Recovery Yoga Meetings

06/26/2025

Recovery Yoga Zoom Meeting. Inpatient treatment.
First-time student V. [during class]: "Wow, what you just said [about courage, vulnerability, and connection] - that made me cry."
First-time student T. [after class]: "So how often do you teach this?"
Me: "I teach it here every Wednesday."
T: "Awesome. I will be here. That was amazing. I've never taken a yoga class like that."
V: "I really like how you explained and talked about recovery with the poses."
Student W: "And you were so real, like one of us."
Me: "I am one of us."


recoveryyogameetings.com

06/19/2025

Got a heart-warming text from my cousin earlier today. Thanks M!

04/24/2025

Recovery Yoga Zoom Meeting. Inpatient Treatment.
Coming to yoga is voluntary at the treatment center, and tonight was a full class, which always makes me smile.
Today, April 23, marks 17 years in recovery for me. At the start of yoga, one of the participants announced that today is day 30 of sobriety for her. We all clapped and congratulated her (as they had for me when I shared my 17 year anniversary). I told the student that 30 days is a much bigger milestone than 17 years, in my opinion. I remember those first months of my own recovery, counting days (sometimes one hour or even one breath at a time), collecting 12 Step “chips”: 30-60-90.
Several students in unison after class: “Thank you!!! We love you and this class.”
Me: “Awww, that is sweet. Thank you. I’ll see you next week!”



***Do you want to experience the joy and purpose of offering Recovery Yoga Meetings to those seeking recovery? I’m hosting a three-day, in-person, teacher training intensive in Silver Spring, MD, May 16-18, 2025. More information at https://recoveryyogameetings.com/trainings

Yoga is a proven support activity for substance use disorder that builds resilience to stress and reduces rates of relapse. Give your clients the tools they need to thrive in recovery.

04/20/2025

Recovery Yoga Meetings Teacher Training with Suzula, Friday 5/16-Sunday 5/18 in Silver Spring MD. For more details, or if you have questions, please visit recoveryyogameetings.com/trainings

03/26/2025

Finally(!) Recovery Yoga Meetings® Teacher Training - May 16-18, 2025 - Silver Spring, MD - http://eepurl.com/i_n9tQ

03/17/2025

Recovery Yoga Zoom Meeting
Regular student E. who missed class last week [before class]: “Some of my anxiety and depression came back on strong this past week. You know, getting stuck in my head… And I know that wouldn’t have happened - or at least wouldn’t have been so bad - if I hadn’t missed yoga last week.”
Student T. [after class]: “That was perfection. Thank you.”


recoveryyogameetings.com

11/20/2024

Study confirms that the physical act of smiling - even fake smiling - can boost your mood.

(And we LAUGH during Recovery Yoga Meetings.)

Recoveryyogameetings.com

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/forcing-a-smile-using-electrical-stimulation-can-boost-your-mood/

11/14/2024

Recovery Yoga Zoom Meeting. Inpatient Treatment.
First-time participant A. [after class]: “You know, I don’t remember which step it was where you said something about how if any thoughts, or feelings, or sensations come up during class, that means I’m releasing something, but I really appreciated that because I’ve done lots of yoga before, but this is the first time I’ve ever felt like crying during practice. I mean, I got choked up. It was intense. So thank you for that.”
Student T [after class]: “I really appreciated when you talked about how we have to take care of and love ourselves before we can help others. It seems like it’s been a theme this week in treatment, and it feels really good to focus on taking care of myself.”


Recoveryyogameetings.com

11/07/2024

Recovery Yoga Meeting. Inpatient Treatment. Some students new to yoga, some new to this practice, and some who’ve been coming every week.

Student A. [first time]: “Wow. That was great but it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
Me: “Well, here’s the thing about Recovery Yoga Meetings: it’s the same practice every week, so you get to experience improvement and growth, which can be kind of hard to come by in early recovery, as I recall."
[Students laughed.]
Student R. [been attending every week]: “That is so true. I hadn’t really thought about it that way, but the poses have gotten a little bit easier for me each week, and I wasn't so wrecked afterward. Thank you so much for this class. I have looked forward to it every week I’ve been here, and now [that I'm graduating,] I will take what I’ve learned from you back out into the “real” world. I just have to remember, like you say during class: "all I have to do is be here and breathe."


https://recoveryyogameetings.com
Public Recovery Yoga Meeting every Sunday at 5:30 pm CT

09/26/2024

Recovery Yoga Zoom Meeting. Inpatient Treatment.
After class:
Student T [final class, graduating from treatment this week]: "Thank you so much for being here and changing my day around. It has just been one of those days, you know?"
Me: "Oh, I know. Mine was one of 'those days' too today."
Student C: "Same. This class is what I look forward to all week. This and our other spiritual group, and that happens tomorrow, so I'm psyched."
Student T: "Much, much love to you, Suzula. I feel hope for the first time in a REALLY long time."

recoveryyogameetings.com

09/25/2024

If being hard on yourself worked,
it would’ve worked by now.

09/19/2024

Recovery Yoga Zoom Meeting. Inpatient Treatment.
Returning student A [after class]: "Yes! That was awesome!"
Returning student B: "Yeah! Thanks Suzula. You know, I look forward to this all week."
Student A: "And I get out next Thursday, so I'll be here for one more class on Wednesday."
Me: "You guys have made my night. Thanks for showing up to do yoga with me. Otherwise I probably would've just gone to bed."
Students laugh.
Student B: "Well, as long as I'm here, you'll be doing yoga Wednesday nights."
All: "See you next week!"

recoveryyogameetings.com