“There’s no place like om” – at Rose Hill Center
Namaste (nah-mah-stay) a respectful greeting or farewell “my soul honors your soul”
Introducing Yoga 12 Step Recovery
An innovative, and exciting new services, Y12SR (Yoga 12 Step Recovery) has recently been introduced to the residents in the Co-Occurring services who are living at Baker House at Rose Hill Center.
Yogini (instructor) Jessica T., an outgoing woman with a very calming voice, is certified in Y12SR Yoga, has accumulated 200 hours in Certified Yoga Training and 3 years in recovery – of which she is very proud…as she should be! Jessica currently leads the services one day a week at Baker House. The sessions are one hour of yoga and one hour of 12-Step servicesming. Since Y12SR is relatively new to this area Jessica teaches the practice exclusively at Rose Hill Center. In fact, Yoga of 12-Step Recovery is only offered currently at about 6 locations in Michigan.
Yoga 12 Step Recovery Feature Services
Jessica noted that Y12SR was featured in the June edition of Oprah’s magazine. The article emphasizes that anyone who bent their way through a yoga class knows the practice can reduce stress; and anyone who’s ever struggled with substance use knows stress can be a major factor in using and abusing.
It goes on to say that it’s good news then, that a growing number of yoga classes are geared toward people in recovery which are often a blend of a 12-step meeting and easy-flow stretching session. Jessica also pointed out that Y12SR in no way replaces 12-step meetings, a sponsor, or any other part of a 12-step recovery services. However, “it is a wonderful adjunct which provides another helpful tool to more fully address the physical, mental and spiritual disease of substance abuse. The beauty of yoga is that you don’t have to be a yogi to reap the benefits. Whether you are young or old, overweight or fit, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body.”
Yoga 12 Step Recovery Process
During the class, the Baker House residents go through a breathing exercise. This incorporates four distinct yoga poses that go along with the serenity prayer. Jessica explained that participants could use this exercise if they felt lost in troubling thoughts. In fact, this keeps them grounded, and calms their mind by connecting mind, body and spirit through meditation. They notice their breath and the way their body moves during the exercises. Specifically, this is the foundation of a mind-body connection.
Nikki Myers (founder of Y12SR) says “The characteristics and effects of substance abuse could easily be described as separation. Addictive behaviors disconnect us from ourselves, our loved ones, our environment and so much more.”
The residents who participate all had positive comments about the services. For example, “It’s the one thing that that takes my mind away from my troubles – it’s my favorite part of the day.” Furthermore, “The yoga of 12 –Step Recovery services is my little piece of heaven.”
Lauren Fischer, LLMSW who is the Case Manager of Rose Hill’s Co-Occurring Services hopes that those who attend Y12SR, will be able to keep and utilize the skills they have learned to help them cope whenever they exhibit mental health symptoms or high urges to use.
For more information on the Co-occurring Services at Rose Hill, please visit the website at www.rosehillcenter.org. Moreover, call us today at 866-367-0220 to learn more about our Yoga 12 Step Recovery.
