Transformative Experiential and Cultural Programming at Hawaii Island Recovery

There is a traditional Hawaiin maxim that goes, “A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale.” This translates to “Be daring; lose shame.” It is also what experiential and cultural programming is all about – getting out there and experiencing the world rather than merely discussing it, and there is perhaps no better place to make this happen than on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The iconic yogi and guru Mahavatar Babaji famously said, “A picture of a fire looks like a fire, but it can’t burn. Theory and practice are two different things.” This gets to the heart of experiential programming and experiential therapy. It is about doing rather than talking (though the latter is certainly a part of it).

Experiential and cultural programming is for those individuals who have lost their connection to the world around them and have thus lost the connection to themselves. It is about connecting to nature and culture in a way that goes beyond surface-level experiences; rather, it brings a whole mind-body consciousness to it. This is what holistically healing at the cellular level truly looks like

A holistic approach to recovery is also embedded in the experiential and cultural process. This includes holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.

Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years. They initially began as sole religious or spiritual practices but have since moved into many other aspects of life, most recently, addiction and mental health recovery.

Yoga can be particularly beneficial for those looking to find meaning and balance in recovery. The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”

Like yoga and meditation, immersing oneself in nature has long been a way of finding peace, balance, and serenity. Nature-based therapy takes this long-honored truth and incorporates it with the concepts of psychotherapy.

An individual communes with nature and records the cognitions (thoughts) and emotions (feelings) that arise. From there, a trained professional will begin to help that individual work through everything that experience evoked.

Nature therapy also offers a myriad of other benefits. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning… While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship, also known as connectedness to nature (CN).”

This “connectedness to nature” also applies to interacting with seascapes like the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean has long been held sacred by those who have lived on Hawaii’s Big Island, and we honor that sentiment at Hawaii Island Recovery by utilizing it to help our clients recover their sense of self.

An understanding of the benefits of water-based activities is becoming better known. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “One environmental context that has received less attention is water-based physical activity, with researchers suggesting that swimming and other water-based activities (e.g., kayaking, surfing) may provide superior benefits for the promotion of human well-being due to greater affordances. These activities have heightened the psychological benefits (e.g., reduced anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, increased positive affect, and increased quality of life) associated with exercise and nature therapy among U.S. war veterans.”

Of course, water-based activities on the Big Island of Hawaii are taken to another level due to the incredible amount and incredibly unique marine wildlife that resides here. This includes amazing green sea turtles, manta rays, multiple species of sharks, and untold types of tropical fish. For example, one can meditate atop a surfboard while majestic sea turtles swim all around. These types of experiences go beyond therapeutic and can even become spiritual. 

Many of Hawaii’s cultural traditions also offer an opportunity to bolster one’s spiritual life (or even begin to build one). This cultural programming includes getting out to the island and connecting with the people within the community who make it such an amazing and unique place to be.

There are also many cultural landmarks that can be utilized as starting points for deeper and more profound explorations during therapy. From the ocean to the mountain landscapes and forest trails, there is no shortage of beauty. Then, there are long traditions like Hoʻoponopono that can help individuals resolve both internal and external conflicts peacefully.

Here at Hawaii Island Recovery, we don’t just believe in putting down the drink or the drug (though, of course, this is the first step). We believe in transformational long-term success. Additionally, we also believe in being bold and daring and experiencing all that life has to offer. Remember “A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale.”

The journey of life can be easily missed, especially while in active addiction. It’s time to look around, experience, and be present. Yes, it’s time to live the life that you have always desired and have always deserved.

Experiential and cultural programming can be ideal ways to acquire and maintain long-term recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. For more information, please reach out to Hawaii Island Recovery today at(866) 390-5070.