On this week’s episode of In The Circle, James asks a question of great concern to many people as they embark on their journey of discovery in recovery—How can a person with religious or relational trauma find their place in modern-day recovery? Together, James and I highlight the plethora of challenges one can encounter on the road to recovery—from cultural misconceptions to financial barriers, why it’s crucial for everyone to take their own unique approach to healing and recovery, and the esse...
Aug 29, 2023•35 min•Ep. 29
On this week's episode of In The Circle, Brian G raises a crucial and thought-provoking question—Are there inclusive, effective, and accessible addiction recovery options available in the United States of America today? This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. It allows us to open up a discussion about the challenges and conflicts in the recovery world and how we can best navigate forward. Our conversation also highlights the conflicts of interest within the American healthcare and tre...
Aug 22, 2023•31 min•Ep. 28
On this episode of In The Circle, we're diving into an intriguing discussion about the integration of psychedelic therapies with holistic healing in recovery. Aaron’s inquiry holds great significance, as many people seek answers about the role of psychedelics in the healing process. However, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this complex issue. It's not a matter of simply categorizing psychedelics as good or bad. Rather, we need to delve into our own personal truths and understand when and ...
Aug 15, 2023•41 min•Ep. 27
On this episode of In The Circle, we have an amazing inquiry from Daphne about one of the Four Aggravations—Procrastination. When we procrastinate, we reinforce stress in our bodies and create a less-than-peaceful way to live. We repeat a pattern that perpetuates feelings of discomfort, resulting in new ways to distract ourselves to avoid the ongoing pain. Procrastination is what I consider to be one of the most overlooked, addictive, and destructive behaviors, which is why I am so grateful for ...
Aug 08, 2023•33 min•Ep. 26
This episode of In The Circle takes a deep dive into a very important and relevant inquiry from Michael, who is asking about the 12 Steps—Are the 12 Steps still relevant today, how do they fit into modern recovery, and why did I adapt the 12 Steps into the 12 Efforts? Of course, when we explore these questions, we will need to discuss the challenges that come up with language and the power of words. Do people in recovery always have to refer to themselves as addicts or should that identification...
Aug 01, 2023•46 min•Ep. 25
Today, on In The Circle, we have the pleasure of discussing the role of yoga in recovery and how we can overcome people's innate resistance to the practice. Chris asks… If freedom from addiction is possible, and yoga's the medicine, how then do we make this medicine more accessible? This is such an important episode because there really is no one left on the planet unaffected by addiction. You either experience it yourself or someone you love is going through it. And if you really want to take y...
Jul 25, 2023•34 min•Ep. 24
This episode of In The Circle concerns an inquiry from Celeste about the role that trauma plays in addiction and why yoga and community are important in our healing. Unpacking this powerful inquiry, we come to better understand trauma by looking at methods we can use to move through it and set ourselves free. To start, we define trauma as leftover emotional residue from our reaction to an unpleasant experience. It lives in the mind, the tissues of the body, and in our energy body. We can remain ...
Jul 18, 2023•28 min•Ep. 23
Today In The Circle, we are sitting with Kathryn who has an inquiry about workaholism and the addiction to more. Kathryn asks… How can I avoid the trap of workaholism and overachieving? In this episode, we take a very sobering look at the idea of contentment and how we might actually find it in our lives. This is an important exploration because it asks us to go much deeper than the surface understanding of addiction and recovery. What is the goal? What are we shooting for? What's the point? We ...
Jul 11, 2023•25 min•Ep. 22
Today, we have the most incredible inquiry from Dane who expresses a very deep fear, one which everyone who gets sober and steps into recovery has experienced. He asks… Now that I'm sober, will I lose connection with the friends who I used to party with? With great honesty, Dane shares that he has hid his recovery from many of his friends because he does not want them to know about it, wondering… How do I tell them about my recovery? Here, we get to explore one of the big challenges of getting s...
Jul 04, 2023•38 min•Ep. 21
On today's episode of In The Circle, we are going to explore a heartfelt inquiry from Shannon who is asking… How can I help a young adult dealing with depression? In this day and age, we find ourselves in a mental health crisis. So it makes perfect sense that this inquiry would come up at this time. Everyone is facing challenges as the mainstream world becomes more complex, more disconnected, and more toxic. Kids, and young adults especially, are living in a stressed out world and spending way t...
