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Exercise & Addiction Recovery
Andy Yergler, the founder of TRI-RECOVERY, birthed the idea from his own personal path to recovery. Andy first experimented with substances in his early teen years. It was shortly after he discovered that he "fell in love" with it. He developed a habit and eventually started selling drugs.
After an almost 5 year prison sentence, he was able to get a handle on his addiction but old patterns led him into alcoholism.
Even though the desire was there to live a life free of addiction, Andy continued to fight against himself and lost continuously.
"I told my sponsor over 250 times that today was the day I was going to quit drinking," Andy admits. Finally, there was a breakthrough, after taking an intense run one day to get his mind off of alcohol, Andy realized that he didn't drink that day. He then began swimming and cycling and began entertaining the idea of training for a triathlon.
Andy says that exercise releases endorphins and sustains an accelerated heartbeat, healthily. This was the beginning of his newfound self-discipline that flourished into TRI-RECOVERY.
Andy believes that physical activity makes a person uncomfortable, and when you are in that spot, things get real.
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ADDICTION RECOVERY
is now evolving into
MUSCLE RECOVERY
There is a biological and psychological bodily response to exercise. It is commonly known as the “runner’s high.” When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, feel-good chemicals that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. These endorphins give you that euphoric feeling during and after a run, enticing you to hit the pavement time and time again.
For those struggling with addiction of any kind, this can replace the feelings of being on a substance high by speeding up the heart and increasing euphoria in the body and mind, thus trading out an addiction that aims to break you down and leave you there; for an addiction in exercise that breaks you down to build strength in your mind and body.
Using the effort of recovery coupled with the breaking down and building up of the muscles, can create a new desire in the mind to be free of the substance and instead enable a full mental reset to crave strength over addiction.
"Regardless of who you are, or your background, addition can get to you. Once it's there, it's there. Tri-Recovery is solely about the physical side of addiction and helping someone stay sober.
We are here to say, "As a community, how can we help you stay sober today?"
SCHOOLS
We desire to facilitate a regular program and community triathlons with local schools. Getting into physical activities to channel pain and negative activity can help. We want to work with youth and be a preventative to substance abuse.
HOSPITALS
Addition is not just substance abuse. We are seeking to partner with local hospitals and medical practices to help those who need support. The goal is to help anyone who is struggling, including those who are recovering from weight loss surgery or food addiction.
ORGANIZATIONS
Our hope is to offer several locations in the community to meet. Partnering with local organizations to have access to indoor exercise equipment will ensure that winter weather will not stop anyone from attending.
TRI-RECOVERY currently meets weekly at 3 pm at the pavilion near Hardees in Bluffton.
Everyone is welcome to join!
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Contact Andy Yergler at
260-273-8821
