How It All Began...
On a frigid February day in 2015 it started with a post on social media—A group of people who didn’t normally hang out, all got together for a hike. It grew from there.
Yana and Sean instantly realized they unearthed something special. They had discovered something to fill the void that had been missing in their lives and the lives of many in the recovery community. Inadvertently, they created a beautiful gift for the Rochester community with the founding of ROCovery Fitness.
ROCovery Fitness is a nonprofit that provides a supportive community of physically active individuals brought together by sober living, committed to creating an environment of healing and recovery. It is the missing link in the traditional recovery process. Focused on providing a safe community for individuals recovering from addiction, the goal of the organization is to foster a commitment to change by replacing maladaptive patterns of coping, through the connectedness of like-minded individuals pursuing wellness, fitness, and outdoor activities.
Yana and Sean instantly realized they unearthed something special. They had discovered something to fill the void that had been missing in their lives and the lives of many in the recovery community. Inadvertently, they created a beautiful gift for the Rochester community with the founding of ROCovery Fitness.
ROCovery Fitness is a nonprofit that provides a supportive community of physically active individuals brought together by sober living, committed to creating an environment of healing and recovery. It is the missing link in the traditional recovery process. Focused on providing a safe community for individuals recovering from addiction, the goal of the organization is to foster a commitment to change by replacing maladaptive patterns of coping, through the connectedness of like-minded individuals pursuing wellness, fitness, and outdoor activities.
ROCovery Fitness Founding Members

Yana Khashper (Co-Founder)
Yana is originally from New York City and has been in Western N.Y. since 2012. Yana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in trauma, addictions, and mental health. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University and went on to work with The New York City Fire Department Counseling Unit where her focus was to provide services to firefighters and emergency personnel of the FDNY impacted by the WTC tragedy and other disasters. Yana’s addiction took hold of her life during this time leading to complete incapacitation. She struggled for years before finding recovery. When she entered recovery, she experienced a sense of loss, lack of purpose and overwhelming sense of emotional pain. It was not until she found physical activity and exercise that she felt a sense of freedom and purpose in her life.. In her darkest hour, Yana was able to find peace in letting go of old ideals and creating a new life founded on healing and healthy living. She became passionate about bicycling, weight lifting, kayaking, and getting out into the outdoors. Most of all, she found that being outdoors has significantly strengthened her spirituality and given her added tools she needed to live sober and free. She wanted to share this gift with others who are on similar journeys of their own. Get busy living!!
Certification: Yana is a Certified Personal Trainer though NASM and a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate.
Yana is originally from New York City and has been in Western N.Y. since 2012. Yana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in trauma, addictions, and mental health. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University and went on to work with The New York City Fire Department Counseling Unit where her focus was to provide services to firefighters and emergency personnel of the FDNY impacted by the WTC tragedy and other disasters. Yana’s addiction took hold of her life during this time leading to complete incapacitation. She struggled for years before finding recovery. When she entered recovery, she experienced a sense of loss, lack of purpose and overwhelming sense of emotional pain. It was not until she found physical activity and exercise that she felt a sense of freedom and purpose in her life.. In her darkest hour, Yana was able to find peace in letting go of old ideals and creating a new life founded on healing and healthy living. She became passionate about bicycling, weight lifting, kayaking, and getting out into the outdoors. Most of all, she found that being outdoors has significantly strengthened her spirituality and given her added tools she needed to live sober and free. She wanted to share this gift with others who are on similar journeys of their own. Get busy living!!
Certification: Yana is a Certified Personal Trainer though NASM and a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate.

