Opiate addiction in Kentucky and the United States:
Kentucky also boasts an extremely high rate of prescription opioid usage. In 2012, doctors in the state of Kentucky issued nearly 3 times the amount of prescriptions for opioids per person than the lowest prescribing states. Additionally, as many as 1 in 4 people who are prescribed opioids for general, noncancer related pain in primary care settings struggles with addiction.1 These are startling numbers, to say the least. To put it simply, this information illustrates that there is a large number of people in both my home state and across the country who are experiencing great physical and mental pain. Great pain that can be relieved by something other than prescription or illicit substances. Great pain that can, in part, be healed by the power of yoga and meditation.
How yoga and meditation benefits those suffering from addiction:
I was inspired to research the benefits of yoga and meditation for people in recovery by a very close friend of mine. I interviewed him at length about his experience in both addiction and sobriety. I have chosen to not include his name out of great respect for his privacy and the privacy of his peers.
I began by asking him when and why he started using. His addiction began at the age of fourteen. He explained that he, and many of his now sober peers, began using to combat mental anguish; to stop ever present destructive thoughts of inadequacy and an inability to live up to both parental and personal expectations. It began with alcohol and marijuana at parties, quickly snowballed to cocaine and prescription pain pills, and eventually led to heroin.
Fifteen years later, he is now in recovery with nearly 3 years of sobriety under his belt. He is also a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-step recovery program, attending three to four meetings per week. In the last year, he discovered and began practicing mindfulness meditation, initially encouraged by his AA sponsor. When asked why he began practicing meditation, he replied, “I'd tried to get sober twice before this most recent stretch. This is the longest I've been sober since I was fourteen years old. The first two times I was in AA, I never paid any attention to the spirituality part. Just ignored it. I realized that's why I couldn't get it right the first two times. I had to do something different. Without meditation, I'm just waking up everyday doing whatever I feel like doing. That's the part of me that makes bad decisions. That's the part of me that shoots dope. It helps with the anger I feel. With the scattered thoughts. The emotions I couldn't control in the past. It helps me slow down and be present. For the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to be present and in control of my mind.” He went on to say that while AA has been one of the biggest tools in his toolbox of sobriety, there is something in the message of running away from the cravings and temptation of his disease that never quite resonated with him. He knew that he needed to learn to accept the temptation to use as it came and to not let his affliction define him.
We went on to discuss principles of mindfulness meditation and principles of the practice of yoga. The eight limbs of yoga versus the eight fold path of Buddhism. We found that while they have their differences, they share very similar tenets. Perhaps one of the most important similarities being, at least for the subject of this paper, “I am not my thoughts.” My friend and I discovered a new level of connection in our companionship. The belief that we are not our thoughts encouraged the both of us separately to dive deeper into our journeys. His journey in sobriety and spirituality and my own journey in the study and practice of yoga.
I then asked my friend what kind of physical changes his body went through after becoming sober. He explained that like most addicts, he had to get used to feeling pain again. He also stated that he gained a significant amount of weight and had trouble feeling comfortable in his body for at least the first year of sobriety. Jennifer Dewey, the fitness director at the Betty Ford Center, a rehabilitation center in Mirage, California states, “Addiction takes a person out of their body and prevents them from connecting to who they are physically and feeling what their body is telling them. Yoga is a great way to slowly reintroduce someone to physical sensation. It’s also very relaxing, so in terms of the anxiety, stress, and depression that arise from detox, it’s invaluable in helping people stay calm and grounded.”2 The practice of yoga can also be exceptionally helpful to recovering addicts who may have suffered irreparable physical damage from their addiction. Both chair yoga and gentle yoga can be practiced by students with severe physical limitations and is offered at many studios worldwide.
