you may question how therapeutic yoga can support your mental health. Yoga is a mind-body approach that uses muscle activity and mindful focus awareness of the self through movement and breathing.
The Four Principles of Yoga
According to the International Journal of Yoga, listed below are the four principles that make up the healing system of yoga:
- The human body is a holistic entity made of inseparable dimensions, so every part of the body affects each other
- Every individual’s needs are unique to them, so approaches to care must be tailored to support that individuality
- Yoga is a source of self-empowerment as you play an active role in your recovery journey as your healing comes from within you
- Your state of mind is an integral part of your healing, as a positive mindset supports faster healing
The four principles of yoga speak to the importance of mental well-being for overall health and recovery. However, you may be wondering what the healing power of therapeutic yoga looks like. What are the overall benefits of yoga for your physical and mental health?
Physical and Mental Benefits of Therapeutic Yoga
As noted in the article from the International Journal of Yoga, the main goal of yoga is to support your physical and mental well-being for a more optimistic outlook on life through relaxation and self-awareness. When you are able to be present and deepen your understanding of yourself, you can start to work through those difficult-to-access parts of yourself. Listed below are some of the physical and mental benefits of yoga:
- Physical benefits:
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
- Improves coordination
- Increases digestive health
- Improves sleep
- Decreases back and neck pain
- Supports healthy weight management
- Helps manage chronic illness symptoms
- Mental health benefits:
- Reduces stress
- Improves concentration
- Increases self-confidence
- Decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression
The physical and mental benefits of yoga are extraordinary. However, you may wonder how the benefits of yoga can directly impact your SUD recovery.
Benefits of Therapeutic Yoga for Substance Use Disorder
According to an article from the Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, SUD can be challenging to manage because its symptoms exist in a wide range of domains like cognitive, physical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. However, therapeutic yoga can be an invaluable holistic approach to care for SUD because it is a mind-body practice that supports healing in multiple domains of the body. As a tool for healing, therapeutic yoga can support the physical, cognitive, emotional, psychological, and behavioral needs of SUD recovery.
Holistic Support at Insight Recovery Center
At Insight Recovery Center, our approach to care is based on holistic healing and the practice of mindfulness to support lifelong healing. We offer holistic treatments like yoga because we know discovering your recovery goes beyond terminating your use of substances. The integration of therapeutic skills and coping techniques in your treatment plan is integral to the process of true healing. Holistic treatment not only treats the SUD but the whole person in body, mind, and spirit.
There is a deep connection between the body and mind. Your physical health affects your mental health and vice versa. Therefore, disorders like substance use disorder (SUD) have a mind-body relationship that impacts every part of you. As a mind-body practice, therapeutic yoga is beneficial in supporting your recovery. Through various styles, yoga uses physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to support mindfulness through self-awareness of your body. At Insight Recovery Center, we offer a wide range of holistic healing practices because SUD is a complex disorder that encompasses mental health disorders and trauma. Through our holistic approaches to care, we will work with you as you discover your recovery. Call 828.826.1376 to learn more about our holistic treatments.