Physical activity and body movement therapy are an important part of the addiction recovery process. Not only can exercise reduce stress and tension, but studies have found that those who participate in regular aerobic activity are less likely to abuse substances. [1]
Infinite Recovery provides fitness equipment, training and exercise programs for clients at our inpatient rehab facility, including boxing therapy. Our focus on physical fitness and health is part of our holistic approach to addiction recovery, coupled with talk therapy and other services for a comprehensive healing experience.
At Infinite Recovery, we don’t just help individuals get sober; we help them heal on a body, mind, and soul level, and create lives that are worth staying sober for. Our fitness programming and amenities help clients develop a healthy outlet for stress, work toward measurable goals, and restore their physical strength and stamina after substance abuse.
Our on-site certified boxing trainers and certified personal trainers can provide advice and support while assisting in the creation of a workout plan for clients in our residential treatment program. Clients are also welcome to use the fitness area during open hours and train with each other during their free time.
Some of our fitness amenities include:
Our on-site pool provides a low-impact way to get aerobic exercise and build muscle tone. Water-based exercise has many health benefits and has also been shown to improve mood and mental health. [2] Many individuals also utilize swimming as a way to manage chronic pain and improve cardiovascular fitness. Our swimming pool is also an ideal place to cool off after working out or spending time outside in the Texas heat.
Our general training fitness area includes weights, boxing bags, and other equipment to help clients maintain or improve their physical health and strength while enrolled in our addiction treatment programs. Clients are welcome to work out on their own or in pairs, and they can also take advantage of our on-site certified personal trainer who can provide additional guidance, demonstrating proper form and sharing tips for building muscle strength and muscle tone.
Boxing is one of our most popular movement therapies at Infinite Recovery. Our boxing ring provides clients with an opportunity to get active, release stress, and bond with their peers. We employ certified boxing coaches who spar with clients and teach basic boxing techniques. In addition to elevating heart rate and burning calories, boxing can improve balance and body awareness, enhance mood and increase alertness. [3] As a bonus, aerobic exercise like boxing has been linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease. We have received positive feedback on our boxing therapy program from both clients and their family members.
Following discharge from our inpatient treatment program, Infinite Recovery alumni get free access to a local boxing gym. Our partnership with this gym allows former clients to continue training and improving the skills learned through our boxing therapy program. This free membership also offers alumni a sense of consistency after transitioning back to the outside world and gives them a place to connect with other sober individuals.
As a holistic recovery center, we understand the close connection between physical health, emotional health, and sobriety. We incorporate several forms of movement therapy and body awareness practices into our program offerings. These may include activities like stretching, dance, breath work, stress relief techniques, yoga, and more. Through movement, clients not only have the opportunity to improve physical fitness, but to improve self efficacy, self awareness, emotional health, psychological health, and pain management. Movement therapy and breathing techniques bring more oxygen to the brain and body, which supports healing and well being across all of these categories.
Movement therapy and exercise have been proven to support the addiction recovery process and be an important supplement to more traditional forms of therapy. Research has found a number of reasons why exercise—and aerobic exercise in particular—can reduce substance use and prevent relapse. [1]
Exercise can serve as a non-drug method for increasing the level of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the body [4], which contribute to an elevated mood, more mental clarity, and other positive side effects. This is where the term “runner’s high” comes from. Aerobic exercise in particular seems to present positive benefits for physical, emotional and psychological health. When a person with a substance use disorder has a method for naturally boosting their mood and sense of well-being, they may be less likely to turn to drugs or alcohol to alter their state. Exercise can also be a way to process difficult emotional experiences that affect mood.
Research has also shown that exercise has tremendous benefits for mental health and can decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression while improving self-esteem and cognitive function. [5] Many individuals with substance use disorders have an underlying mental health condition or mental illness. This condition may be the cause of their addictive behavior, or it may be exacerbated by substance use. In either case, physical activity can help decrease and resolve these symptoms, making a person less likely to abuse substances or relapse.
Routine and consistency are important for those who are newly sober. For someone whose life used to revolve around using substances, new daily life habits and healthy patterns need to be developed to take the place of the old ones. Otherwise, it will be all too easy to slip back into routines or social situations that trigger substance use. Developing a fitness routine or engaging in movement therapy is one way those in recovery create stability in their newfound sober lives. And because exercise is self-reinforcing, the more a person works out, the better they feel and the more likely they are to continue building the habit.
Movement therapies can be beneficial in relieving some types of pain and tension, such as chronic low back pain, low hamstring flexibility, tight hips, chronic headaches, weak immune system and more. Physical well being and mental health are closely related, which means that when a person is suffering emotional pain or is under a lot of stress, it can manifest in their bodies and vice versa. Exercise and movement therapies can help improve a broad range of physical health conditions by reducing inflammation, improving sleep, reducing pain sensitivity and building muscle strength. [6] This contributes to psychological healing, reduces symptoms of neurological disorders, and supports addiction recovery.
Boxing therapy and movement therapy are just two of the many therapeutic programs we offer at Infinite Recovery. Because every client is different and has different needs and goals, we provide a wide range of services, from traditional to alternative, to meet each person where they are in their recovery journey.
If you or a loved one are seeking an addiction treatment program that includes movement therapy and a focus on physical fitness, reach out to Infinite Recovery today. We are a trauma-informed, 12-Step-based, holistic recovery center with a program for every stage of the recovery journey, including medical detox, partial hospitalization, outpatient services and inpatient rehab.
Our programs are covered in-network by most major insurance companies. For more information or to verify your insurance, speak with a member of our team today.