Fitness for Recovery

At Augustine Recovery, we’ve found that fitness is an invaluable resource for people in recovery. Alcohol and drug use can severely impact your physical health; as you heal from a substance use disorder, it’s important to strengthen and restore your body to a state of well-being.

There are several benefits to regular physical activity, in treatment and beyond.

 Exercise provides a natural mood boost. We’re all familiar with the rush you get after an intense workout. That feeling of accomplishment and exertion comes from the release of endorphins: natural feel-good chemicals that reinforce good behavior. Fitness is a great way to rewire your reward system for a life of sustained sobriety.

Avoid boredom and wasted time. As you break free of addiction, you may notice just how much time has been taken up by the need to obtain, use, and recover from drugs and alcohol. What will you do with the extra hours in a day? Fitness can be the answer!

Learn to structure your days. If you’ve committed to a consistent exercise regime, you’ll probably get into the habit of working out at the same time each morning, afternoon, or evening. Whether you’re hitting the gym after work or greeting the day with a sunrise yoga session, fitness provides much-needed structure in early recovery. 

Spend time doing something you enjoy. When we are addicted to a substance, that drug or drink takes over. We lose sight of activities and hobbies we were once passionate about. Fitness presents a great opportunity to revisit beloved lifestyle staples like training for a marathon, taking in nature on a hike, or surfing the waves.

Heal your body and mind. Research shows that long-term fitness can significantly improve your overall health. When you work out regularly, you’ll boost your cardiovascular health, lower your risk of certain cancers, activate your immune system, and improve your mental well-being. What’s not to love?