Integrative Therapeutic Yoga for Substance Use and Co-Occurring Symptoms: Outcomes and Insights from a Residential...

Emerging research highlights the diverse benefits of yoga for both physical and mental health. This project investigated the utility of integrating therapeutic yoga into a residential treatment program for individuals recovering from substance-use disorders, focusing on psychological outcomes such as anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychological flexibility. The sample included 117 participants undergoing a 30- to 90-day residential treatment program. The intervention included approximately three tailored therapeutic yoga sessions per week, incorporating foundational yoga principles of guna (attributes or qualities that constitute nature) and balancing effects and the ayurvedic concepts of langhana (reduction), brahmana (expansion), and samana (balance). Psychological outcomes were assessed using self-report measures including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory-Short Form, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Data were collected at intake and discharge, and paired-samples t tests were conducted to evaluate changes in psychological outcomes. Statistically significant reductions were observed in depression and generalized anxiety. Furthermore, psychological flexibility statistically significantly increased, while inflexibility decreased. Self-compassion scores also statistically significantly improved. Finally, among individuals with probable PTSD, symptom scores statistically significantly decreased. The integration of therapeutic yoga within a residential treatment setting was associated with improvements in psychological outcomes for individuals recovering from substance-use disorders. These findings provide preliminary support for the inclusion of holistic, integrative approaches such as therapeutic yoga in substance-use disorder treatment programs. Future research should aim to include diverse populations, use randomized controlled designs, and explore the long-term sustainability of these benefits.