The Seva project "Kundalini Yoga for the Recovery of Addicts" was created with inspiration by another project, SuperHealth, an American rehabilitation program created by 3HO, recognized as one of the 10 best treatment programs in the U.S.

 

Sevadar Sat Anand Kaur, responsible for structuring the Seva project on farms, tells us that she was inspired to learn of the existence of a reference program that uses Kundalini Yoga technology for the treatment of drug addicts.

 

Thus, on its own initiative, he structured a project to work in partnership with SERVOS - Society of Commitment to The Recovery of Lives through Prayer and Service, a Catholic, non-profit organization responsible for the creation of the Therapeutic Community Farm of the Lord Jesus, which since 1986 works with the recovery and social reintegration of those who suffer from the dependence of psychoactive substances.

 

The program adopts as a treatment system a nine-month boarding period, subdivided into three stages - Adaptation (1st to 3rd month), Training (4th to 6th month) and Completion (7th to 9th month).

 

The Catholic origin of SERVOS and the Indian culture and paraments of Kundalini Yoga were not hindering so that this science could act at the service of men and women hospitalized on farms, on the contrary, the seva project was fundamental for the recovery of addicts, which was perfectly articulated with the SERVOS program. As Maria Rosa, former secretary of the program and current administrative director of the Farms, tells us:

 

"I got scared, I found it all pretty crazy, what does Yoga have to do with me quitting drinking? It does not match, my religion does not allow [...] But the teacher on the day began to explain how everything worked, I asked if it had anything to do with religion, all this was explained and that same day I fell in love."

 

Maria Rosa reports that the practice of Kundalini Yoga showed her the importance of relaxation, of returning to herself, of adopting a self-imposed discipline, experiencing a deep well-being after classes, especially with regard to insomnia that severely affected her.

 

In addition to physical well-being, Kundalini Yoga practices facilitated an environment of respect for diversity and communion among the interns, which came from different socio-economic contexts and different types of addictions.

 

On the farms, to a certain extent and degree, there is equality, by recognizing the need for help and all being committed to their own recovery. The sense of community is part of the method employed by SERVOS to produce therapeutic and educational changes in individuals and all participants are mediators of these changes.

 

With the sharing and the connection that is established between interns and teachers, it is clear that the benefits of the practice are also expanding to sevadars, as Seva Amrit Kaur shares:

 

"I come in one way to teach on the farm and I leave differently, I always do much better, because in fact we come out very nourished, by realizing how good it is for them."

 

The interns take advantage of the therapeutic space of Kundalini Yoga classes and share about the impacts of practice on their lives, their psychological struggles, the challenges they face during the nine months of hospitalization. The change is concrete and it is noticeable how the practice supports them during their journeys through the program.

 

Kundalini Yoga for the Recovery of Addicts Seva project at the Lord Jesus' Farm represents the core of Seva's harmonious values, acting fully under political, economic and social aspects, recognizing that the addition is not only a physical and psychological disease, but also social, which affects thousands of people, regardless of their social class, race, or religion.

 

To learn more or if you need help with this subject, go to:

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http://www.fazendadosenhorjesus.org.br

 

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