of a life going to hell fast.
The program of recovery upon which all “anonymous” twelve-step groups are based brings together a community of people who have decided to join one another on the path of wellness. They follow the philosophy of the Twelve Steps and have incorporated most, if not all, of the program suggestions from the recovery literature on a consistent basis. The program guidelines suggest maintaining involvement in the recovery group, as well as working on an individual basis with a more seasoned person, a sponsor. The Twelve Steps help one to become more self-aware and to refresh or acquire and incorporate certain ethics of behavior. There is an invitation to connect or reconnect with a Higher Power, to develop or rekindle a spiritual life. The development of a relationship with a Higher Power may result in closer ties with an organized religion, or in developing a richer intimate relationship, or it may lead to a private connection with a deeper, more abiding spiritual life. The actions and feelings of a person in recovery become more thoughtful and mature, less provocative and fault-finding. The mental capacities expand and improve while the emotional responses and reactions become more measured, restrained, and moral. These are some of the results of working with the Twelve Steps, and they are the underpinnings of health and wellness in a recovering addict.
While one’s spiritual and emotional life is improving, the feeling of having reached a “recovery plateau” may occur at some point in one’s recovery. There may come a point where negative self-talk doesn’t abate, where one’s connection with the recovery group feels more tenuous, where the connection to one’s Higher Power dims. In addition, one might be experiencing some physical maladies that may require professional help to overcome. The damage that addictive behavior has caused the body—either directly from a substance or indirectly as a result of the activity (nutritional deficits, poor sleep patterns, abnormal weight gain or loss)—needs to be addressed and remedied. While most physical activity is helpful when performed wisely, moderately, and regularly, caution must be taken, as exercise, too, can become an obsession. Exercise, as a purely physical enterprise, can be just that—another source of addiction, even to the detriment of the body. Most exercise is based upon physical prowess: a faster mile, greater weight lifted, increased endurance, or even dedicated concentration on developing the body beautiful. This can become more activity that promotes disconnection from developing mental and spiritual growth and well-being.
Yoga is not just a physical practice. It is a spiritual path with a code of ethics leading to contentment and bliss, and it can lead to spiritual union with one’s Higher Power. Excess in the physical practice is seldom encountered, particularly when other yogic practices are combined with the asanas, or poses. Each student is guided to practice within his or her capacity, to move into poses that challenge but do not harm the body. In fact, moderation can be part of the lessons that are taught on the mat. There are classes with more of a physical focus, some more extreme or challenging yogas, that can be taken; these often do not include a spiritual component. If there is a spiritual longing in an individual, exclusively physical practices may not provide lasting satisfaction. Yoga that includes all facets of the philosophy will be more fulfilling in the long run and more effective for those in recovery. I was drawn to these classes, which made a yoga class more like a meeting, where I felt comfortable and accepted just the way I was, with the invitation to become more like my best self. It was an opportunity for me, with guidance, to quiet the negative self-talk and again practice the principles that made me whole. The breath practices helped to calm my mind and soothe my body. In time, tools like stretching, breathing, and mind/body awareness became part of my daily stock in trade, allowing me to be more myself in my daily activities when faced with challenges, and to improve my relationships.
While a dedicated yoga study which includes all the facets of the philosophy enhances recovery from addiction, not everyone has a desire to become a Vedic scholar. My experience with the practice of yoga began as a physical pursuit. With the aid of true yogis (persons who practice yoga), my understanding very rapidly moved from the physical to include the emotional and spiritual. The yoga philosophy was taking me deeper into my recovery steps, and that journey was beginning to relieve my suffering. The more similarities I found between these lineages, the more I felt supported and able to expand my recovery. However, I was unable to find yoga teachers who could help me draw these parallels. At the beginning of my journey, there was only one published author who also held retreats on the subject. I immediately made contact and studied with her, and yet still I craved more. I needed a road map. I found more practitioners in the next few years who were also struggling to combine the practice of yoga, its philosophy, and the program of recovery. I have learned from them all and have come up with a teaching style that is my own. I also have a desire to share this journey with others, to help draw the connections between these two worlds—the ancient and the new—so that they, too, may investigate the path and benefit from the resources. This is meant to lay the groundwork for a lifetime of curiosity and exploration. The paths are not parallel; they are interwoven. Sponsors may not be well versed in yoga, and yoga teachers may not understand the fatal illness that is addiction. It is the addict him- or herself who must bridge the two disciplines or philosophies.
I have written this book to introduce readers to yoga’s ideas and concepts, draw the parallels to the recovery path, and invite readers to practice this awareness on their yoga mat and in their lives. I also include some basic postures to start with, but the reader is encouraged to find a yoga class and teacher in order to expand this practice. Like recovery itself, yoga is versatile and meets you where you are; it also incorporates the key idea of sponsorship—that of learning from the more experienced person, someone who has been down the path before you. The practice of yoga has something to offer to the newly sober as well as those further down the road of recovery.
Addiction is a disease that has mental, physical, and spiritual components. Robert Birnberg calls alcoholism/addiction “perhaps, the first truly holistic disease.”1 As such, addiction requires a threefold remedy: a physical, mental, and spiritual wellness plan. While addiction cannot be cured, the deleterious effects can be halted. The multifaceted practice of yoga mirrors the suggestions of a twelve-step program: this book includes details and practical application of this tradition for the person in recovery.
When I first started practicing yoga, I was stiff, my joints were congested, I ached in the poses, and my breath was short and labored. I asked myself why I was enduring this challenge. My teacher continued to advise me not to overreach—to do my best but to work within comfort, to find my breath and work there. One day, as I was in a forward fold, something released. The teacher was talking about the strength reserves we each had and how we could find them in our practice when we listened. I burst into tears as something in my hips let go, and I realized I could be strong without being isolated; I could stand on my own two feet while being taught, and I did not need to go it alone. What a new concept! I have no idea where the thoughts or the tears came from. All I know is that there was tightness and resistance one moment, and softness and acceptance the next. Yoga practice forged the path for this moment of integration.
Those suffering with addiction often yearn for a proper way to release pent-up energies, fill a psychic hole, or relieve emotional pain trapped inside them. These psychic injuries can be traced to emotional, physical, and spiritual past harms. Yoga is an ideal modality to address the physical recovery. Yoga asana, or pose, practice has many forms and styles: there is a yoga tradition and exertion level that will appeal to almost every person. People in recovery need to release toxins that have been stored in their bodies over the years. They need to release pain and trauma trapped in their muscles and joints. Uncomfortable physical sensations—tightness in the shoulders, neck, back, hips, and legs—reflect stress that has been stored in habitual ways and areas. These negative feelings are often actually lodged in their bodies, muscles, and joints. Yoga offers many specialized practices that identify these areas and provide a process for their release. “Joint and gland” exercises, TRE (trauma release exercises), muscle work, and other integral yoga practices focus on certain areas known to store trauma and release the “issues in our tissues,” as Nikki Meyer, founder of Y12SR, has called them.
Reiki therapy, the Alexander Technique, and the science of
