Yoga Offers Trauma Survivors Alternative to Drug Use
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
The "Grow as Winners" association in Israel is using yoga to help soldiers and reservists cope with trauma, offering an alternative to drug use. Reservists Ofir Madkar and Aviv Najari shared how yoga has significantly improved their mental health and replaced their reliance on substances. Experts note that while drugs offer temporary relief, yoga fosters genuine connection and healing, restoring a sense of presence and trust.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yoga is being used by the "Grow as Winners" association to help Israeli soldiers and reservists cope with trauma.
- Reservist Ofir Madkar stated yoga gave him a new meaning in life after experiencing extreme combat.
- Aviv Najari found yoga replaced his need for drugs to manage trauma symptoms.
- Experts say yoga provides connection and presence, unlike drugs which cause disconnection.
- The "Grow as Winners" association was established in 2022 to support soldiers dealing with service-related trauma.
A growing number of soldiers and reservists in Israel are finding that yoga provides a powerful alternative to drug use for coping with trauma, particularly in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks. The "Grow as Winners" association, established in 2022, integrates yoga into its support programs for soldiers dealing with the psychological consequences of their service.
Ofir Madkar, a reservist who experienced extreme combat situations and shelling on October 7th, described a severe decline in his well-being, including loss of appetite, inability to sleep, and depression. "Since I started doing yoga, I feel like a different Ofir, a new Ofir, I have a new meaning to life," he stated. "If I hadn't found this association, I would likely be found in a discarded carton in Be'er Sheva."
Aviv Najari, another reservist, shared that his trauma originated during Operation Protective Edge. He previously used drugs to numb the pain and fear associated with his experiences. "Since I started doing yoga, the ability to breathe and do sports has replaced my need to use drugs," Najari explained. "I feel more alive now, I have more fun, I am calmer. It gets you out of your head and connects you to your being."
Hagar Feld, Head of the Clinical System at ICA, explained that while illicit substances may offer short-term relief from trauma symptoms like loss of taste, smell, or sleep, they ultimately worsen the condition. "The silence created by substances is a silence of disconnection. The silence of yoga stems from connection," Feld said. "Substances cause the body to be silenced. Yoga, by connecting to the body and breath, helps restore the relationship between a person and themselves, and with their environment, fostering trust within one's body. It's silence from a place of presence."