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The earliest texts that mentioned this practice, the Vedas (1500 BCE) and the Upanishads (500 BCE), referred to yoga as a means to connect physical and spiritual forms. In 150 BCE, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras described how to attain wisdom, personal power, and liberation through yoga. The sutras included breathing, eating, worship, mindfulness, and meditation techniques.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga, or Ashtanga, were described in the Yoga Sutras. The eight limbs represent yama (moral codes), niyama (self-discipline), asana (postures), pranayama (breath practices), pratyahara (sensory control), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (liberation).1
A flexible and healthy body is key to a healthy mind. When our bodies are properly cared for, our minds benefit. Emotional wellness can help improve physical health and vice versa. This is an important aspect of addiction recovery yoga, as emotional and physical wellness are necessary for healing.
Yoga can help boost mood and combat anxiety. This is because yoga helps us move out of “fight or flight” mode and into “rest and digest” mode. In this state, we can begin to heal and unwind. Yoga can also stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain and lead to feelings of bliss.2
The 12-Step program is rooted in the belief in a higher power and the connection between all living things. Addiction recovery yoga operates similarly, with the higher power being the universe and karmic law. Yoga’s foundational principles align with the 12 Steps and can be used with a traditional program.
These principles will be detailed below.
This principle is about choosing compassion and empathy over anger and judgment. Ahimsa asks us to look at how we treat ourselves and others.
Aparigraha asks us to trust the unfolding of life and let go. This is rooted in the belief that we should possess only what is necessary. Practicing aparigraha can teach us to free ourselves from dependence and accept what we have.
Santosha encourages us to build a life we love. This is the practice of acceptance, freedom to pursue life without fear, and being at peace with ourselves. Santosha also asks us to accept difficult emotions like grief and suffering and allow these experiences to enrich our lives instead. Learning how to be content with life without substances is a significant advantage to practicing addiction recovery yoga.
One of the benefits of addiction recovery yoga is its ability to promote relaxation in the body. Yoga helps calm the body and mind, as it can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body.4
Addiction recovery yoga teaches how to cultivate self-discipline. Control, non-possessiveness, and contentment are examples of essential principles taught through yoga that can be implemented in fostering self-discipline. Addiction recovery yoga helps us build resilience and create routines to prevent relapse.
There are many beginner poses helpful in melting away stress and depression. Some poses for beginners in addiction recovery yoga include:
Start by standing at the edge of your mat with your hands by your sides and your feet hip-width apart. Ground down through your feet, spreading your toes for balance. Inhale deeply and lengthen your spine by engaging your belly. Open your palms so they are facing forward. Stand tall and breathe deeply for four to eight rounds of breath.
From mountain pose, begin to bend down and reach your hands toward the floor. Move slowly to prevent injury. Once bent over, touch your hands to the mat or as far as you can reach. For a deeper stretch, you can go into a ragdoll pose by crossing your arms and allowing your upper body to hang while swaying side to side.
Begin by kneeling on the mat, keeping your knees hip-width apart. Bring your toes together behind you. On an exhale, melt your torso over your knees and fold. Stretch your arms out in front of you and relax into the pose.
At Iris Healing®, we take a holistic approach to addiction treatment. This means we focus on healing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—not just the addiction. You can enjoy addiction recovery yoga, massage therapy, sound bath meditation, and more.
We offer a variety of recovery programs, including detox, residential, outpatient, and aftercare. Depending on your specific needs, our team will create a personalized treatment plan to ensure you get the best opportunity for long-term recovery.
Treatment at Iris Healing® goes beyond the addiction by focusing on all aspects of the person. Our doctorate-level clinical team focuses on mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. We offer dual diagnosis treatment and evidence-based treatment methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), sensorimotor psychotherapy, neurofeedback, and equine-assisted therapy.
Our trained staff is available round the clock to support you on your journey and is committed to helping you live your best life. If you have questions about addiction recovery yoga, our programs, or how to start treatment with Iris Healing®, contact us at (844)-663-4747.
Therapeutic yoga combines physical postures, conscious breathwork, and mindfulness to calm the central nervous system. It helps release physical tension, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and build emotional resilience, supporting deep whole-person healing at Iris Healing in Greater Los Angeles.
Our certified instructors guide gentle Hatha, restorative yoga, Yin yoga, and trauma-informed somatic movement. These accessible styles focus on mindfulness, slow stretching, and nervous system regulation rather than strenuous physical exertion at our peaceful Los Angeles recovery center in California.
Yes. Yoga stimulates the vagus nerve and activates the parasympathetic rest-and-digest response, lowering heart rate and anxiety. When cravings or triggers occur, yoga breathwork provides clients at Iris Healing in Los Angeles with immediate, drug-free tools to regain emotional calm and mental clarity.
No prior experience or flexibility is necessary. Our yoga classes are fully customized to accommodate all fitness levels, physical limitations, and recovery stages. Instructors at Iris Healing in Los Angeles provide gentle modifications so every client feels comfortable, safe, and empowered throughout care.
Yoga bridges the physical and psychological dimensions of recovery. By helping clients become aware of physical sensations connected to emotional trauma, it prepares the nervous system to process memories safely during talk therapy and EMDR sessions at Iris Healing in Woodland Hills, Greater Los Angeles.
Yes, therapeutic yoga is integrated into our licensed, accredited residential and outpatient treatment programs, which are covered by most commercial health insurance providers. Iris Healing in Los Angeles offers free insurance verifications to confirm your complete behavioral healthcare coverage.
Yoga therapy sessions are scheduled regularly as part of our weekly holistic treatment curriculum. Contact our Los Angeles admissions team today to learn more about our integrative therapy schedule and begin your customized holistic healing journey at our serene Woodland Hills center in California.
Speak with an admissions specialist for confidential guidance and personalized treatment options.