Sean Smith (Co-Founder)
Sean believes “waking up and moving” has been so incredibly helpful in his recovery. He has always considered himself an athlete and an extremely active person. However, that part of him was lost to years of alcohol use. Since getting sober, he has been able to rediscover the wonders of nature and those thrills he once found by being outside and exploring the world. Physical fitness and leading an active and healthy lifestyle have been extremely important to his recovery and provide him with the inner peace that had been missing for so long. He was born and raised in Rochester, NY and has been around the world throughout his last 16 years serving in the U.S. Army. He is a certified CrossFit level one instructor and ran high intensity strength training classes in ROCovery Fitness. Sean has recently graduated with an Associates Degree in Addictions Counseling and is a 2014 graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. Like Yana, he too finds peace while out in the woods and by the water. This is why you will find that most of our events usually include one of the two. We wanted to build a sober community of people who are committed to leading healthy and physically active lifestyles on their journey of recovery from addiction.
Sean believes “waking up and moving” has been so incredibly helpful in his recovery. He has always considered himself an athlete and an extremely active person. However, that part of him was lost to years of alcohol use. Since getting sober, he has been able to rediscover the wonders of nature and those thrills he once found by being outside and exploring the world. Physical fitness and leading an active and healthy lifestyle have been extremely important to his recovery and provide him with the inner peace that had been missing for so long. He was born and raised in Rochester, NY and has been around the world throughout his last 16 years serving in the U.S. Army. He is a certified CrossFit level one instructor and ran high intensity strength training classes in ROCovery Fitness. Sean has recently graduated with an Associates Degree in Addictions Counseling and is a 2014 graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. Like Yana, he too finds peace while out in the woods and by the water. This is why you will find that most of our events usually include one of the two. We wanted to build a sober community of people who are committed to leading healthy and physically active lifestyles on their journey of recovery from addiction.

Patrick Mullin (Co-Founder)
Patrick taught us what recovery could look like when he joined Rocovery Fitness with his larger than life smile. Patrick was the first person to join the Rocovery board with Yana, and Sean. They had huge dreams and zero dollars but the three musketeers got to work. Hosting hikes, leading bike rides, leading a pack of "misfits" up to mountain tops, early (early) morning workout sessions—Anything that brought his brothers and sisters in recovery together, Patrick was there. Patrick would light up the stage as he spoke about recovery at in-patient treatment centers as he would explain that life in recovery isn't just worth it, but that it's fun! That was Patrick; He showed up at Adirondack trips ready to share himself with everyone there. He embodied what ROCovery wanted to become. Pat craved community, connection, fun in the mountains with like-minded people, the morning workouts where he would enthusiastically become best friends with any newcomer. Pat talked about the painful moments and the celebrated the victories. He was a champion lacrosse player that took his drive and dedication on the field and transferred it into his recovery and the lives around him. He reached out to so many and touched their lives in a way nobody else could. When Pat smiled you could see his good heart in his eyes and you knew he was your friend. The number of people Pat helped is too many to count and the ripple effect felt by his good deeds will go on forever. Pat probably couldn't recite Rocovery's mission and vision statements, but he lived them with a passion that was very special to all of us. Pat pushed everyone around him to be better people and that shows in the work that ROCovery continues to do in his memory. We see you in every cardinal, every rainbow, every sun-beamed cloud, every ROCovery event, every person we have served. We see you Pat, and we miss and love you.
Patrick taught us what recovery could look like when he joined Rocovery Fitness with his larger than life smile. Patrick was the first person to join the Rocovery board with Yana, and Sean. They had huge dreams and zero dollars but the three musketeers got to work. Hosting hikes, leading bike rides, leading a pack of "misfits" up to mountain tops, early (early) morning workout sessions—Anything that brought his brothers and sisters in recovery together, Patrick was there. Patrick would light up the stage as he spoke about recovery at in-patient treatment centers as he would explain that life in recovery isn't just worth it, but that it's fun! That was Patrick; He showed up at Adirondack trips ready to share himself with everyone there. He embodied what ROCovery wanted to become. Pat craved community, connection, fun in the mountains with like-minded people, the morning workouts where he would enthusiastically become best friends with any newcomer. Pat talked about the painful moments and the celebrated the victories. He was a champion lacrosse player that took his drive and dedication on the field and transferred it into his recovery and the lives around him. He reached out to so many and touched their lives in a way nobody else could. When Pat smiled you could see his good heart in his eyes and you knew he was your friend. The number of people Pat helped is too many to count and the ripple effect felt by his good deeds will go on forever. Pat probably couldn't recite Rocovery's mission and vision statements, but he lived them with a passion that was very special to all of us. Pat pushed everyone around him to be better people and that shows in the work that ROCovery continues to do in his memory. We see you in every cardinal, every rainbow, every sun-beamed cloud, every ROCovery event, every person we have served. We see you Pat, and we miss and love you.