Yoga: A Physical and Mental Experience
What comes to mind when you hear the term “yoga?” Do you envision a group of women in their mid-twenties wearing designer outfits pushing through the session just to call it done and get brunch after? The truth is, yoga can be a social experience and is very “in” right now, along with other forms of group wellness techniques. Despite its modern appeal, yoga has been around for thousands of years, and there are great reasons for its continued prevalence in the health and wellness space. Yoga has been proven to provide various physical and mental benefits to those who practice regularly.
Physical Benefits
There are several physical benefits of yoga. Yoga encompasses flexibility, strength, and balance. Improvements in any of these areas can make daily life easier and more enjoyable. For example, better balance can mean an easier time walking or engaging in other exercises. It can even make getting dressed each day a bit simpler. Have you ever almost lost your balance while trying to pull on your pants? I think we have all been there. Having better strength and flexibility allows us to stay mobile and have less of a struggle with things like carrying in the groceries or doing laundry. Yoga is an excellent addition to an existing workout routine or a great place to start if you are looking to begin exercising.
Yoga is low impact, meaning it is more gentle on joints and the overall body than many other forms of exercise. This benefits you physically in that you are better able to maintain practicing yoga long-term, and you can practice more frequently, with it requiring less recovery time. This aspect also makes yoga an excellent choice for older adults, those who may have injuries or have had injuries in the past, or someone just beginning their fitness journey.
Yoga is known to have cardiovascular and digestive benefits and can improve musculoskeletal and nervous system functioning. Basically, it is a one-stop-shop for physical health perks. After battling addiction, your body may not be at its healthiest.; incorporating yoga into your routine can help get things moving in the right direction.
Mental Benefits
Like many other forms of physical activity, yoga can have tremendous benefits on mental health. Just as walking or weight training releases endorphins to improve mood and energy, yoga has a similar effect. However, what is different about yoga is that it encourages you to connect with yourself. This can help bring more self-awareness and introduce useful coping strategies to be utilized beyond just your yoga practice.
Additionally, yoga has a very relaxing effect on the mind. You are encouraged to focus only on the present moment, removing any distractions, worries, or burdens you may be consumed with. Practicing yoga can help reduce stress resulting in better sleep and overall daily functioning. Research suggests that yoga can be beneficial in navigating stressful life situations and can be helpful in easing some symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Body and Mind Connection
Yoga encourages a mind and body connection. While other recreational activities may require this skill as well, few are as intentional in encouraging this relationship. This connection makes yoga so unique and, in many cases, healing. Seeing this connection grow stronger with practice can be very empowering and can transfer into other facets of life.
During yoga, you are encouraged to focus on your breathing and the ways in which your body is moving throughout the exercise. This establishes skills that can be useful in other situations as well. For instance, you can become better equipped to handle stressful situations as they arise by controlling your response to the stress. Additionally, you can become more in tune with your mind and body and, as a result, become better able to identify and understand your own needs.
Yoga has been proven to enhance overall health and well-being and, as part of a treatment experience or throughout recovery, can be instrumental in promoting success. With an emphasis on learning breathwork, practicing focus, and centering, you are better able to cope with the stressors and obstacles you may face throughout your journey to recovery.
The mental and physical benefits presented here are just a few of the advantages yoga can have on your quality of life. Learn more about the benefits various forms of yoga can have on specific substance use disorders (SUDs) here. By choosing to incorporate yoga into your plan for treatment, you are benefitting your mental and physical well-being in a way that is sustainable long-term.
During treatment, addressing and focusing on the whole person is imperative. Part of this approach includes considering physical and mental health. By assessing the status of each individual at intake, clinical staff at Enlightened Recovery are able to select treatment strategies that are most appropriate. This includes encouraging consistent engagement in activities to promote improvement in each area of need. Enlightened Recovery walks the walk of a holistic treatment approach by prioritizing the individual needs of each client and targeting each area of improvement to ensure the best possible outcome. By incorporating various forms of non-traditional therapies and treatments into our curriculum, we guarantee an experience unlike any other. Allow us to create a plan tailored to your needs and situation, and support you in becoming a better version of yourself. If you or someone you love is battling drug or alcohol addiction, call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE.
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