Recovery 2.0 is a global community of people who have found a way to overcome addiction and thrive. It was founded in 2013 by Tommy Rosen, an internationally renowned yoga teacher, addiction recovery expert and author with over 34 years of continuous recovery from addiction.
This Q&A series features the unique stories of individuals who are part of this community, exploring their journeys into recovery and experience with Recovery 2.0.
What brought you into recovery?
I was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico until the age of 13 by incredibly loving parents — both of whom were caught in their own cycles of addictive behavior. My father struggled with alcoholism, and my mother with various forms of codependency. I remember feeling the weight of that addictive energy early on, and it deeply impacted my childhood experience.
The summer before 8th grade, we moved as a family to Palo Alto, California, where I completed high school. Those years were academically and athletically driven. I was a starting player on the varsity water polo team, had many friends, and even dated someone who was very popular. Outwardly, I seemed to be thriving. But underneath the surface, addiction had already begun to express itself in my life, specifically through compulsive porn use and masturbation. I felt a strong curiosity and pull toward sexuality that became obsessive.
After high school, I moved to the East Coast to attend Princeton University. There, I was introduced to a culture of drinking that at first seemed harmless, but grew into something more. After college, I moved to New York City and married a European woman who loved wine. We drank together every day. What began as social drinking escalated into a daily habit.
As many people have experienced, alcohol can lower inhibitions. For me, drinking opened the floodgates of sex addiction. It became progressively worse, extending into cyberporn, compulsive masturbation, happy-ending massages, strip clubs, and eventually infidelity.
From the outside, my life still looked successful — my career was thriving, I had material wealth, and everything seemed to be going well. But inside, I was falling apart. Eventually, my so-called success became too heavy to carry, and my life began to unravel. I didn’t enter recovery willingly. I didn’t have a sudden epiphany that things had gotten out of control. I hit a wall.
In 2012, I attended my first Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA) meeting. I thought I’d go once and be done with it. I didn’t yet understand that this is a “one day at a time” journey that asks us to keep coming back. I got a sponsor, started working the steps, and joined a men’s meeting that became my home group for many years.
How did you find Recovery 2.0?
I stumbled across Recovery 2.0 while attending Rachel Levy’s Healthy Love meetings on InTheRooms.com. One day, I clicked into a Recovery 2.0 meeting and Tommy Rosen appeared on my screen. What struck me most was the absence of shame in him — his voice, his posture, the way he held space for others. There was something incredibly inviting about his presence.
In traditional 12-step SRA meetings, shame can be thick in the air. Many people are coming in devastated — dealing with humiliation, divorce, and loss. When I met Tommy, he brought a completely different energy: positive, inclusive, and loving. I knew right away that I had found a teacher and a path that resonated with me.
Tommy had just released his book and was hosting an annual online recovery conference featuring world-class experts. He was also inviting people to join Recovery 2.0 as founding members of a new online platform. I jumped on board immediately.
Soon after, I found myself on retreat with Tommy in Rishikesh, India, and I haven’t looked back. Today, I’m a Recovery 2.0 coach, supporting five men each week in their journey. We meet every Friday, and I get to share the teachings of Recovery 2.0, the warmth of our community, and the power of self-forgiveness.
Recovery 2.0 recognizes yoga as a core component in healing addiction. It honors the essential pillars of 12-step recovery — working the steps, attending meetings, being of service — but adds a fourth pillar: yoga, in all its forms. This includes not just the physical postures, but also breathwork, mantra, meditation, and yogic philosophy.
How is Recovery 2.0 different, and why does it resonate with you?
I’ve worked the 12 steps in both SRA and Recovery 2.0. They were foundational. But yoga has been a more rapid and transformative way for me to transcend the frequency of addiction. It’s helped me lay down alcohol and work toward a healthier relationship with food, money, and technology.
To me, Recovery 2.0 is about living fully. It’s not just about abstinence — it’s about connection, purpose, and a joyfully engaged life. That’s what keeps me coming back.
There’s been controversy around some yoga teachers. Why isn’t this a cult?
Tommy is the first to remind us not to put him on a pedestal. He’s humble, open about his flaws, and constantly encourages us to seek multiple perspectives. He doesn’t claim to be a guru. He’s a fellow traveler, doing his best to walk the path alongside us.
He also invites us to think critically. He always says, “Take what works and leave the rest.” That kind of openness is the opposite of cult behavior.
He’s not doing this for personal gain either. The yearly membership is $297 and that gives you access to an entire ecosystem of yoga classes, expert talks, community meetings, and more. The purpose of the platform is to help more people heal — not to enrich any one person.
What does your recovery program look like today?
I currently split my time between Miami, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, so the online nature of Recovery 2.0 is vital for me. I coach five men and we meet weekly. I attend the Monday Night Live sessions and multiple universal 12-step meetings throughout the week, including Spanish-language meetings led by Gabi from Mexico, which have been running for nearly five years. They’re intimate, powerful, and deeply connective.
I met my second wife in 2018 and we now have two toddlers. Still, I stream daily sadhana (yoga and breathwork) every morning at 6am Eastern. I participate in special programs and weekend workshops when I can. But nothing compares to the in-person retreats. That’s where the real transformation happens. I tell everyone I coach: “Get to a retreat. You will not leave the same person who arrived.”
Some of my favorite people in the world — outside of my wife and kids — are members of this community. Watching others grow and heal is incredibly inspiring. And thanks to our strong online connection, we’re able to stay close between those in-person touchpoints.
What are you most passionate about in Recovery 2.0 and helping others recover?
What inspires me most is that in Recovery 2.0, we don’t over-identify with our addictions. Yes, early in recovery, identifying as an addict can be grounding and help us feel seen. But eventually, we’re called to move beyond that identity. I no longer call myself an addict. That’s not my truth anymore. I’m a human being who got caught up in unhealthy behaviors—and then found a way out.
Recovery 2.0 offers a shame-free, loving community where everyone is welcome. We’re supported not just by each other, but by ancient yogic teachings designed to help us become the best versions of ourselves. That’s what motivates me. The people. The transformation. The sense of belonging. And the chance to keep extending a hand to anyone who needs one.
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Want to connect with Recovery 2.0 members in a private, ad-free community platform and mobile app? Join now (7-day free trial) and gain access to the community, live events, yoga classes, workshops and so much more!
Photo courtesy of Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas: sivanandabahamas.org
