Right now, before you start reading, take a moment to breathe, with attention, three or four times.  These deep breaths come from a soft abdomen and an expandable chest. In and out through the nose – or in the nose and out the mouth.  Not to be too concerned about a “right way”.  Just breathe. Become aware of where you are sitting, how your body feels then close your eyes and breathe.

tipsfromtown
Photo courtesy of tipsfromtown.com

Welcome back! How do you feel now? A slow deep breath resets the nervous system, calming the mind and the body.  A shallow breath can signal stress or alert the brain and body to impending danger.  Consciously utilizing the breath to a slower deeper pace can signal your system that you are safe.

What does breathing have to do with recovery? Everything.  A shallow breath, a clenched chest and heart, an adrenaline infused system is reactive.  In my case reactions included rage, running from feelings (and using drugs, alcohol, people) – shutting down in any way I could.  Now, clean and sober, my life depends on being able to feel my feelings and make appropriate choices.  My breath alerts me about my emotions. It is an early warning system that I might be headed for trouble.

Bringing my attention to my breath. taking it easy, taking it slow can sooth my spirits and soften the tensing muscles in my arms, shoulder, jaw; anywhere on my body. Breathing with attention can allow me to cool down, slow down, and check in with mind and spirit.

In the past and on the streets hypervigilance was crucial. Growing up in a chaotic home meant I needed to be aware of what the grownups were feeling and how they were acting. When I was using I needed to be able to protect myself from danger, to know safe from unsafe at a micro level. Now this overactive and over practiced skill can hurt me. I am now safer if I think things through rather than reacting. I am less able to do this if my nervous system is set on “DefCon1”.  I use a slow deep breath to reduce the level of reactive state to level five; peacetime. Then I can think, then I can use my reason. I can assess if my reactions are in the current time or coming from the past; I can actively select a response. I can re-integrate and make choices.

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.”

– Thích Nhất Hạnh, The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation –

“You use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind…” Breath awareness, slow mindful breathing can be the way to involve your rational thinking before impulsive action. Your breath will sustain during times of stress; rather than increasing levels of anxiety it can lessen those feelings, reduce the sensation of being overwhelmed. Stress, excess negative emotions and overwhelm are some of the ways we lose emotional sobriety. Losing emotional sobriety is the gateway to losing total sobriety, the path of relapse.

“Here we begin to practice all of the Twelve Steps….so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety”

– The Twelve Step and Twelve Traditions (page 106) –

This quote comes after a lengthy discussions of achieving emotional health in the other chapters of the 12 steps and 12 traditions of AA. This is in contrast with the phrase “emotional binges” in the chapter on Step Three. This is used in discussion of behaviours we may have used, even in recovery, that are redolent of the pre-sobriety/clean days. When behavior is out of control, impulsive, without thought or out of line with our ethics – acting as if we were inebriated with adrenaline, we are not in recovery mode.  We are no longer acting in alignment with our higher power or the healing of the steps.

When this happens check in with yourself: the breath will let you know. Are you panting or holding your breath? Are you gasping? Is your breath ragged?  Slow down, breathe, count to ten, take a pause, breathe again. Now consider; what is the next right thing?

Constricted breathing during emotional crisis or events coupled with the inability to express emotions in a healthy way will eventually lodge the memories in the body.  This causes constriction in your overall energy level, can trouble your sleep and also impair the immune system allowing for increased cortisol, increased susceptibility to colds and other illnesses, and to reduce one’s ability to physically heal from any manner of injuries, minor and major.

While stress is inevitable having healthy ways to manage it are key. One of them is community (our recovery peeps, in person, online and in meetings) the other is the breath.  The breath is a portable tool that can return your brain and nervous system to ease, your heart to slow down, and your mind to evaluate what your healthy choices are.

Breath is the bridge to a healthy life in recovery and attention to your breath can be your first “line of defense” in returning your nervous system from red zone to a healthy green.

Author

Kyczy Hawk; author and E-RYT 500 Kyczy has been teaching recovery focused yoga classes since 2008. She is also an author having published several books combining the philosophy of yoga with recovery principles. Her most recent books are “Yogic Tools For Recovery; A Guide To Working The Steps” and its companion workbook. She is also the author of “Yoga and the Twelve Step Path” , “Life in Bite-Sized Morsels” , and “From Burnout to Balance” as well as five recovery oriented word puzzle books.You can also join Kyczy and a host of other people in recovery every Sunday morning at 8am PT (11 am ET) on In The Rooms at the Yoga Recovery meeting. She currently holds online Y12SR meetings combining a full 45 minutes of all paths recovery meeting and 45 minutes of all levels yoga.It meets Sundays 4pm PDT (register at wllowglenyoga.com .) Kyczy is very proud of her family; husband, kids, and grandkids, all who amaze her in unique and wonderful ways. Join her mailing list for other information and links to free classes at www.yogarecovery.com.

8 Comments

  1. Beautifully written, Thank you. I had started yoga about 25 years ago and it helped me so much in recovery. I got out of sink with it 20 years ago from several traumas I experienced. I definitely need to take time out for me and get back into this beautiful exercise. Thank you again.

    • I am so happy you enjoyed this article. I do hope you can get back inot your nourishing practice. It is yummy!
      be well- Kyczy

  2. Tammy / Pixie65 Reply

    Thank you so much for that! It was really well said, and I totally relate. I have dealt with anxiety most of my life, and attacks are horrible.

    The breathing is so important when I feel anxiety, in a few different ways.

    Thanks again, loved the read!!!!!

    • Tammy, the breath IS the best and most “portable” tool in soothing anxiety. I am so glad you are an ardent “breather” too. Thank you for your comment.!

  3. SpiritofChange Reply

    Great Article! And very cool bio. I love that you’ve been able to merge your love for yoga with the recovery community. I’ve been unable to embrace Yoga in the past. An hour in slow moving poses was too boring for me. Mtn biking, surfing, and weight lifting have been more my style. However, I’d be curious to try your recovery centric methods. Maybe you could post something on UTube? 🙂

    Despite my lack of yoga, your emphasis on breathing was a great reminder and something I really need to do more of. I think maybe I should find a Ring for my hand that says “breath”, to remind me to do this 100 times a day, actually just once would be better than now.

    Thank you for your post and ongoing service to others in recovery.

    • The physical practice of Yoga isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. And we each have a time of life where we are interested in different things.The parts of yoga that I do all day are breathe, reflect on my actions, practice recovery principles and… did I mention breathe? 🙂
      I love your idea of a breathe ring. Someting to catch your eye no matter what you are doing. The mindful full breath, taking time to inhabit our bodies, is a great reminder of our connection to others.
      Be well and you are so welcome.

  4. thanks precious friend – used my portable relaxation tool in forest over weekend when I was stressing about coming move, finances, etc while in the middle of paradise with my dogs..

    • It is always impressive to me that what can be automatic and incidental can miraculously become of benefit when done mindfully. Keep Coming Back to the breath.

Write A Comment

x

Who Answers?

Calls to the general helpline will be answered by a paid advertiser of one of our treatment partners.

Get Help Now - Call 24/7 888-401-1241 100% Confidential
Who Answers?