Yoga of 12 Step Recovery Meeting Format
Welcome to the Thursday evening Yoga of 12-Step Recovery Meeting (aka: Y12SR). Y12SR is a 12-step based discussion and yoga practice open to anyone and everyone dealing with their own addictive behavior or affected by the addictive behavior of others. This is an open and inclusive group. All A’s are welcome.
In this group, we weave together the ancient wisdom of yoga and the practical tools of 12-step programs. We recognize that the “issues live in our tissues” and through our intentional, themed yoga practice, guided by our breath, we invoke the Higher Power of our understanding to help us release tension, stress, anxiety, fear, shame or any other pent-up emotion held in the body that no longer serves us.
The meeting portion of our gathering will continue until 7:15pm. We will then transition into our yoga practice until closing at 8:00pm.
This group is in no way a replacement for 12-step meetings, a sponsor, or any other part of your individual recovery program. It is an adjunct providing what we believe is another helpful tool in addressing the physical, mental and spiritual dis-ease of addiction.
The 12 Steps of Y12SR
Our sharing and practice are based in the 12-Steps. Just as the practices of yoga help bring us into right alignment, the 12 steps help bring us into right alignment with something greater than ourselves. The analogy used in Y12SR is that as humans we are a vessel. Addiction turns our vessel upside down.
Steps 1 - 3 help turn the vessel right side up. Steps 1 - 3 are:
1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Decided to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a Power greater than ourselves.
Once the vessel is right side up, steps 4 - 9 help prepare the vessel for sail. Steps 4 - 9 are:
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to our Higher Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked our Higher Power to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
With Steps 10 - 12 we set sail on the spiritual voyage. Steps 10 - 12 are:
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power, praying only for knowledge of It’s will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Ground Rules of Y12SR
The purpose of the Ground Rules is to create an environment of safety and respect for all attending. It may be necessary from time to-time for the meeting space holder to stop the sharing to call a ground rule break.
1. Creating a sacred, safe space where all are welcome to speak their truth is critical to this group. For that reason, what goes on here stays here.
2. Please speak from your own experience, strength and hope. The practices of yoga and the 12-steps recognize that “this is an inside job.” Resist the tendency to fix, manage, advise, or control. “I” statements are encouraged.
3. Our group refrains from cross talk. We define cross talk as directly addressing another member with your comments, giving advice, or trying to problem-solve for someone else. In this way, we participate in an interchange of acceptance and compassion for one another.
4. The person speaking is the speaker. Please practice active listening as the speaker shares. When complete, the speaker will signal that they are finished sharing.
5. Part of sharing is sharing time. Please limit your sharing to the amount of time allotted so that all may have a chance to share.
6. This meeting supports the “Give Back Yoga” Foundation. A third of the proceeds are given to Huckleberry Youth Programs in San Francisco and Marin. Huckleberry provides addiction recovery support for young people. Donations can be made through Venmo, PayPal, or using a credit card through our secure online store. Details will be provided in the chat box.
7. And…finally, I’d like to ask for a volunteer to be our “Breath Guide.” The “Breath Guide” leads us in grounding and deep breathing after each person shares with the following phrase: “Let’s root and ground and take a deep breath with ________ (person’s name).”