“The 12-step program and Yoga saved my life….one is my lifeboat, the other my launching pad.” Through treatment for a substance addiction in 1987, I was introduced to the 12-step program. It absolutely saved my life. I returned to school, co-founded a business, and co-authored a patent. Then, after eight years in recovery I relapsed. After another bout in hell, I came back to 12-step-based recovery. During this period, I began a deep re-immersion in the study of yoga, and stopped my 12-step program practices to use only yoga philosophy and practices as my support. Four years after the first relapse, I relapsed again. It was after that second relapse that I realized at least for me, there had to be a union between the cognitive approach to addiction recovery offered by 12-step programs, and the somatic approach to healing offered through yoga. Y12SR is just that. It has been a big journey to reintegrate all parts of myself – to accept without judgement all the various experiences that make up my whole – and come to radical self-acceptance. There are many addicts in recovery just like me who are dealing with levels of disconnection that have roots way beyond the cognitive. Two-thirds of American families are either dealing with an addiction themselves, or are affected by someone in their lives who has an addiction. In the 12-step program, there is a saying: “You can’t keep what you have without giving it away.” Y12SR is bigger than me, and I have to share this with others to serve the greater whole.

“The 12-step program and Yoga saved my life….one is my lifeboat, the other my launching pad.” Through treatment for a substance addiction in 1987, I was introduced to the 12-step program. It absolutely saved my life. I returned to school, co-founded a business, and co-authored a patent. Then, aft...Read More