Quarterly Report Volume 3 - Flipbook - Page 4
Mental Wellness Matters- Kim Must's Story:
Life can change in an instant through no fault of your own. The journey back to wellness can be long and winding.
Kim Must knows.
On her 12th birthday, Kim was given her first drink of alcohol; the effect was transformational. Life suddenly
became worth living, the world and the people in it seemed wonderful. She wanted more. Soon she needed more.
By the age of 15, she had liquor stores on a rotational basis. She drank every day due to physical need. Kim had
unintentionally developed alcoholism. Anorexia soon followed. Over time, the anorexia morphed into bulimia.
One night, years later, Kim was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was brutally attacked. Though left for
dead by her assailants, thankfully, she survived.
For Kim, multiple episodes of treatment were necessary before she began to build continuous sobriety. Recovery,
however, is most often a multi-layered process. Early in sobriety, Kim achieved certification as a hard body and
step cardio sculpting fitness instructor. “I had a lot of energy and time,” she says. “People would ask how I was so
thin. In shame, I hid my active bulimia. Eventually, my guilt about being deceptive led to my taking another drink.
Thankfully, my sponsor didn’t quit on me.”
Kim observed that whenever her sponsor prepared food for her, she was able to keep it down. “It was nurturing,"
explained Kim.
One New Year’s Day, that same sponsor invited Kim to yoga so she wouldn’t be alone. “I thought yoga was for
wusses!” Kim says with energy. “But I went.”
After being in class for 10 minutes, for the first time in her life without alcohol, yoga breathing quieted her mind. “I
didn’t know I could change how I feel just by breathing!” she exclaims.
While doing downward dog, the yoga leader said, “Look inside and see where your stress is, then send your
breath there.” Kim looked inside herself for the first time. “I saw where my stress was and sent my breath there. It
worked!”
Kim embraced the yoga teachings. Over time, yoga practice helped Kim develop a relationship with herself that
helped her honor her body and end her eating disorder. Even today, yoga remains a critical tool to help Kim
cultivate her continuing sobriety and mental wellness. “Breathing and meditation creates mental clarity and calm
for me,” Kim says.
Toward sharing yoga’s profound positive potential for individuals in recovery, Kim got certified in Yoga 12 Step
Recovery (Y12SR). Y12SR combines yoga practice with twelve step meeting practices. Y12SR helps individuals
learn to feel what's going on in their bodies and to self-regulate naturally. Kim continues, “I routinely lead a Y12SR
meeting at Macon Recovers, River Edge's addiction recovery support center, because I want others to see that
they can change the way they feel by doing yoga. Yoga is an ancient practice which brings together the mind and
the body. Through pranayama (breath) and asanas (poses) one can balance both the sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems. This triggers the body to release healthy hormones and neurotransmitters
which reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve mood and the body’s ability to digest, rest and sleep.”
Kim goes on to explain that Y12SR yoga works in parallel with the 12 steps of recovery. Kim says, “The 12 steps focus
on the spiritual. Yoga focuses on awareness in the present moment - meeting yourself where you are - unifying and
connecting the mental, breathing and other physical aspects of ourselves.” Kim continues, “Y12SR increases
awareness. Being aware and connected in your body makes it harder to do harmful things. It promotes self-care
and love.”
Kim also identifies that Y12SR present focus promotes her personal peace and helps combat depression and anxiety.
Kim says, “Depression is often rooted in the past; anxiety is a result of forecasting the future.”
Kim continues, “Also, Y12SR is often done in groups. No matter how bad I feel, someone in class identifies with me. It’s
not a “me” program, it’s a “we” program.”
Kim offered the following additional things she has learned that help her stay well:
“There is a connection between what I eat and how I feel, so it’s important to eat nutritiously.”
“Getting adequate sleep is important also; Y12SR helps me sleep better too.”
“Get involved in your community; isolation is not helpful.”
“Stay away from technology. Instead, do things in the real world to help you feel good. Build friendships. Walk.
Spend time with a pet.”
As a part of sharing her experience, strength and hope Kim concludes, “I looked outside for answers for a long time; it
never worked. When I connected all the parts of me and looked inside, I found answers.”
Join Kim at Macon Recovers, 595 Wimbish Road, Macon on Saturdays at 2:00 pm (also available on Zoom)
to check out her Y12SR yoga class!
Anyone is welcome.
478-803-7661
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