Yoga is an ancient eastern physical discipline, which is fast becoming a very popular health maintaining physical activity throughout the world. The practice of Yoga involves various types of poses called Asana, which need to be held in a specific way for a specific period of time thus rendering a gradual stretch on various joints and ligaments of the body thereby maintaining and in some cases enhancing the mobility of various joints of the body.
According to the practitioners of this art form, performing certain Asana also helps in gently massaging certain internal organs of thus rendering holistic health benefits. The Yoga routine also involves different breathing exercises, which too are supposed to cleanse the body of toxins and provide a purification of various bodily systems.
In addition, the adepts at Yoga follow a very strict diet and daily schedule. The origin of Yoga dates back centuries and Patanjali, an Indian ascetic, wrote a detailed description of various Asana and Pranayama (breathing exercises) describing the effects of Yoga on health and curing disease. He described in details various disease processes and their possible alleviation with the practice of Yoga. A major part of his dissertation was directed towards the mental aspect of practicing Yoga, which included different forms of meditations.
Effect of Yoga on Mind and Body
Various stretching poses, breathing exercises, and meditational practices are supposed to give a calming effect to the mind and the body. This benefit of Yoga is being explored by various rehab centers and institutes around the world as an effective means to treat patients of substance abuse.
Its Effectiveness in Treating Alcohol Dependence
It has been noted in various studies that the rates of relapse in patients being managed for alcohol dependence are maximum during early periods of rehabilitation when the individual moves from the secure confines of a rehab center to the outside world. Out there, he or she starts experiencing the same stressors and pressures, which put them in a predicament in the first place. This is the time when a stress-busting practice such as Yoga, meditation or for that matter the “soft” martial art of Tai chi can help the individual to get through this critical period.
If the affected person successfully negotiates this time of transfer from the precincts of a rehab center to the outside world then he or she is likely to be addiction free for long periods of time thereby augmenting the efficacy of the therapy as a whole. The practice of Yoga as a treatment modality is becoming popular in the majority of residential as well as Intensive Outpatient Program centers.
The benefits of Yoga in alcoholism are:
* The principle of Yoga being used for Treatment for Alcoholism is based primarily on the fact that Yoga helps the affected individuals deal with stress in a much better way.
* In addition, its health benefits also promote a feeling of generalized well-being thus bringing about a confidence among the patients therefore preventing them from falling prey to substance abuse.
* The relaxation achieved by the practice of Yoga helps individuals have less sleep-related problems which helps treat insomnia and in doing so helping people with alcoholism problems in a roundabout way.
* The practice of a structured physical discipline as a daily routine promotes a healthy lifestyle hence helping in the recovery phase.
Yoga is being included in the curriculum of all major Alcohol Rehabilitation Center and institutions and is a vital cog in the wheel for treating people with alcohol dependence issues.
