The terms “downward facing dog” or “pigeon pose” may not a ring a bell to you, but for a large number of yoga enthusiasts, these terms are commonplace and elicit a calm and meditative reaction. There are a lot of misconceptions and preconceived notions about the practice, but what every yogi knows are the benefits yoga has on the body.

For individuals recovering from alcohol or drug addiction, transforming the body and the mind is essential in order to overcome an addiction. As more and more recovering addicts look for ways to change their past destructive lifestyles and look for alternative approaches to cope with life’s stresses, yoga may be the perfect complement to one’s more traditional therapy.

Yoga is the ancient discipline of joining the physical self with the spiritual self. Originating approximately 5,000 years ago in India, the term “yoga” is Sanskrit for “yoke” or “to unite.” As the meaning suggests, the practice of yoga includes two distinct elements that unite as one: the physical element and the mental element. By engaging in postures, or “asanas,” with varying degrees of difficulty, yoga helps you strengthen, align, and tone your body. By adding breathing techniques and meditation, yoga becomes more than just an exercise—it becomes a way of life. And for more than 6 million Americans, yoga is a regularly performed practice.

One of the main hurdles recovering addicts face is their physical dependency on drugs or alcohol. Due to the painful and sometimes severe withdrawal period, a recovering addict should detox under the supervision of a physician. In addition to the physician’s recommendations, the implementation of yoga into an individual’s daily or weekly regiment will change the body for the better; one will become leaner and stronger, in turn helping the individual defeat physical cravings.

Yoga is a great form of detoxing because the practice helps flush out toxins from the body due to increased blood flow. Yoga is also practiced in a non-competitive environment where the results noticed are directly related to how much energy the participant puts forth. This allows for a relaxed atmosphere, free from judgment and pressure.

The physical benefits of yoga are only part of what makes this discipline a good treatment choice for recovering addicts. The meditative element helps bring an emotional balance to the body. Along with the meditation, the deep breathing involved in yoga brings a calmness that many recovering addicts haven’t experienced in years. By having to concentrate so intently on a specific pose or on a breathing pattern, personal troubles seem to disappear during the practice. It is also suggested that yoga produces an increased ability to concentrate and to focus, characteristics important for recovering addicts to maintain.

Individuals seeking to break an addiction are faced with an uphill battle, one that may seem impossible to overcome. Yoga is there to help as an alternative approach to the traditional treatment options. In a world of ups and downs, yoga emphasizes a balanced approach to life that everyone can benefit from.

In 2005, Sun realized she needed to change her life. “I was sweating but my skin felt like ice,” she said. “I realized I wasn’t taking care of myself. Did I want to be six feet underground or live to see my grandkids get married?”

She disposed of all her pain medication and contacted her doctor, who said she needed to be hospitalized to wean herself off the drugs. However, she refused to go because she knew the hospital would just give her different drugs, so she decided to stay home. “…It was hell,” her husband, Mike, said about the withdrawal. Sun didn’t sleep for 24 hours, and then could only nap for about 30 minutes at a time. “It took a while,” she said. “Even months later, my body kept saying, ‘Give me medicine! Give me medicine!’” But she refused that little voice inside.

When she was feeling good enough to start exercising, an important factor in beating addiction, Sun tried riding an exercise bike and walking on a treadmill, but she found it boring. Then she saw a commercial about the popular South Korean martial art form Tae Kwon Do, and her husband convinced her to check it out. She was extremely nervous and shy the first day, but she decided to stick with it.

She started out slowly, just doing simple stretches and taking many breaks. Although she still used her cane to walk and needed to rest every 10 to 20 minutes, she had regained flexibility in her legs through deep-tissue massages. She slowly improved her flexibility and balance, and started getting stronger. “I lost some weight, and I started feeling a little better,” Sun said. “I didn’t need many breaks in class, and I was walking better.” Soon after, she was able to quit taking insulin injections for her diabetes, as she could control her blood-sugar levels through diet and exercise.

“I was feeling much more normal,” Sun said. “I was working out three times a week at class and every day at home.” Three years later, Sun is now a black belt, the highest ranking, having just passed the three-hour test. Her next goal is to get her job back as a housekeeper at a health center—she was placed on medical leave years before due to her back pain.

“It felt really good,” said Sun of her accomplishments. “At my age, being able to develop myself this way has given me a lot of pride.”