Recovery, restoration and redemption from sin: that is what we ask God for regarding every beneficiary at the Grand Rapids Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center.
For men and women who struggle with substance abuse, the road to recovery is a long and winding one, marked with suffering and heartache. Many men and women who enter our program have suffered emotionally, mentally and spiritually, leaving them beaten down and hopeless. Something that is often overlooked, however, are the physical effects of substance abuse. Many times, the physical symptoms of abstaining from substance use (fatigue, aches, shaking) overwhelm any desire to stay sober, and lead to relapse.
Captain Johnny and Captain Kerry Bartsch have recognized the importance of incorporating exercise in the recovery process and have given priority to making a fitness area and weight room available to beneficiaries. This new workout area is open until 10:00 every night. The availability of a free, safe space to exercise is another encouragement for men and women to fully embrace the recovery process here. The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center also provides a balance of nutritious meals to further provide opportunity to practice the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
It is vital to incorporate exercise with healthy eating habits to get the most out of the recovery process. The article entitled
The Benefits of Getting Fit in Your Recovery
talks about the importance of physical fitness in recovery and how rewarding it is: "
Whether you take kickboxing lessons or simply go for a walk, you’ll get a mood-lifting boost of endorphins that can almost immediately take the edge off." Exercise helps immediately improve someone’s mood and take an addict’s mind off using substance. When exercise is consistently incorporated as a part of recovery, it also enables the body to improve and repair overall physical health more quickly and completely.
Although there are difficulties and obstacles to overcome, fully embracing the recovery process and choosing to persevere through the struggles is extremely rewarding. At The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Grand Rapids, we are extremely grateful for the opportunity we have to provide a safe place for men and women to take that journey. We encourage men and women to embrace a healthy lifestyle so that they can be happy, joyous and free, and the addition of a place to exercise is just one small way that we hope to accomplish that.
