by Heather Laffely, CYT

Yesterday morning, as I unplugged my phone from its charger, I noticed that the battery was not charged. My first thought was, "uh-oh"...

I was heading to teach yoga at a residential program for drug/alcohol addiction and disordered eating, with no way to charge my phone.

The women in the program, like many yogis, prefer music (which was on my phone), over silence in the class.

However, creating quiet space, i.e. to sit with only one's breath and thoughts, is crucial in early recovery; and that is how we practiced. 

Early recovery is raw and vulnerable. It is a time to detox, fight triggers, and literally put days behind you, as you work to regain physical and mental wellness.

The mind often "reads" silence as a signal to get "chatty" or fill the void with conversations, many times fueled by feelings of regret, judgment, etc.  

Practicing quiet yoga can help to support conversations of a self-love, self-accepting nature. 

Positive words or feelings are inhaled, intentionally inhaled, and thoughts to the contrary intentionally exhaled, intentionally encouraged to leave the mind and body.

It is called a yoga or meditation "practice," and practice is what it takes. 

Sitting in silence can be a challenge. Fidgeting, mental list making, reasons to move, etc. can begin.

Sitting in silence, in early recovery, can be scary and unbearable. 

Addiction and trauma are often counterparts. In the quiet, still moments, difficult experiences and emotions can surface.

Silent practice helps train the mind to witness thoughts, without passing judgment. 

This encourages the possibility for processing, acceptance, and forgiveness.  

In a physical yoga practice, forward folds can stimulate this quiet mindfulness work.

The forehead is lowered in the direction of the ground, in some way, and the gaze is drawn inward. 

A person is left with only their thoughts. Nowhere to go, no where to look, no physical movement or melodic stimuli to distract.

The breath becomes essential in the effort to remain present. 

Hydrating the physical and subtle (mental and emotional) bodies, it fully supports the process of putting one foot in front of the other, towards Recovery.