FEATURE: YOGA AND ADDICTION RECOVERY
Rolf Gates’ Extra-Ordinary Journey
Champion wrestler and Army Ranger
aren’t typical entries on the biography
for a yoga teacher who’s written two
best-selling books on meditation and
founded a groundbreaking conference
on yoga and addiction recovery. But
Rolf Gates isn’t the typical yoga teacher.
He’s clean-cut, with a shaved head and
big muscles--no man bun or mandala
tattoos for this yogi. Put him in a suit
and tie, and he’d fit right in at the Republican National Convention.
Gates may look conservative, but his
background is eclectic. He’s a recovering alcoholic who’s been sober for more
than 25 years. He participated in endurance sports prior to discovering yoga,
and he’s been meditating for much longer than meditation has been popular.
He spent time in the field of social work,
and service remains a priority in his life.
That’s no surprise, because Gates comes
from a long line of ministers, and he’s
even been known to officiate a wedding.
He also works with the US military and
Department of Defense to provide sustainable care for soldiers.
How did Gates get from alcoholism to a
place of service and leadership? A rehabilitation center and a vigorous application of
the 12-step program helped him get a foothold in the world after alcohol stopped being a solution and he hit bottom.
“I benefitted tremendously from getting
professional help at first. I attended a
six-week rehab then aftercare. From that
foundation I was able to create a sober
life for myself using daily attendance
at 12 step meetings and eventually the
daily practice of Yoga and meditation. I
kept my recovery fresh by staying in a
career path that is about getting and living well.”
Recovering from alcoholism to become
a celebrated author and leader of yoga
teacher trainings and immersions is
hardly a typical story, but Gates remains
humble about his journey. “I have had a
very ordinary story. First trauma, then
40
addiction, then treatment, then sobriety
within the context of a 12-step community, then Yoga…My story is ordinary
in the sense that I received help from
a 12-step program and was able to stay
sober and within that program I was
inspired to pursue a path of service and
I have. There are countless individuals
who have the same story, and are public school teachers, firemen, doctors and
parents. I happen to be in a job description that attracts more attention than a
public school teacher. My work is no less
or more important, hence the phrase an
ordinary journey.”
Gates didn’t offer any details about his
downward spiral before sobriety. Recovery is his focus, and it remains vital
to his life. “My recovery is still as im-
portant to me now, 25 years later, as it
was in rehab, and yoga has been an indispensable support in that recovery…
My quality of li