WEEK ONE

What is the Re/Framing Addiction with Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy program all about?

The Re/Framing Addiction program is a 12 – week, NAMA accredited, virtual online course, tailored to yoga teachers, yoga therapists, students of Ayurvedic medicine, Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy and anyone in the wellness and mental health industries who are interested in gaining the knowledge and education to reframe your understanding of addiction, to compassionately guide others to heal from a place of authenticity, love and awareness. You will gain the tools to create systems of self-healing designed to optimize the health and wellness of your clients and to begin to guide others to break free from, and prevent the on-set of, addictive behaviours.

Not only will this course provide you with the education you need to assist others in their healing journeys, it will also give you the opportunity to access your own innate wisdom and to draw upon your background in Ayurvedic medicine, yoga and wellness, to practically begin to apply these principles and techniques to address addictive patterns in your own life.

What is the structure of the program?

• Weekly Videos & Lessons: We will learn and review one module per week, together. This will include a weekly video taught with me, as well as a fully-downloadable weekly lesson plan.
• Home Activities: Each week I will send you home with reflective exercises and practices to incorporate into your routine. Reading is fantastic, but experience and practice is the true source of knowledge. I draw from a variety of backgrounds, beyond yoga and Ayurveda, to encourage growth and exploration.
• Tribe Support: At the beginning of the program, I will invite you to join our Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect, collaborate and share with fellow RA students. Don’t worry if you don’t have Facebook, you can create a “fake” account and use it solely for the Facebook group.

What will I learn from the Re/Framing Addiction program?

• how to reframe your understanding of addiction and how to overcome personal and societal stigmas about addiction
• the biology, physiology and psychology of addiction
• how to understand addiction from a holistic perspective, mind, body & spirit
• the link between trauma and addiction
• how to use the science of Ayurveda to treat addiction individually
• how to effectively use yoga, including pranayama, asana and meditation to manage addictive behaviours and detoxify
• practices to help curve cravings
• dietary and nutritional support for recovery
• how to create a supportive tribe
• the importance of cultivating joy and humour
• how to use the innate wisdom of nature and our natural environment to heal

Course Outline Week-by-Week

Week One

Welcome & Orientation

Week Two

What is Addiction?

Week Three

Addiction and our Energy Bodies

Week Four

Meditation and Addiction

Week Five

Pranayama/Breathing Techniques and Addiction

Week Six

Movement and Addiction

Week Seven

Diet to Support Recovery

Week Eight

Panchakarma for Addiction

Week Nine

Trauma, Addiction and Yoga

Week Ten

Cultivating Community Support – The Importance of Your Tribe and Giving Back

Week Eleven

Re-Wilding for Recovery

Week Twelve

Embracing Joy and Humour in Recovery

What You Will Need!

• Reliable internet connection
• Home computer and/or laptop computer with updated plug-ins to view and listen to video
• 1 *Fresh* journal
• 1 *Fresh* notebook and/or loose note pages in a binder
• *Facebook Account

*If you don’t have a Facebook account and you’re reluctant to get one, it is possible to set up a “fake” account for the sole purpose of being able to register with our Secret RA Tribe Support Group.

CLICK HERE for Easy-to-Follow Instructions on How to Join Facebook 

This week we are focusing on YOU and what you want to personally achieve by participating in this course. You’re invited to explore your intentions for the next 12 weeks, and to delve deeper into what attracted you to further your education in yoga and Ayurveda for addiction recovery. Below is a list of activities that you can “check-off” within our first week together.

1. Watch the Introductory Video
2. Join the *Secret* Re/Framing Addiction Facebook Tribe
3. Complete Journal Writing: Setting Intentions
4. Begin Reflective Exercise: Morning Pages
5. Explore the *BONUS* material

 week one: Journal writing

Setting Intentions

In your fresh, new Re/Framing Addiction journal, write down what your intentions are for participating in this program. Intention-setting is a powerful exercise. I encourage you to take some personal time to practice this exercise, as best you can, within your daily routines.

What are you hoping to gain?

What do you want to let go of?

Visualize yourself at the end of 12 weeks: What are you doing? How do you want to feel? What are you able to offer your clients?

Take some time to watch this wonderful video of Brene Brown as she explore the concept of vulnerability.