Profiles in Recovery

Jon Paul Crimi

Breathwork Meditation is “the single best tool I’ve found in recovery,” says Crimi. “It shuts down the noise in my head like nothing except drugs and alcohol ever did.”

Now with 16 years of recovery himself, Crimi is a prominent sobriety coach/companion whose clientele includes Hollywood A-listers. The former personal trainer to actors such as Matthew Perry and David Arquette is also certified in Breathwork Meditation, which involves focused breathing exercises set to soothing music while lying on one’s back.

Crimi is passionate about helping people prevent relapse and heal from dual diagnoses such as drug addiction with eating disorders. “There is no greater purpose than helping another human being recover,” Crimi says, “and we cannot possibly know the ripple effect it will have on other lives.”

Day Job:
Sober coach/companion, and meditation teacher in Los Angeles

At my worst, I was:
A liar, a cheat and a thief.

My rock bottom moment:
When my stripper roommate looked at me in total disgust and asked me when I was going to get my act together.

Favorite recovery quote:
“Trouble always starts out as fun” ~ Anonymous

What I learned about myself:
That asking for help from someone who has experience with what I’m going through makes me stronger.
Advice to my younger self:
Finish what you start.

Rules I live by:
Treat others how THEY want to be treated, NOT how I want to be treated.

Best advice for newbies:
Get used to moving out of your comfort zone often.

What I value most in recovery:
My integrity, relationship with God and those who count on me.

On my bucket list:
I’ve gotten to do so much of it already as a result of being sober that I feel blessed.

I get inspired by:
The incredibly moving and tragic and hilarious stories that people share. What comes from the heart goes to the heart.

What saves me from myself:
Running stuff by people I trust. Exercise, meditation, finding my way to gratitude.

Proudest moment:
Seeing a standing ovation for a man that I sponsored who got a year sober after watching him relapse for 12 years when nobody thought he would get sober, including myself.

Follow Crimi: totallifesolution.com; breathewithjp.com; on Twitter @jonpaulcrimi

Shed the Stigma:
If you’re a person in long-term recovery who wants to share your
insights, please contact us at [email protected].