The Science Behind It:
Unfortunately, there isn't currently a wealth of studies dedicated to the effects of yoga and meditation on the mind and body of the addict specifically, but we can make correlations based on the physiological and psychological effects of yoga on the mind and body generally speaking. It has been proven that practicing yoga even as little as a couple times per week increases muscle strength and flexibility as well as improving cardiovascular and respiratory function. Studies have also shown that yoga increases internal awareness and people who practice yoga regularly are more satisfied and less critical of their bodies.4 There are a number of postures proven to reduce blood pressure and help cure digestive disorders. BKS Iyengar, one of the great teachers of our time and the first yogi to photograph the asanas (postures), lists a number of physical and mental ailments and the postures to cure them in an index in his renowned book, Light on Yoga.
Some studies have been published on the effects of various techniques of meditation on the human brain. In a 2012 study, researchers compared brain images from 50 adults who meditate and 50 adults who don’t meditate. Results suggested that people who practiced meditation for many years have more folds in the outer layer of the brain. This process (called gyrification) may increase the brain’s ability to process information.5 Studies have also shown that people who meditate regularly show signs of reduced anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Again, one can devise that regularly practiced meditation could be beneficial to those suffering from these maladies and others, such as substance addiction.
Annalisa Cunningham is a yoga teacher who hasn't personally suffered the affliction of addiction, but lived with addicts for most of her life. She authored a book entitled Healing Addiction with Yoga: A Yoga Program for People in 12-Step Recovery. Included in the book is a sequence of yoga postures with attached affirmations and journaling prompts designed to benefit those suffering from addiction. Many of the affirmations and postures are based on forgiveness and acceptance, stressing an importance on seeking inner peace and not perfecting the postures themselves.
The benefits of yoga and meditation on the human body are infinite, much like the practices themselves. The struggle lies in bringing it to the people who have little opportunity to be exposed to its power.
Barriers between recovering addicts and the practice of yoga and meditation:
While yoga and meditation is more accessible than ever before, there is still a stigma surrounding these practices in the Western world. All one has to do is hop on a social networking site, type “yoga” into the search bar, and thousands of photos of fit men and women in handstands and backbends are at your fingertips. People plastering quotes from Buddha and Osho over photos of forests and waterfalls. Internet gurus sharing their wisdom with anyone who will listen. There is a wealth of information out there, not all of it legitimate, and it can be intimidating to sift through. Where does one even start?
From the outside looking in, it appears that yoga and meditation is for a certain type of person. A healthy person. A wealthy person. Not to mention that at the vast majority of studios and meditation centers, it costs money. For a person in recovery, who does not have the best relationship with their body or mind especially in the beginning stages of sobriety, or who may be financially bereft, that can be an intimidating thing to approach. Many recovering addicts feel that they are undeserving of such practices. They may be still suffering from the painful thoughts or physical sensations that led them to using in the first place. Luckily, there are some dedicated yogis and yoginis out there sharing their own stories of addiction and recovery with the general public and creating spaces for people with similar experiences to enter into the infinite world of yoga and meditation.
Taylor Hunt is an authorized Ashtanga yoga teacher located in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio also happens to be one of the states with the highest percentage of opiate abuse and death in the country. Last year, he published a memoir titled A Way From Darkness. In this book, Mr. Hunt bravely shares his story of addiction and recovery. A path that eventually led him to the healing practice of Ashtanga yoga, initially at the encouragement of his sponsor. It also tells the story of his founding of The Trini Foundation,3 a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the power of Ashtanga to rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, and even prisons. The foundation also provides scholarships at studios around the country (as far as Juneau, Alaska!) to students in recovery from addiction as well as students who may be financially disadvantaged. There are a number of other programs sponsored by The Trini Foundation including yoga in at risk communities and delinquent youth prevention programs, partnerships with wellness professionals such as therapists and nutritionists, and mentorship programs for teachers looking to aid these various populations. Very recently, Sharath Jois, Director of the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India accepted an honorary director position at the foundation. This is a huge step for The Trini Foundation, marking great progress in providing help to the many communities full of people who may never be introduced to the magic of yoga otherwise.