Jun 27, 2023•43 min•Ep. 20
In The Circle today, we have an inquiry from Leslie that brings us face-to-face with codependency. I consider codependency to be a very painful, addictive pattern, which affects all of our relationships. It is complicated. It has many different manifestations. Today, we will look at codependency through the lens of empathy. Leslie asks… What role does empathy play in codependency? In other words, if in codependent relationships we are more focused on another person's behavior or needs than our o...
Jun 20, 2023•33 min•Ep. 19
Today sitting with us In The Circle, we have a question from Arlena about a really hot topic; how to stop using cannabis. Arlena explains she's trying to quit using cannabis, that she lives amongst smokers and feels entangled in it. She refers to her relationship with cannabis as a love affair. I have heard that from so many people, and this inquiry is obviously relevant as cannabis is being legalized across the United States. More and more, people are finding that there are some challenges with...
Jun 13, 2023•28 min•Ep. 18
Today, on In the Circle, there is a slightly different thing going on as we share with you a talk that I gave on our recent retreat to Big Sky Montana. There, I found myself in front of 100 people at various stages of addiction and recovery to tell my story, and that of Recovery 2.0. This particular talk will answer so many of your questions about how we arrived at this very moment, understanding addiction at a deeper level, understanding recovery at a deeper level, and understanding where the p...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 17
Welcome to In The Circle. It is always such a blessing to sit and explore with you all. Today, we hear a sharply relevant inquiry to all humankind. Mariana, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community, shares that she has had a direct experience of the positive effects of Kundalini yoga, and yet her inner critic still questions the practice. We all have these voices within us that question our evolution and transformation, even when we know that what we are doing is working. Everybody wants to learn ...
May 23, 2023•23 min•Ep. 16
Welcome to In The Circle. Thank you for being here today. In this episode, we check in with Jeanne, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community. She shares about how the 12-steps will always be the foundation of her recovery, but that after a while she felt called to explore alternative paths of healing. What starts as a question about adopting modern day healing modalities into 12-step recovery turns into a powerful look at what is broken about our approach to recovery in America and what we can do ...
May 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 15
Welcome back to In The Circle. It is always such a blessing to sit and explore with you all. Today, we check in with Damon, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community. He asks a deeply revealing question about taking the next step – a bounding leap – in his recovery… I've been sober for a while and have lost my passion. How can I get the fire back? This is such an important inquiry, one which asks us to look more closely at the reasons we got sober in the first place, and at what is required to cont...
May 09, 2023•37 min•Ep. 14
In The Circle today, we are sitting with the feelings of powerlessness, worry, and fear that loved ones of those in recovery face. Ann, a member of our Recovery 2.0 program, asks… How can I stay present with my child in recovery when my own fear arises? In exploring this inquiry, we're reminded, first and foremost, that there's no stronger prayer in the universe than a mother's prayer, and that worry doesn't change outcomes – presence does. The simple fact of the matter is that we cannot control...
May 02, 2023•24 min•Ep. 13
Today on In The Circle, the much-maligned “T” word, trauma, enters the room for a conscious study on healing our hearts and minds. Ken, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community, asks… How can I heal trauma and truly let go? In this episode, we explore the process of setting ourselves free, particularly from resentments relating to our parents – and I share a few very personal examples from my own life. This is one of those inquiries that is relevant for everyone with a heartbeat. Naturally, we des...
Apr 25, 2023•25 min•Ep. 12
What a blessing it is, once again, to sit in circle with you all today. In this episode, we field an interesting inquiry from Emily, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community. Emily shares that her drive and ambition are getting in the way of her experiencing the fullness of life. On the one hand, we all strive to be better, to have success and better relationships. This inquiry asks us to locate the fine line between too much and too little effort. Can we create space for acceptance and gratitude ...
Apr 18, 2023•34 min•Ep. 11
Today on In The Circle, Anne, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community, brings a powerful and widely relevant inquiry about addiction as it relates to anyone on the planet. She asks… How do I avoid new addictions in early recovery? Many of us remember the classic arcade game: Whack-A-Mole. You move to quickly strike one down, only for another two, three, four to pop up in its place. Anne, being in the beginning stages of her recovery journey, worries that once she strikes down her most glaring add...
