May 3, 2016
illuminating your loved ones

How You Can Help Your Loved One

One of the key factors in helping those you love is to make sure you are not only to offer strength to help, but that you also set an example of living a balanced life and you are able to deal with disappointment should your loved one choose a life style that is harmful or non-productive.  You should be actively engaged in your transcendent and emotional life.  Some questions to ask yourself: How often do you appreciate beauty or quality? How often are you alone with your thoughts and pondering? What is your awe, wonder, and gratitude quotient? What are your most essential, important and vital values? How are your […]
February 24, 2016
SMART Recovery used as an alternative to AA

Differences between SMART Recovery and AA

This post was written by Tanji Wolfert, Chateau Recovery’s Substance Use Disorder Counselor and our most recent SMART Recovery facilitator. She discusses the difference between SMART Recovery and AA. SMART is an acronym that stands for “Self Management and Recovery Training”. They are a nonprofit organization that strives to offer free support groups for those who are trying to abstain from a behavior or substance addiction. The program is a kind of alternative to Alcohol Anonymous-type groups or other twelve step support groups, but can be a valuable tool in addition to twelve step groups as well. SMART uses science-based information to help people address behavioral problems and make changes […]
January 20, 2016
Pratipaksha Bhavanam

Pratipaksha Bhavanam- Cultivating Perspectives

Pratipaksha Bhavanam is a practice of controlling the mind and gradually guiding it to act in accordance with our yogic goals. The “Great Vow of Yoga” is the vow to abstain from violence, dishonesty, stealing, reckless indulgence, or greed. Even once we have committed to this path, we all falter from time to time… we may make rude comments, act harshly, or covet something that belongs to a friend… just to name a few! Pratipaksha Bhavanam is a method that helps us catch these destructive and distracting thoughts, and redirect our minds back toward the yogic path. This is done by actively cultivating thoughts of the opposite nature when a […]