With programs such as The Trini Foundation in place, yoga and meditation is reaching more people in need than in previous years. It is up to us as healthy practitioners and teachers to continue to practice this kind of seva (acts of service) in our own communities; to bring the power of yoga and meditation to the people who need it most. The 12th step of the Alcoholics Anonymous program instructs, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” It doesn't seem so different from many yogic traditions and systems in which the student continues to grow and learn by becoming the teacher. While great strides have been made, we are needed. Perhaps, more than ever.
Yoga Sequence for Students Recovering from Addiction by Annalisa Cunningham
Virasana or variation of Virasana
Affirmation: Serenity comes when I surrender
Balasana or variation of Balasana
Affirmation: I rest in trust and patience
Paschimottonasana or variation of Paschimottonasana
Affirmation: I move forward with patience
Baddha Konasana or variation of Baddha Konasana
Affirmation: My spirit is gentle.
Viparita Karani or variation of Viparita Karani
Affirmation: As I relax, I gain insight, clarity, and ease.
Apanasana
Affirmation: I hold myself with compassion
Jathara Parivartanasana
Affirmation: Everywhere I turn, I see beauty.
Savasana
Affirmation: I allow myself to relax completely and surrender to my Higher Power.
Bibliography:
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html
2 Yoga for Addiction Recovery – Yoga Journal
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-
section/higher-ground/
3 The Trini Foundation
http://www.trinifoundation.org/
4 Yoga – Benefits Beyond the Mat
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-benefits-beyond-the-mat
5 Meditation – In Depth | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
In the United States, opioids, both prescription and illicit, are consistently responsible for more overdose deaths than any other substance. According to a Center for Disease Control study from 2015, which is the last year that information is available, opioids were involved in 33,091 deaths. This number has continued to increase, quadrupling since 1999. The state of Kentucky having one of the highest rates of overdose death in the country; sitting at 29.9 per 100,000 people in 2015.1
Kentucky also boasts an extremely high rate of prescription opioid usage. In 2012, doctors in the state of Kentucky issued nearly 3 times the amount of prescriptions for opioids per person than the lowest prescribing states. Additionally, as many as 1 in 4 people who are prescribed opioids for general, noncancer related pain in primary care settings struggles with addiction.1 These are startling numbers, to say the least. To put it simply, this information illustrates that there is a large number of people in both my home state and across the country who are experiencing great physical and mental pain. Great pain that can be relieved by something other than prescription or illicit substances. Great pain that can, in part, be healed by the power of yoga and meditation.
How yoga and meditation benefits those suffering from addiction:
I was inspired to research the benefits of yoga and meditation for people in recovery by a very close friend of mine. I interviewed him at length about his experience in both addiction and sobriety. I have chosen to not include his name out of great respect for his privacy and the privacy of his peers.
I began by asking him when and why he started using. His addiction began at the age of fourteen. He explained that he, and many of his now sober peers, began using to combat mental anguish; to stop ever present destructive thoughts of inadequacy and an inability to live up to both parental and personal expectations. It began with alcohol and marijuana at parties, quickly snowballed to cocaine and prescription pain pills, and eventually led to heroin.
Fifteen years later, he is now in recovery with nearly 3 years of sobriety under his belt. He is also a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-step recovery program, attending three to four meetings per week. In the last year, he discovered and began practicing mindfulness meditation, initially encouraged by his AA sponsor. When asked why he began practicing meditation, he replied, “I'd tried to get sober twice before this most recent stretch. This is the longest I've been sober since I was fourteen years old. The first two times I was in AA, I never paid any attention to the spirituality part. Just ignored it. I realized that's why I couldn't get it right the first two times. I had to do something different. Without meditation, I'm just waking up everyday doing whatever I feel like doing. That's the part of me that makes bad decisions. That's the part of me that shoots dope. It helps with the anger I feel. With the scattered thoughts. The emotions I couldn't control in the past. It helps me slow down and be present. For the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to be present and in control of my mind.” He went on to say that while AA has been one of the biggest tools in his toolbox of sobriety, there is something in the message of running away from the cravings and temptation of his disease that never quite resonated with him. He knew that he needed to learn to accept the temptation to use as it came and to not let his affliction define him.
