The REVA Recovery movement and meditation-based program will teach you how to establish the conditions necessary to liberate yourself and begin your beautiful recovery journey. At REVA, they believe you already have everything you need to create the life you want. They are simply here to help you unlock it. If you suspect your life could be more vital and enjoyable without drugs or alcohol, you’re probably right. But many people struggle to transition to a sober lifestyle on their own. And traditional meetings and treatment programs aren’t right for everyone.
Meet the Founders of REVA Recovery
Erin Ranta (Sober anniversary 02/2016) and Adrienne van der Valk (Sober anniversary 02/2018) have both traveled long roads with substance use disorders. What’s their superpower? They help anyone who wants to be sober get to the next level physically, spiritually, and mentally through movement, meditation, and recovery coaching. If that resonates with you, book a free visioning session today. You can begin creating the wonderful sober life you want and deserve right now.
This dynamic duo met in September 2020 at an outdoor meeting in Central Park and discovered that they were both sober and both taught movement professionally. As their friendship grew, they realized their passion for helping others in recovery was aligned, and in early 2021, REVA Recovery was born. Let’s get to know these gals on a little more personal level.
Sober Spotlight Q & A with Erin Ranta and Adrienne van der Valk
Favorite non-alcoholic beverage:
Erin is a gal after my own heart and loves iced coffee with a splash of cream or milk and maybe a little vanilla. While she’s interested in the non-alcoholic beverage movement, she hasn’t yet jumped into it. I talked with her about setting up my new at-home NA (non-alcoholic) bar and how much fun I’ve been having with it. We giggled about the fact that the shelves stay pretty stocked because I don’t seem to gulp through my inventory as I did with alcoholic options. A’hem.
Adrienne is a spritzer kind of gal. Bring on the watermelon syrup, fresh fruit, and sparkling water. She also won’t turn down an iced cold Arnold Palmer. (Does everyone struggle with the pronunciation of this mocktail? Seriously a tongue twister!)
Adrienne’s Favorite “QUIT-LIT” recovery/sobriety book:
#QUIT-LIT has been a huge part of Adrienne’s recovery journey. In fact, it’s basically all she read in the time leading up to finally giving up booze. She talked about the embarrassment she felt reading these types of books while she was still drinking, but it’s what she was craving. The gift of desperation can most certainly be a motivator. She talked about the shame and the fear that was crippling her. Two books in particular helped her flip her thinking about alcohol.
The first book was Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck. An eye-opening read, this book helped her realize that big alcohol is tricking you, wrapping poison in attractive packaging. Tricking you into thinking that there’s something wrong with you if you aren’t consuming it. The second book was on of my personal favorites, Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola. This book really helped Adrienne keep chinking at the wall that she knew needed to come down. And then, Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker was a book that really helped her after she quit drinking. (*like a woman, see what I did there?)
Adrienne went on to discuss the power of storytelling and how beautifully it helps people learn and self-identify. Like many of us, Adrienne thought she would have this problem forever. That she would always be “that drunk yoga instructor”. Teaching two classes a week at 5:30 am, she knew that at least two nights per week, she couldn’t get totally blasted. Adrienne admitted to pushing pretty damn hard to find out where that line was.
Erin’s #QUIT-LIT journey was a bit different…
Erin’s experience was a little different. She was so sick that she really wasn’t reading anything at first. Reading really gritty stories is her jam, because that is what she personally relates to. Two of her favorite books are My Fair Junkie by Amy Dresner and How to Murder Your Own Life by Cat Marnell.
Candidly, Erin said that how she really spent her time was crying and binge-watching the TV series Intervention. Adrienne was quick to add that she loved the show as well. All three of us also talked about our fascination with Celebrity Rehab. Erin, a former dancer who has also dealt with eating disorder issues most of her life, did want to mention Girl Walks Out of a Bar, by Lisa Smith. Erin also mentioned enjoying Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola, which has served her well since getting sober.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: One of our first blog posts was a candid interview with Lisa Smith, and you can read that here
Erin, a Pilates teacher, was both active in the fitness industry and in her addiction to the point of having liver disease. Her story includes being in and out of hospitals and going to treatment for the first time at 28. That didn’t stick. A decade later, she found herself back in treatment and out of options. At this stage, she knew she would need to fight for her life.
Advice for Newly Sober Small Business Owners:
Adrienne noted that businesses are like children. You put so much into them, which can often be exhausting, and they basically eclipse everything else in your life. It’s important to establish really clear boundaries. She went on to describe picturing life like a dashboard. Check your dials! If your stress dial is going up, then maybe your social life dial needs to be turned down. Learn to calibrate. Find balance. So often, the first thing we sacrifice is the things we do for ourselves. Make time for yourself, even if it’s only 5 minutes here or there. Just sit still and breathe. Walk, nap, or do whatever you need to do to leave you feeling recharged. Just don’t go too long without regular self-care.
Making Good Self-care Habits:
Erin recently moved into a new building with a pool. Swimming has become an incredible way for her to practice mindful movement and self-care. As a Pilates teacher, you don’t move as much as when you’re taking the class. She discussed the importance of incorporating small amounts of movement and self-care throughout the day. Erin also loves to treat herself to yummy food and good music. Meditation is new to her.
