Evidence-Based Substance Abuse & Mental Health Treatment
Movement for Holistic Healing
Substance abuse can cause a significant disconnect between body and mind, affecting not just your health, but your emotional and spiritual well-being.
At Absolute Awakenings, we understand the importance of restoring the mind-body connection as part of a whole-person approach to addiction recovery. Yoga therapy for addiction can help you stay on track on your recovery journey.
You deserve to heal, and you deserve to do so holistically.
What Is Yoga Therapy?
Yoga therapy is an adjunct, meaning complementary, therapy that is used alongside other healing modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), group therapy, family therapy, and others. Yoga therapy is an evidence-based modality that helps not only reduce stress hormones like cortisol, but can help clients develop the mindfulness necessary to manage negative emotions or symptoms associated with substance use disorder.
Absolute Awakenings offers Yoga Therapy in New Jersey so that you can get the most out of your addiction treatment program and recover for life.
How Yoga Therapy Works
Yoga therapy is part of a whole-person approach to addiction recovery.
While yoga as a whole is movement and mindfulness based, yoga therapy for addiction differs in purpose. While the focus of a traditional yoga class is more about technique, yoga therapy sessions are focused more on applying these techniques to regulate the nervous system, develop mindfulness surrounding withdrawal symptoms, cravings and relapse prevention, and allow clients to feel more in tune with their bodies.
A yoga therapist may design sessions to include specific postures, meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques, all of which can be applied to the client’s individual recovery plan.
This form of yoga is becoming increasingly popular among drug addiction treatment centers that put just as much focus on emotional and spiritual wellness as they do physical health.
Who Yoga Therapy Can Help
Yoga therapy is an integral part of treatment plans that awaken the mind, body, and spirit for optimal healing. This adjunct therapy has shown to be powerful in the treatment of drug use disorders and alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression.
Why You Should Try Yoga Therapy in New Jersey
At Absolute Awakenings, we know that in order for you to have the best chance at lifelong recovery, your treatment options need to go beyond detox and standard therapies.
For whole-person healing, there must be a connection between the body and the mind. The breathing techniques, mindfulness exercises, and yoga poses specifically used in yoga therapy sessions help you to establish this mind-body connection to better manage the emotional aspects of recovery.
Frequently Asked Question About the Practice of Yoga and Yoga Therapy at Absolute Awakenings
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about yoga therapy and how yoga practice works as a part of overall addiction treatment plan:
How is Yoga Therapy Different from Yoga Classes?
The form of yoga practiced in a yoga studio and the yoga practiced in rehab centers differ in terms of purpose.
While both types of yoga focus on mindfulness and movement, yoga therapy for addiction or the treatment of other mental health conditions is designed so that the techniques used are applied to recovery.
What is the Difference Between a Yoga Teacher and a Yoga Therapist?
All yoga therapists are yoga teachers, but not all yoga teachers are yoga therapists.
Both yoga teachers and yoga therapists must complete a training program to become certified, but a yoga therapy certification program is far more rigorous. The training for certified yoga therapists involves 1000 hours of training, including 200 hours of general yoga teacher training.
Because yoga therapists work with clients with specific medical or mental health conditions, it is important that these practitioners understand how to guide a yoga practice in a safe and effective manner.
What are the Other Benefits of Yoga?
Beyond the mind-body connection and mental clarity that comes with yoga therapy, there are numerous physical benefits. Yoga can help increase flexibility, strengthen the body, increase blood flow, and even help to control pain.
How Many Types of Yoga Are There?
There are multiple types of yoga, all with different purposes and benefits. The eight most popular forms of yoga are hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga, hot yoga, Iyengar yoga, power yoga, vinyasa yoga, restorative yoga, and kundalini yoga.
Depending on the needs and physical capabilities of the individual, a yoga therapist may use one or more types of yoga in a therapy session.
How Does Yoga Affect the Brain?
Studies have shown that yoga practice can actually affect brain anatomy, and has been linked to anatomical changes in the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and frontal cortex.[1]
Let’s look at each of these areas of the brain and what each is responsible for:
— Hippocampus: plays a role in emotion, memory, and the autonomic nervous system.
— Anterior cingulate cortex: this area of the brain is responsible for the expression of emotions, mood regulation, and other cognitive functions
— Insula: involved in cognitive functions, behavior, and sensory processing
— Frontal cortex: one of the most significant areas of the brain in higher cognitive functions, the frontal cortex plays a role in memory, emotional processing, impulse control and motor function.
These areas of the brain affect how an individual experiences addiction and addiction recovery.
What Kinds of Therapies Does Yoga Complement?
Yoga therapy is an adjunct therapy, meaning this form of therapy is complementary to other forms of behavioral therapy such as CBT and DBT.
Yoga therapy is not meant to be a standalone therapy and works best as part of a holistic care plan.
How Can I Get Started With Yoga Therapy in New Jersey?
If you are suffering from addiction, getting help from a drug treatment center can be the catalyst for your new beginning. The first step in living a healthier, more fulfilling life free of addictive substances and harmful behaviors is speaking with one of our admissions specialists to discover how our outpatient treatment programs can help you.
Upon admission, you will undergo a thorough evaluation, taking your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health into account. Then, our providers will create a recovery plan that is custom-tailored to your individual needs.
Yoga therapy has proven to be effective as a part of treatment for drug addictions including opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder and may be recommended by your care team.
Move Your Mind and Your Body Toward Recovery At Absolute Awakenings
If you or a loved one are struggling with drug abuse or the symptoms of a mental health disorder, know that you are not alone. We are here to help you heal both body and soul so that you can live the life you were meant to live.
Contact a member of our admissions team today and let us know how we can help you start living again.
Yes, You Can Get Your Life Back. Call Absolute Awakenings Today.
With our trained and compassionate professionals in your corner, freedom can be yours. All it takes is you choose yourself. Choosing a better tomorrow.