We went on to discuss principles of mindfulness meditation and principles of the practice of yoga. The eight limbs of yoga versus the eight fold path of Buddhism. We found that while they have their differences, they share very similar tenets. Perhaps one of the most important similarities being, at least for the subject of this paper, “I am not my thoughts.” My friend and I discovered a new level of connection in our companionship. The belief that we are not our thoughts encouraged the both of us separately to dive deeper into our journeys. His journey in sobriety and spirituality and my own journey in the study and practice of yoga.
I then asked my friend what kind of physical changes his body went through after becoming sober. He explained that like most addicts, he had to get used to feeling pain again. He also stated that he gained a significant amount of weight and had trouble feeling comfortable in his body for at least the first year of sobriety. Jennifer Dewey, the fitness director at the Betty Ford Center, a rehabilitation center in Mirage, California states, “Addiction takes a person out of their body and prevents them from connecting to who they are physically and feeling what their body is telling them. Yoga is a great way to slowly reintroduce someone to physical sensation. It’s also very relaxing, so in terms of the anxiety, stress, and depression that arise from detox, it’s invaluable in helping people stay calm and grounded.”2 The practice of yoga can also be exceptionally helpful to recovering addicts who may have suffered irreparable physical damage from their addiction. Both chair yoga and gentle yoga can be practiced by students with severe physical limitations and is offered at many studios worldwide.
The Science Behind It:
Unfortunately, there isn't currently a wealth of studies dedicated to the effects of yoga and meditation on the mind and body of the addict specifically, but we can make correlations based on the physiological and psychological effects of yoga on the mind and body generally speaking. It has been proven that practicing yoga even as little as a couple times per week increases muscle strength and flexibility as well as improving cardiovascular and respiratory function. Studies have also shown that yoga increases internal awareness and people who practice yoga regularly are more satisfied and less critical of their bodies.4 There are a number of postures proven to reduce blood pressure and help cure digestive disorders. BKS Iyengar, one of the great teachers of our time and the first yogi to photograph the asanas (postures), lists a number of physical and mental ailments and the postures to cure them in an index in his renowned book, Light on Yoga.
Some studies have been published on the effects of various techniques of meditation on the human brain. In a 2012 study, researchers compared brain images from 50 adults who meditate and 50 adults who don’t meditate. Results suggested that people who practiced meditation for many years have more folds in the outer layer of the brain. This process (called gyrification) may increase the brain’s ability to process information.5 Studies have also shown that people who meditate regularly show signs of reduced anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Again, one can devise that regularly practiced meditation could be beneficial to those suffering from these maladies and others, such as substance addiction.
Annalisa Cunningham is a yoga teacher who hasn't personally suffered the affliction of addiction, but lived with addicts for most of her life. She authored a book entitled Healing Addiction with Yoga: A Yoga Program for People in 12-Step Recovery. Included in the book is a sequence of yoga postures with attached affirmations and journaling prompts designed to benefit those suffering from addiction. Many of the affirmations and postures are based on forgiveness and acceptance, stressing an importance on seeking inner peace and not perfecting the postures themselves.
The benefits of yoga and meditation on the human body are infinite, much like the practices themselves. The struggle lies in bringing it to the people who have little opportunity to be exposed to its power.
Barriers between recovering addicts and the practice of yoga and meditation:
While yoga and meditation is more accessible than ever before, there is still a stigma surrounding these practices in the Western world. All one has to do is hop on a social networking site, type “yoga” into the search bar, and thousands of photos of fit men and women in handstands and backbends are at your fingertips. People plastering quotes from Buddha and Osho over photos of forests and waterfalls. Internet gurus sharing their wisdom with anyone who will listen. There is a wealth of information out there, not all of it legitimate, and it can be intimidating to sift through. Where does one even start?
