Yoga

We invite every client to participate in the alternative therapies that we offer here at The Villa Treatment Center and find what resonates with them. At The Villa, we approach treatment with an open mind and an open heart, and we invite you to do the same.

Through your one-on-one treatment sessions, your therapist may recommend our yoga therapy to help lower stress levels and promote mindfulness during your addiction treatment. Yoga is a healthy combination of bringing together the mind, body, and spirit through body movements and consciousness. We work with yoga as a supplement practice for our 12-step modality and relapse prevention skillset offered to each client during their time with us.

Your Body in Yoga

Your body can be negatively impacted by stress and mental anguish. Unhealthy thought processes and anxiety generally manifest physically in the form of muscle tightness, poor digestion, insomnia, loss of appetite, increased appetite, premature aging, and a weakened immune system that leaves us susceptible to illness. Yoga is an excellent practice to relieve stress and gently heal the body.

Yoga promotes physical wellness and mental well-being; each supporting the other. Through yoga, people are given relief from stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, unhealthy weight gain, and memory impairment. When people engage in yoga, the first thing they notice is the physical change that comes from a steady yoga practice. We see increased flexibility and a lightness that is present all the time in the body. With addiction comes feelings of hopelessness and depression that can significantly affect our physical health. With yoga, we reverse that process and focus on healing the body so that the mind may follow.

Physical benefits of yoga:

  • Reduces muscle tension
  • Strengthens core
  • Boosts flexibility
  • Increases release of endorphins
  • Lowers blood pressure naturally
  • Reduces joint pain

The Mind Connection

Yoga is a physical exercise that is deeply interwoven with the mind and spirit. Over time, the mind becomes attuned to the movements of the body, and the connection between how we feel physically and emotionally comes together. Certain body movements can help open up the chest, clear the mind, and help us overcome physical ailments that impair our use of the body.

The mind connection with body movements, whether we notice it or not, forces us to remain focused on the present moment. During your one-on-one sessions with your therapist, mindfulness is an important practice to advance progress and positive self-reflection. Addiction can make the mind a scattered and unfocused place. Those affected by addiction suffer from hyperactive stress and anxiety conditions that can get in the way of recovery. An overactive mind tends to be hard on the individual because they focus on what others think of them, overanalyze social interactions, and key into many negative aspects of their lives. This could be at the core of addiction. More drugs are needed to cover the negative feelings, leading to more negative feelings, leading to more drugs, and so on. It is a vicious cycle. Yoga removes this detrimental thinking process.

Yoga will remind us that the way we engage in our mindful practice can become a model for our lives. Many of our clients that incorporate yoga into their addiction treatment notice a demonstrable elevation of mood. Mind-body connections build strength, confidence, and awareness within and outside of our yoga practice. As our moods change, so will our outlook on life after treatment. Positivity will flower and grow as we continue this practice.

Relapse Prevention

Combining a 12-step program and a focused yoga practice can help us develop strength and confidence throughout our recovery. The more skills we gain, the more alternative ways we have to cope with life stressors outside of our rehabilitation program. When we understand our addiction, who we are as individuals, and the path of recovery we have committed to, relapse is less likely.

Clients that have developed communication skills and an awareness of their mind and body have a stronger base of support. These clients can iterate their struggle with their family members and friends; they are committed to their 12-step methods and know their boundaries. These clients are successful in relapse prevention and at The Villa, we promote therapies that will help them get there.

Recovery skills yoga can provide:

  • Awareness
  • Mind-body connection
  • Meditative ability
  • Lower stress levels naturally
  • Reduce anxiety
  • Tempers mood

Explore our variety of alternative therapies to build strength and confidence so that you too can be successful on your journey to recovery. Call to schedule an appointment with our intake team today at 1-818-639-7160.