Importance of Fitness & Recreation
By Duane Reynolds, LSW, LADC, BCCR
Associate Director, Vinland National Center
February 17, 2011- Successful chemical dependency treatment and sustained recovery involve a multiplicity of factors. Some of the most elusive and difficult elements of chemical dependency treatment and subsequent recovery maintenance are the interpersonal skills required for building meaningful relationships and finding sober leisure activities. For this reason, it is critical to incorporate fitness and leisure activities into the treatment setting to spark an individual’s life-long interest in sober activities.
Importance of Fitness
Exercise contributes to noticeable improvements in self-esteem and increased dedication to recovery. By setting and achieving short-term fitness goals, individuals realize they can accomplish things they previously believed were impossible for them. Through guidance from exercise physiologists, participants take this new sense of accomplishment and use it as the boost of self-esteem they need to accomplish long-term sobriety.
Importance of Recreation
By the time an individual enters addiction treatment, their leisure and social activities most likely revolve entirely around alcohol and drug use. People recovering from drug and alcohol abuse must learn how to manage stress and have fun without the use of chemicals. Finding leisure activities they enjoy can provide them with a constructive use of their free time.
Recreational activities are an excellent tool for teaching individuals how to achieve goals, solve problems, socialize while sober, and handle stressful situations without the use of drugs or alcohol.
Importance of Outdoor Recreation
The restorative effects of nature are very powerful and can be highly therapeutic, especially to those in treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. Outdoor recreation during treatment provides individuals with the chance to rest and refocus their energies on their recovery.
Benefits of outdoor recreation include reduced stress levels, increased attention span, improved relaxation, decreased anxiety, reduced blood pressure, and decreased risk of depression.
Fitness and Recreation at Vinland Center
At Vinland Center, we strongly believe that an active role in sober recreational activities leads to a fuller and more rewarding life. Our participants have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of recreational activities coordinated by Vinland staff. No matter what the activity is, the intended result is to show participants how to find enjoyment in a leisure activity, encourage them to be socially active, and help them learn new skills that they can apply to other areas of their lives.