From the outside looking in, it appears that yoga and meditation is for a certain type of person. A healthy person. A wealthy person. Not to mention that at the vast majority of studios and meditation centers, it costs money. For a person in recovery, who does not have the best relationship with their body or mind especially in the beginning stages of sobriety, or who may be financially bereft, that can be an intimidating thing to approach. Many recovering addicts feel that they are undeserving of such practices. They may be still suffering from the painful thoughts or physical sensations that led them to using in the first place. Luckily, there are some dedicated yogis and yoginis out there sharing their own stories of addiction and recovery with the general public and creating spaces for people with similar experiences to enter into the infinite world of yoga and meditation.
Taylor Hunt is an authorized Ashtanga yoga teacher located in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio also happens to be one of the states with the highest percentage of opiate abuse and death in the country. Last year, he published a memoir titled A Way From Darkness. In this book, Mr. Hunt bravely shares his story of addiction and recovery. A path that eventually led him to the healing practice of Ashtanga yoga, initially at the encouragement of his sponsor. It also tells the story of his founding of The Trini Foundation,3 a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the power of Ashtanga to rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, and even prisons. The foundation also provides scholarships at studios around the country (as far as Juneau, Alaska!) to students in recovery from addiction as well as students who may be financially disadvantaged. There are a number of other programs sponsored by The Trini Foundation including yoga in at risk communities and delinquent youth prevention programs, partnerships with wellness professionals such as therapists and nutritionists, and mentorship programs for teachers looking to aid these various populations. Very recently, Sharath Jois, Director of the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India accepted an honorary director position at the foundation. This is a huge step for The Trini Foundation, marking great progress in providing help to the many communities full of people who may never be introduced to the magic of yoga otherwise.
With programs such as The Trini Foundation in place, yoga and meditation is reaching more people in need than in previous years. It is up to us as healthy practitioners and teachers to continue to practice this kind of seva (acts of service) in our own communities; to bring the power of yoga and meditation to the people who need it most. The 12th step of the Alcoholics Anonymous program instructs, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” It doesn't seem so different from many yogic traditions and systems in which the student continues to grow and learn by becoming the teacher. While great strides have been made, we are needed. Perhaps, more than ever.
Yoga Sequence for Students Recovering from Addiction by Annalisa Cunningham
Virasana or variation of Virasana
Affirmation: Serenity comes when I surrender
Balasana or variation of Balasana
Affirmation: I rest in trust and patience
Paschimottonasana or variation of Paschimottonasana
Affirmation: I move forward with patience
Baddha Konasana or variation of Baddha Konasana
Affirmation: My spirit is gentle.
Viparita Karani or variation of Viparita Karani
Affirmation: As I relax, I gain insight, clarity, and ease.
Apanasana
Affirmation: I hold myself with compassion
Jathara Parivartanasana
Affirmation: Everywhere I turn, I see beauty.
Savasana
Affirmation: I allow myself to relax completely and surrender to my Higher Power.
Bibliography:
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html
2 Yoga for Addiction Recovery – Yoga Journal
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-
section/higher-ground/
3 The Trini Foundation
http://www.trinifoundation.org/
4 Yoga – Benefits Beyond the Mat
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-benefits-beyond-the-mat
5 Meditation – In Depth | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
Allison began her yoga experience in 2004 as a
dance major at the Youth Performing Arts school here in Louisville, KY. She
started practicing Hatha yoga at Yoga East in 2014, fell in love with the
studio and teachers, and has been practicing here ever since. She enjoys
practicing Ashtanga yoga and hanging out upside down on the rope wall at the
Kentucky Street studio. She has studied with Laura Spaulding, Susan Reid, and
David Garrigues, and looks forward to continuing her studies in the years to
come.
