Sobriety and Fitness: How Exercise Can Help You Maintain a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Life
Being in recovery is no easy feat and it is important to have the right resources at your disposal. Physical fitness can often be overlooked as an effective tool for managing the challenges of sober living. Yes, exercise can help you manage stress more effectively, sleep better, stay connected to yourself—which all contribute to healthy sobriety. Also, incorporating physical activity into your lifestyle can bring a new level of camaraderie that we’ve never seen before–a real sense of unity and community while working towards shared goals with other people in recovery. Let’s explore how physical fitness can enhance a sober lifestyle!
Workouts to Support Your Sobriety
Fit Recovery: Getting involved in a strength and conditioning class with others is a great way to overcome many challenges people experience during recovery. It’s also a great way to start building up your self-esteem. Participating in our Fit Recovery classes can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride that you might not get from anything else in your life right now. That’s important, because feeling good about yourself is one of the best ways to stay sober.
Boxing: Boxing is a great way to let out all of your pent-up anger and frustration. It’s also a great workout. If you’re looking for something that will really get your heart pumping, boxing is it. And the more you sweat, the less likely you are to want to drink or use drugs. When you’re physically tired, your body doesn’t crave alcohol or drugs as much as it does when you’re rested.
Yoga: Yoga is all about mindfulness and being in the present moment. That can be very helpful for people in recovery, because it can help take your mind off of drinking or using drugs. When you’re focused on your breath and your body, it’s difficult to focus on anything else. And that can be very helpful when you’re trying to stay sober.
Walking or Running: Aerobic training, such as walking or running increases dopamine levels. Dopamine is known to improve your mood and give you that great feeling in your body. It takes as little as 15 minutes of a brisk walk or slight jog to start feeling the benefits and to help you stay focused on sober living. If you want to work towards a goal, participate in a local 5K or 10K walk or run.
Crossfit: If you are looking for a bigger challenge, get involved in this intensive fitness program. Crossfit incorporates cardio, strength training, and flexibility into a variety of exercises that will challenge you physically and mentally.
Create a Plan for Success
If you are working to embrace a new lifestyle of sober living, know that you’re not alone. There are millions of people just like you who are on the journey to recovery. Finding healthy coping mechanisms and new activities and challenges are one of the keys to success. Committing to a fitness routine has been invaluable in helping many people stay sober.
Choose a fitness passion, or try something new. Whether it’s boxing, yoga, running, or some other form of exercise, commit to participating in that activity two to five times a week. Set some other goals that will stretch you in your physical fitness and watch how moving your body will help stay on track with your sober living goals.
If you are working a recovery program, and are in the Denver Metro area, visit us at Hazelbrook Community Center for a FREE Sober workout experience!
Your turn to share. What is your favorite form of fitness?
Shout out in the comments below!