I am an addict. Not to drugs or pills, but to exercise. It is a great addiction – some would argue. But when it is done in excess, and not doing it makes you feel depressed it creates a harmful dependency. An addiction is something you’re hooked to, that is hard to sacrifice or let go of. Sacrificing addictions in favor of moderation and balance is half the job done. The other half lies in recognizing the root cause of the addiction, and tracing it back to its origin. Whether addiction is disease or a behavioral pattern that can be overcome is still disputed across neuroscientists, and doctors.

One thing is certain, though. It is a form of dependence or strong attachment that with time changes the etching in our brain. In substance abuse, the drug slowly highjacks the brain after continued use. In some instances, people say it stems from an individual’s moral failing and weakness of will. Is that really so?

I tend to look at the spiritual causes of addiction. In most cases they have to do with a sense of lack fueled by deep cravings, and the distress associated with periods of abstinence, which is a key factor for relapse. The more we try to quit smoking, the more the smoking hunger rises because the brain starts to register the lack of it. It alerts the adrenaline system and throws us into a fight or flight mode. The only solution is to go back to the addiction and sooth ourselves until we are emotionally stable to try quitting again. We make another effort, but the craving becomes insatiable. It is a vicious circle. How do we break that loop?

Although I have suffered from substance abuse, and my addiction is related to the happy hormones released through exercise, I have found that altering the routine helps a lot. Trying to substitute your addiction with something pleasant and nourishing, whether it is good food, or a favorite hobby gives your brain a break. The cravings lessen and you realize you can function well enough without your indulgence. You feel balanced and content. The limbic system – your body’s emotional reward circuitry is motivated, and you start to receive pleasure from simple experiences that you never appreciated in the past.  It helps you prioritize your values and cherish constructive involvements.

Your life becomes richer and every experience counts. You become conscious of your actions and the impact they have on the world around you. Your life changes for the better – you adopt a healthy mindset and succumb to a healthy diet. You enjoy being responsible and involved in the community of which you are a part of, contributing to the welfare of all around you. You emanate self-respect and respect for others. This is the moment of the homerun, when you connect with your inner desires and your achievements are no longer the product of continuous yearning, but the fruit of gradual development. At that point the longing that fed your dependence, is nurturing your conscious pursuits for happiness and growth. You broke free. Free to be, free to head on a life-long adventure to rediscovering yourself. Your happy self!

Anti-addiction Yoga Routine: Break free (open level)

This anti-addiction routine takes you deliberately into a free flow, abounding with innovative poses, binds and variations to shake you out of your comfort zone and urge you to change your habits and break free of your dependence and attachments.