For those of you joining the meeting tonight virtually, we will be going over some Recreation and Leisure assessments and surveys for a self evaluation of how you are doing. This information is helpful for you to see if your leisure needs are being met and if not, what you can do to improve, which will help improve your overall quality of life. I have attached the documents for you to view or print. You can also view them and write down your own answers without a printer as we discuss.

Athletes, you all Know by now exercise strengthens more than the body. It can also support mood, reduce stress, improve sleep, sharpen focus, and help people manage difficult emotions. For people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance use disorder, movement can become a valuable part of a larger mental-health and recovery plan. Exercise does not replace therapy, medication, or professional care, but it can help create the energy and clarity needed to take the next healthy step. Movement and the Brain The brain responds to physical activity through changes in blood flow, stress hormones, sleep, and neurotransmitters connected to mood and motivation. Regular movement can help the nervous system practice activation and recovery. Exercise helps you: - Reduce emotional tension - Improve concentration - Sleep more consistently - Build confidence - Tolerate discomfort - Develop healthier routines - Connect with supportive people Movement does not eliminate painful thoughts or emotions. It can create enough space to notice them without automatically reacting. Exercise and Recovery In addiction recovery, exercise can provide structure, accountability, and a sense of progress. Running, walking, lifting, hiking, or participating in a team can help people develop a new identity—one that is not defined by addiction. The Addict to Athlete philosophy is simple: Movement equals healing. This does not mean exercise alone cures addiction or mental illness. It means movement can support recovery by helping people practice discipline, emotional regulation, connection, and purpose. A difficult workout can teach valuable lessons: - Discomfort is temporary - Thoughts do not have to control behavior - Breathing can help regulate the body - Progress happens one step at a time - The next decision can be different from the last one Movement as the Next Clean Action When a craving, anxious thought, or intense emotion appears, movement can create a pause. Taking a walk, attending a workout, or going for a run may help someone calm down long enough to contact a counselor, sponsor, peer, or trusted friend.

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It's the foundation of the program, and you have all heard me say it: Movement is Healing. Movement can become more than exercise. For people in recovery, it can become a way to regulate the nervous system, reconnect with the body, and practice moving through discomfort without being controlled by it. Within the Addict to Athlete philosophy, running and other rhythmic activities are viewed as powerful complements to therapy because they combine structure, breath, effort, community, and forward motion. The comparison to EMDR is useful when stated carefully: rhythmic left-right movement may resemble one element of EMDR’s bilateral stimulation, but exercise is not a replacement for trauma therapy. Its value lies in creating a body-based pathway for regulation and recovery. The Body Remembers, and It Can Learn a New Rhythm You may ask, Hey Coach, how do movement, recovery, and trauma healing meet in the Addict to Athlete philosophy?" So glad you asked! There are experiences we can describe clearly, and there are experiences the body carries before we ever find the words. Trauma may show up as a clenched jaw, shallow breathing, restless sleep, a racing heart, emotional numbness, irritability, or the constant feeling that danger is nearby. Addiction often enters that same landscape. It can become an attempt to quiet the nervous system, escape painful memories, control overwhelming emotions, or create temporary relief from an unbearable internal state. Recovery asks us to do something difficult: remain present in the body we once tried to escape. That is where movement becomes part of the healing process. Within Addict to Athlete, movement is not treated merely as a way to burn calories or improve performance. It is a practice of regulation, discipline, connection, and identity. A run, walk, workout, or team activity can become a place where a person learns to experience discomfort without immediately reacting to it. The goal is not to erase pain. The goal is to develop a different relationship with pain.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the our back to school AIIA movie night. Yes we did get rained on, but we adjusted and enjoyed the night. I'll be eating the snacks I brought for a couple of weeks, haha. Next up, volunteering for the Runtastic Nebo races this next weekend. The marathon, half, 10K and 5K races are on Saturday, August 29 but there are volunteering opportunities on Wednesday August 26 in the evening, Friday August 28 all day and then of course on Saturday with aid stations that could always use some help. Remember, proceeds go to AIIA for us volunteering. Reach out to Mitsie to volunteer. Looking ahead to September, please plan on it and put it on your calendars, Saturday September 26, 2026 is the annual AIIA 5K in Tooele this year. Registration is open, link below. Let's support Coach Jason Gonzales and his Tooele chapter for some 3.1 mile fun. A memory grove is planned, one of my favorite parts of the run. https://www.raceentry.com/races/addictiiathlete-5k/2026/register?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT4PYBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNB46RfmfEQQArmKUHd9FizvGTmf-GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR63Ufb6U5ekcAPuox6L8_92e9AoFVHr6drIDKBBAzr72m3RXFUM_W0TDZRFug_aem_kHmu21C4gs66nf-9heObaA