How Kundalini Yoga works with Addiction

At The Anzelmo Wellness Center we have carefully selected various therapies as part of our detox plan and recovery program. These therapies help you on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level, in order to make your transition into a sober lifestyle as easy as possible after your Ibogaine treatment. When a recovering addict opens up new body and mind pathways of thought, emotion and being, new vibrations are created, thus disrupting and decreasing previous addiction memory pathways.

As you remove your old habit — addiction — we want to replace it with new habits: positive and supportive techniques that you will take with you when you leave and start rebuilding your life.  Kundalini yoga is one of the classes we offer at the Ibogaine Institute. Our Kundalini instructor, Lily, talks about how Kundalini works:

“We do traditional Kundalini yoga here at the institute, as it was taught by Yogi Bhajan, the spiritual teacher who originally introduced Kundalini Yoga to the United States.”

According to the James McCrae and his blog, Shit Your Ego Says,, “Kundalini is an ancient Sanskrit word that literally means “coiled snake.” In early Eastern religion (long before Buddhism and Hinduism) it was believed that each individual possessed a divine energy at the base of the spine. This energy was thought to be the sacred energy of creation. This energy is something we are born with, but we must make an effort to “uncoil the snake,” thereby putting us in direct contact with the divine. Kundalini Yoga is the practice of awakening our Higher Self and turning potential energy into kinetic energy.”

With Kundalini, we are working on the very cells of the body. We are getting them to vibrate on a higher level. With the breathwork, we get the oxygen levels where they are supposed to be. We are cleansing the body, we are healing the body, the mind, and the soul. Kundalini goes beyond where you would go with regular yoga. It will take you out the space and connect you with the divine, with the source.”

“When Yogi Bhajan, the spiritual teacher who first brought Kundalini to the United States in 1968, the first people he worked with were heroin addicts, and he healed them. That’s how he became famous. Once you can go to that place of peace, you’ve rewired the brain and your body produces its own DMT, and you are able to heal yourself. You are healed because it rewires your brain, so you get to the point where you don’t need anything else to make you feel better. You have the Kundalini glow.”

“We all have energy in our root chakra. Our creative energy. When you want to take it up through the third eye so you can create something, you elevate your energy, your love. That’s the process of creation. You take the energy up the spine. Your spine is your lifeline. As long as you have a healthy spine you are young. If you have a stiff spine and you are old. The main focus of kundalini is breath and the health of the spine, breath and the muscles of the body.”

“So many of the patients here never heard of Kundalini before they came here and they leave loving it. It’s not for everyone, but if you are ready to go inside, it’s for you. Most rehabs just do yoga classes. But here, they want to make sure people have a tool for when they get home. It solves your problems because it works from within. It works with your soul. So if you are okay, everything else is going to be okay. It’s a magical practice.”

Kundalini yoga  is a vital step in a 10-part program at The Anzelmo Wellness Center. We have found that this ancient Hindu practice will not only increase vitality but is directly able to re-direct cravings into emotional balance.

The addiction model of disease describes the condition as chronic due to long-term changes to the reward centers of the brain. When a person takes ibogaine, the drug is converted into a compound called noribogaine, which targets the areas of the brain affected by drug-seeking and addictive behaviors. Noribogaine “rewires” these areas, allowing the brain to restructure itself to a state similar to before addiction was triggered.

About Our Treatment Approach

At Anzelmo, we recognize that entering treatment is rarely an isolated decision — it often involves the concern and support of loved ones who want to see real, lasting change. Our responsibility is to provide a safe, structured, and medically supervised environment where individuals can step out of destructive patterns and begin stabilizing both physically and mentally.

As a medically supervised ibogaine clinic, our approach is grounded in clinical oversight, experience, and individualized care. No two situations are the same, which is why our ibogaine treatment programs are structured based on each client’s health history, current condition, and long-term goals.

Because each case is unique, the cost of ibogaine treatment can vary depending on the level of care required, medical considerations, and length of stay. Every client begins with a free and confidential consultation, allowing us to determine the safest and most appropriate path forward before any commitment is made.

For those traveling in, most clients arrive through San Diego or Tijuana, with clear coordination to ensure a smooth and secure transition to the clinic. From there, accommodations are designed to be private, comfortable, and supportive — creating the right environment for focused care and recovery.

While treatment can create a meaningful reset, we are direct about the reality — long-term change is built day by day. It requires participation, structure, and a willingness to continue the work beyond the initial experience. For this reason, we maintain relationships with professionals offering aftercare and recovery coaching, helping clients reinforce progress and maintain stability after leaving the clinic.

Clients preparing for treatment are also guided through key safety steps, including preparation and medical screening protocols, ensuring each individual arrives ready and properly evaluated.

Anzelmo has established itself as a trusted provider through experience, consistency, and a clear understanding of what real change requires. We believe transformation is possible — but it is built through daily action, not a single moment. Our role is to help create that starting point.