The 8 limbs of yoga offer a powerful framework that beautifully parallels and supports the journey of recovery and the 12-step path. Both traditions begin with foundational principles—the yamas and niyamas, much like the steps, guide ethical living, self-inquiry, and spiritual accountability. Just as the steps ask for rigorous honesty, surrender, amends, and daily practice, the yamas and niyamas ask us to live with integrity, non-harming, truthfulness, self-discipline, and devotion.

 

Asana and pranayama—the practices of movement and breath—help the body release stored trauma and regulate the nervous system, preparing the ground for deeper healing. In recovery, many of us come home to our bodies for the first time. Yoga offers a compassionate path back in.

 

The later limbs—pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi—mirror the spiritual awakening described in Step 12. These practices train the mind to turn inward, rest in presence, and ultimately merge with a power greater than ourselves. Both yoga and recovery are about connection: to self, to others, and to Spirit. When woven together, they create a path not just of sobriety, but of wholeness.