Apr 11, 2023•26 min•Ep. 10
Today on In The Circle, we field a heartfelt and powerful inquiry about relationships from Jeff, a member of our Recovery 2.0 community. He asks… What do we do when people in our lives exit, whether by separation, or disagreement, or death? This question cuts to the core of our shared experience as mortal human beings. The nature of our relationships with one another dictates that they end – somehow, some way. But why tie negative feelings and words to something so inevitable? More than death as...
Apr 04, 2023•40 min•Ep. 9
Today's thoughtful inquiry comes to us from Elizabeth, as she offers the deeply meaningful subject of relapse for closer inspection. In doing so, we reframe the meaning of the word, removing all shame from its existence, and call in the support of others on the path. Where it’s easy to point blame at a person, a circumstance, even one defining moment – we learn to take a step back, in silence, to assess the many other variables that led to such a moment. In taking responsibility for how we can g...
Mar 28, 2023•33 min•Ep. 8
Today's inquiry comes to us from Melly, who brings up the topic of grief and loss. We’ll discuss the importance of allowing ourselves to fully feel the waves of grief when it comes up for us. Because grief and loss can lead to relapse in some cases; and it’s essential that we let those feelings in and give ourselves time to process. We will often attach stories to grief; whether it’s losing a child to addiction, not being able to care for a parent in their illness, or not being present when a lo...
Mar 21, 2023•31 min•Ep. 7
Today’s inquiry is from our community member, Rebecca, who says, "alcohol is not ruining my life, but I can't stop drinking." This is specifically important for those in recovery, and yet relevant for everyone else. Because this inquiry is for the person who does not identify as an alcoholic. This is for the person who isn’t going to necessarily end up at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. This is for the person who is able to stop drinking for a week or two, but find themselves going back to it a...
Mar 14, 2023•35 min•Ep. 6
Today’s inquiry is from Jacob, and the question that came up for him was… "Is there a cure for addiction?" I want to be clear that I feel that addiction is part of the human condition. We all experience it in some way. We’re all on the spectrum. It was important to me that we go deep on this subject, as I feel this question touches all of us in some way. It’s something that many of us in recovery – and our loved ones – have asked. Jacob’s earnestness and vulnerability in bringing forth this inqu...
Mar 07, 2023•39 min•Ep. 5
The frequency of addiction. Think about those words. Today’s question is “how do you know when you’re in or out of the frequency of addiction?” The member who asked this question gave us an analogy of Russian dolls, where every time you open one and think you’ve reached the end, but you’re greeted with another, and another, and another. Addiction feels like this sometimes. And before you become sober, identifying this frequency and its harmful patterns can seem almost impossible. You can’t think...
Feb 28, 2023•34 min•Ep. 4
Today we have Eduardo offering up an inquiry, which has to do with the idea that different people need different things at different times. At what point in your path of recovery and discovery do you outgrow a practice or routine? Things that have helped you – be it a recovery group or the 12 Steps themselves – will not serve you in perpetuity as you continue to grow and evolve. And so you may feel that it’s time for a change. What awaits us beyond simple abstinence? It’s important to ask oursel...
Feb 21, 2023•47 min•Ep. 3
In the circle, today, we hear from Recovery 2.0 member, Luis, who asks… Are you ever free from addiction? His question takes us down an interesting path. We must dissect the perspective of people struggling with addiction, and those struggling in recovery. This inquiry challenges the oft-heard phrase: “once an addict, always an addict.” In this episode we unpack what Tommy Rosen refers to as The Big 6 (main categories of addiction) and the 4 Aggravations (more insidious mental addictions) provid...
Feb 14, 2023•36 min•Ep. 2
Theresa is sitting in circle with us today, and she's asked a very important question: is it possible for a person in recovery to truly reach a place of peace and contentment? This incredibly powerful question, it seems to me, is really about the entire human race. Is it possible for any person, whether in recovery or not, to truly find peace and contentment? And yet, when we look at this inquiry through the lens of addiction and recovery, we learn so much about ourselves. Our minds are responsi...
Feb 07, 2023•48 min•Ep. 1
Join Tommy Rosen – internationally renowned yoga teacher, addiction recovery expert, and founder of Recovery 2.0 – and a global community of people overcoming addiction and thriving in life. On the In The Circle podcast, you’ll hear questions asked and stories told that go far beyond just substance abuse. The insights and answers touch each and every one of us as we struggle with the human condition and find ways forward to healing and freedom. Through deep conversation and thoughtful inquiry, T...
Jan 10, 2023•2 min