Adrienne, on the other hand, uses mediation as the primary form of her self-care. She claims this is why the last time she quit was the last time. Devouring #QUIT-LIT and meditation has made all the difference. Adrienne considers herself to be a very regimented person. She meditates several times throughout the day and recommends setting a timer to stay on track. Adrienne also practices witchcraft, which she finds empowering. It helps her feel connected to nature and to the universe. Raised Catholic, she has had a weird relationship with spirituality. Whether she’s setting spells under the full moon or just carefully watching how she speaks to herself, it’s important to her to have agency over things versus just letting life happen to her.
Tips on Recovering Out Loud:
Erin was quick to point out that people will respect you more than you think they will. It’s quite shocking, but also powerful when someone you wouldn’t expect resonates with your journey. On the same note, be prepared that some people may disappoint you or no longer want to be in your life. Remember, we can’t control how others react. It’s ok to tell people as you feel comfortable and set boundaries on how you want them to communicate with you about your recovery. You are entitled to that clarity.
What Advice Would You Give Your Newly Sober Self?
Adrienne explained that she initially made many jokes about it. (Something I know I did personally as well.) A word of caution: double-check that you remain in integrity with yourself. “It’s ok to own my sobriety, because to be honest, I’m just way cooler when I’m not drinking.” However, it took Adrienne some time to build that confidence.
Erin’s vibe is to relax and live one day at a time. You don’t need to be addicted to your recovery. Relax, it happens over time. Try not to stress, and have confidence that things will unfold as they naturally should.
Favorite Nonprofits:
Erin and Adrienne are excited to watch their business grow and as part of their business plan, they look forward to giving back with scholarships to returning citizens from prison. Adrienne is also a supporter of the Jeremiah Program, which aims to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. Erin supports the I’ll Be There Project, which is a movement of unconditional love founded on the belief that every act of kindness, no matter how large or small, leaves a lasting and powerful imprint on both the giver and the receiver.
Guilty Pleasures:
Erin claims you can keep her happy with heaps and heaps of nachos, no onions, please. Adrienne can’t get enough of the A&E network, Hoarders being her favorite show to binge. Officially confirmed – I want to hang out with these two ALL THE TIME!
Pop Culture:
Adrienne thinks the most iconic moment was when she dressed as Lady Gaga to attend a Lady Gaga Show. Please note that we have requested photo evidence that this did, in fact, occur. Don’t worry, readers, we will share it with you the moment it arrives in our inbox.
As for Erin, who is originally from Seattle, she’s got two words for you. BRA CONES. That’s right, at the ripe old age of 8, Erin’s (obviously very cool) mom took her to see Madonna in the Kingdom for the Who’s That Girl Tour. Unfortunately, I could not locate video footage of Madonna dancing in her bra cones in the Emerald City, but here’s a clip from the Tour in Miami.
What’s on Your Playlist?
Adrienne can’t get enough of the podcast You’re Wrong About, and I wholeheartedly agree with this podcast selection. As for Erin, she’s currently binging on old Outcast albums and is obsessed with classical violin and jazz. Not smooth jazz, old jazz. If you know, you know.
Final Words About REVA Recovery
Adrienne still can’t believe how comfortable she is now telling people that she’s sober. Like many of us, she LOVED drinking and it was her entire identity and lifestyle. Back then, she couldn’t fathom telling anyone she was in pain, which is a complete 180 degrees from where she is today. If you had told Erin five years ago that she would start her own business and have a baby, she wouldn’t have believed you. “No way can I do that!” But somehow, the world had other plans for this dynamic duo who met up in Central Park for an outdoor meeting in the midst of a global pandemic.
It was clear to me after spending over an hour with these two beauties that they are both passionate and proud of the work they are doing to help anyone who finds themselves on a similar journey. It’s easy to see the gratitude and respect they have for each other and for what they are building. Their goal is simple. They are reframing yoga and Pilates, and the practice of mindful movement through the lens of recovery. This creates optimal conditions for the recovery journey to sink in even further. If this sounds good to you, then reach out and schedule a free session! They want to help you build the life you want and bring recovery to the forefront of that journey.
Who’s Right for REVA?
The ideal person is someone who always intends to do self-care, but doesn’t. Someone who gets frustrated when they meditate and exercise. If you are seeking to strengthen your practice of self-love and self-strength but don’t yet have a clear sense of what that looks like, I highly recommend trying one of their free sessions. They offer them once a month, and I took their class the day after our Zoom interview. It was a blissful 45 minutes of mindful movement via Zoom, which left me asleep like a baby on my living room floor, waking up two hours later to find my laptop had also gone to sleep.
Their program is perfect for those who are newly sober or recently out of treatment. People who have been sober for a while but feel things aren’t moving as they should will benefit too. The REVA program is asset-based. Erin and Adrienne teach that everything you need is already inside of you. They are there to support your journey toward setting boundaries, building self-love, improving nutrition, rewiring, and other key practices that are easy to implement and maintain.
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