Healing Addiction with Yoga: A Yoga Program for People in 12-Step Recovery » (Third edition)

Annalisa Cunningham is a certified yoga teacher and a communications teacher with a background in counseling. She is the author of Gentle Yoga for Healing and Yoga Vacations: A Guide to International Yoga Retreats. She lives in Chico, California.

Cunningham presents a comprehensive wellness program that includes a 21-day yoga program using dynamic affirmations, relaxation techniques, nutrition and lifestyle suggestions, aerobic activities and journal writing.  Especially oriented toward those in 12-Step programs, or for anyone who wants to enrich their physical, emotional and spiritual life, Cunningham s personal and persuasive text describes how adding yoga can enhance program recovery and enhance the mind/body connection.

About the Author:

Annalisa Cunningham is a certified yoga teacher and communications teacher with a master s degree in counseling. She is the author of Gentle Yoga for Healing and Yoga Vacations: A Guide to International Yoga Retreats.

Publishers Weekly

Cunningham, "a recovering person since the night in 1984 when I attended my first meeting for Adult children of Alcoholics," has found solace in focusing on the famous 12 steps, attending support meetings and practicing a yoga-centered health care program that encompasses mind, body and spirit. She doesn't purport that yoga should be used instead of 12 step programs; rather, it should complement one's recovery plan. Drawing mainly on the practice of hatha yoga, Cunningham (Gentle Yoga for Healing) prescribes incorporating the 12-step philosophy into a yoga practice. Readers will learn to concentrate on positive sayings while they stretch into poses. For example, Cunningham counsels readers to contemplate thoughts like "I am calm" and "I am rooted in faith" when they are standing in tree pose, balanced on one foot with arms raised like tree branches. And while hanging forward in a bending pose, recovering addicts should think to themselves, "I let go of all tension, all worries, all anxiety." A 28-day calendar gives suggestions for roughly 10 varying poses each day. In addition to the poses and mantras, Cunningham also includes information on other ways to stimulate recovery, including meditation, nutritious eating and aerobic exercise. Although not comprehensive by any means, Cunningham's book is soothingly reassuring, and offers an inspiring way for recovering addicts to balance their 12-step program with a physical and spiritual practice. 40 color photos. (Nov.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Acknowledgments 1

Dedication 3

The 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 4

Foreword 7

Introduction 11

1 The 12-Step Approach to Recovery 15

2 How does Yoga fit in with the 12-Steps? 27

3 Tools for Choosing to Live 37

4 Yoga Postures with Affirmations 49

5 Learning to Surrender: Relaxation, Meditation, and Prayer 107

6 Eating well is part of Loving Yourself 125

7 Aerobic Exercise 139

8 Recovery is a Lifetime Journey 149

Resources 152