Can I practice yoga if I have an addiction? Will it help?
Yes, anyone can practice yoga. It may be more difficult if you are battling an addiction, but your strong desire to overcome it is the most important element. Yoga may help you to focus on a higher ideal that will eventually help you give up the addiction. If yoga is not enough, you can get additional help that will compliment the yoga.
The “Twelve Step program” developed originally by Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s is a highly effective means for dealing with compulsive habits, and has been expanded to cover every kind of compulsive/addictive behavior.
If you look in the AYP links section under “Twelve Step Programs,” you will find some useful resources there. The goals of the twelve step program are consistent with yoga, and whether we consider ourselves to be compulsively addicted or not, developing a familiarity with the principles of the twelve steps is very worthwhile.
or read more here:
Lesson 272 - Addiction, Abusive Conduct, Tough Love and Yoga
Lesson 308 - Addictions and Flights of Fancy
Lesson T38 - Porno, compulsive habits, and tantra
At the forum:
Drugs, depression, and yoga
12 Step Programs for Compulsive/Addictive Conduct
Help with removing non-substance addictions
Overcoming drug addiction