Marshall University mental health specialists are starting a yoga-inspired recovery program to combat the problem of addiction in the Huntington community.

Y12SR combines the physical aspects of yoga with the mental and spiritual tools of the 12-step recovery program to aid in addiction recovery of any kind.

Tenikka Phillips, Mental Health Specialist at Marshall University, said she was first introduced to the program through training at Studio 8.

“It addresses the mental through discussion, which half the class is the discussion and process,” Phillips said. “People don’t have to share if they don’t want to, but even if you aren’t contributing you still often get information from what other people are saying.”

Phillips said the yoga allows individuals with addictions to reconnect with their body.

“So much of addiction involves living outside of the body through numbing and using substances, so yoga gives them a way, a tool, to be present in their bodies,” Phillips said. “I think the way that it addresses both the physical and the mental allows it to be effective.”

Phillips said this program can be beneficial both for people who have addictions and individuals helping those with addictions.

“Not everyone who comes into the meeting is going to have an addiction,” Phillips said. “I think at this point it’s hard to find people in our community who haven’t been affected by addiction in some way. Be it the work they do, family, friends, and it’s all types of addiction too. Maybe someone is struggling with food addiction, or shopping or gambling. With that addiction we’re trying to satisfy a need.”

Y12SR will begin at 5:15 Sept. 1, and continue every Thursday until Nov. 17. The program will take place in the Campus Christian Center, but Phillips emphasized that the program is not religiously affiliated.

Meetings are open to the public and will operate by donation, but donations are not required.

Nancy Peyton can be contacted at [email protected].