They say addiction is a family disease, and one of the reasons I sought out becoming a CRPA is because substance use disorder had its grip on my family since I was a young child. I wanted to bring into this field the same tools and practices that had helped me recover.
In the summer of 2012, my older brother Jesse passed away from a fentanyl overdose. This was one of the most challenging times of my life. Years later, my grief led me to seek my own healing. In my quest for recovery, I found yoga.
Yoga worked for me in ways that traditional recovery methods did not. It didn’t leave me feeling closed off from important parts of myself; instead, it welcomed all of me in and met me exactly where I was in life.
Yoga means union. To practice yoga is to come together, to join, to become one. Whether that union is within oneself—mind, body, and soul—or within a community or Sangha, the underlying message remains the same: healing happens in wholeness. And in that oneness, recovery is not only possible—it unfolds naturally. The ripples of my yoga practice extended into every part of my life. Bringing yoga back into the recovery communities I belong to was not something I planned; it evolved naturally.
Every person has a different path on their journey. This is true in life, and it’s true in recovery. What I want to share is that there are many pathways that can support healing for anyone affected by SUD. Wellness practices such as meditation, yoga, breathwork, Reiki, and other holistic pathways can be part of a supportive team of methods that can help many people.
The Benefits of a Yoga Practice
● Lowers levels of the stress-producing hormone cortisol
● Calms the nervous system
● Brings balance to mind, body, and soul
● Improves self-esteem
● Improves sleep
● Helps with chronic pain
My work as a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate is shaped both by the loss of my brother and by my own pathway toward healing. My family has different ways of healing and finding recovery, and I am proud of all of them. My sister and my mother are both in this field, and I find so much truth in this that, although they say addiction is a family disease, so is recovery. Recovery happens together. Let’s heal together.
If you would like to read more about the benefits of yoga in the treatment of SUD, explore the comprehensive paper by my sister, Dr. Nicole Miller, published [here]
We would also like to welcome you to our new group at East End THRIVE, located in Riverhead, called Compassionate Yoga. Every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Join us for a gentle and supportive yoga class designed to cultivate self-compassion and personal discovery! You can expect: guided meditation, breathwork practices, gentle yoga postures, and light discussion of yogic principles. This class is open to all skill levels and poses can be modified for comfort and accessibility. All are welcome to attend! 18+
