Addiction: A Different Approach
work! Lasting weight loss comes from lifestyle changes, which happens gradually. As with weight-loss, recovery is a process. It doesn’t usually happen overnight, the road to recovery is a journey, which requires determination, patience, and most importantly, the will. Change is influenced by core values and determining how addiction inhibit these values. Change also happens when our strengths overbear our weaknesses. These strengths, such as relationships, work involvement, and activities and interests, are the basis of overcoming addiction (Peele & Brodsky, 1991). Finally, in order for change to happen, realism must be acknowledged. Going back to weight-loss trends, unrealistic goals (this diet will make me lose 10 lbs in a week) set people up for failure. The same holds true in the essence of addiction. For example, a major controversy that has begun to rise is the idea of modification, and if it is more successful than abstinence? Although modification has been highly looked down upon by treatment centers, the truth is, abstinence, like diets can set people up for failure. According to Peele & Brodsky (1991), believing that abstinence is the only way is more likely to cause a person to binge. The realistic effort in changing addictive behaviors is to use modest, achievable goals (Peele & Brodsky, 1991). Focusing on individual strengths and accomplishing realistic goals will overpower the addiction. Addicts do not have to admit to being powerless over their addictions, which does not promote self-efficacy.
Once we have established self-awareness and lifestyle changes have begun to surface, we become more balanced. Balance according the to the eight-limb path of yoga is when we are in harmony with our mind, body and spirit. When the mind, body, and spirit are balanced, magical things begin to happen. Addiction will no longer be the focus of attention; core values will become more important. Eastern religions, such as, Buddhism and Hinduism have been increasingly making their way into the Western culture, because they place high value in enhancing spiritual growth and balance. Our Western culture has missed out on the value of balance.
Yoga is the study of balance. Many people in our society think of yoga as being a kind of exercise program, but in actuality there are eight aspects, known as the eight-limb path. In yoga, this is the path to freedom; it is the core essence of living a meaningful and fulfilled life.
The first two paths are intended to bring us into the right relationship with our spiritual selves. The Yamas, are five moral restraints. Similar to the Ten Commandments found in Christianity or the eight-fold path in Buddhism, these five moral restraints are the “rules” to live by. The Niyamas consist of five observances. These observances are “the fundamental practices that sustain a life based on love” (Gates & Kenison, 2002, p. 83). The Niyamas are spiritual practices that promote well-being.
The third and fourth limbs of this spiritual path are asana and pranayama. . The asanas are the physical aspect of yoga. It is this aspect that most people believe will increase flexibility, and give us a body like Madonna. From a spiritual perspective, it is the physical activity that plays the key role in making the mind -body connection. Similar to what Apostle Paul tells us in the Holy Bible “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, who you have received through God; you are not your own” 1 Corinthians 6:19. So, is true in Yoga. Through the postures we move through layers of stored memory, we discover the grief and pain that have buried deep into our own bodies (Gates & Kenison, 2002). Pranayama is the link that connects the physical body with the contemplative mind. Pranayama in yoga is the breath, known as the life force. In yoga, many different techniques are used to manipulate breath control. Some techniques calm the mind, others stimulate the mind. Pranayama creates a pulse of energy that induces our well being. It is the same energy that Asian philosophies call Chi, Christianity calls Holy Spirit, athletes call “runner’s high, science calls higher intelligence, and the addict calls high, stoned, or drunk.
The next two limbs are pratyahara and dharana. These two paths are the foundation of self-awareness. Pratyahara means “turning inward”. It is through pratyahara that self-discovery develops. In Taoism, a great amount of emphasis is placed on “inner strength”; it is this inner strength that comes from pratyahara. Dharana, the second principle to awareness is about concentration. Gates& Kenison (2002) say dharana is “not something you do, it is something that happens, and it is the result of surrendering to love” (p. 355). Dharana is about stillness, it is about being fully present, which translates into being fully alive.
Dhyana