How Meditation and Yoga Shifted My Recovery

There have been many times throughout the course of my mental illness that I have been really in need of grounding and centering. When my head is loud, I need to find something that will help to balance out all the noise. There are times I simply need to retreat to my breath, and meditation helps with that. I have been doing guided meditations on a regular basis for about 4 years now. I feel that it is extremely helpful to battle all the dysregulation that happens in the mind of someone struggling with schizophrenia.

Turning to meditation for schizophrenia symptoms

I will say that sometimes it's difficult to come back to my breath and focus on just being present. Whenever I'm experiencing a lot of symptoms, the last thing I feel like I am able to do is to sit quietly and be present. Often, the noise in my head is so loud that it drowns out the present moment. However, this is exactly when I need meditation most.

I listen to guided meditations. I find that hearing someone's voice and hearing the prompts to breathe and scan my body for any signs of tension or discomfort makes it easier to drop into the meditation and get the maximum benefit.

Why spirituality matters in mental illness recovery

Spirituality is something that is often overlooked in mental health treatment. We focus a lot on the mind/body connection, but the spirit often gets left out of the conversation. You don't have to be religious to meditate, and it's definitely not a requirement to be a spiritual person. But being able to connect with something bigger than myself and feel the energy of the universe flowing through me. It truly is life-giving.

Discovering yoga as a grounding technique

Another modality of breath work and movement that I use is the practice of yoga. There are many forms of yoga: yin, vinyasa, kundalini, 26&2, power, hot, the list could go on. I think that the word yoga conjures up the image of a person stretched into a pretzel formation balancing on one leg. And while that might be true for a more advanced practitioner, yoga is for everyone… even beginners. Yoga is a combination of poses or movements that are aligned with the breath. This combination of movement and breath work can be extremely helpful for not only being mindful in your body but also being able to shut down your thoughts and come back to center.

How mindfulness practices came into my life

I've been practicing yoga of various modalities since 2020. I had quit smoking about 3 years prior, and I was already engaged in a lot of cardio exercises. I was a runner, swimmer, and biker… but there was something missing. All of those experiences were great, and I always felt better after my workouts, but I sought something that would help me return to my core and help me not only move my body but shift my mind too.

I started out with a DVD of a well-known yoga teacher and I was hooked. Not only was it a great way to move my body and gain strength and flexibility, but it also cleared my mind and put me into a meditative state for that hour that I was engaged. I wasn't overthinking. I wasn't having racing thoughts, and I wasn't feeling disorganized or dysregulated. For the first time in a long time, I felt like my nervous system was being reset from the inside out. I feel like the connection that is felt with the mind/body/spirit focus that yoga provides is huge in the management of my symptoms and my overall wellness.

Building a mind, body, and spirit practice that supports my wellness

There is much to be learned from other modalities of healing. I have found that through the practice of mindful meditation and through practicing many different forms of yoga, I have made strides not only in my health, but also my overall healing.

What works for one person may not work for everyone, but I have found that these tools are essential to my recovery and my holistic health. Take a step outside of your comfort zone and sign up for a yoga class. Find a guided meditation online or on your favorite music streaming service.