Meet Ashley Williams: Tumbling Coach & Youth Fitness Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Tumble Method came about after 10 years of working as a freelance coach for gymnastics and cheer teams. I have always had a passion to help youth athletes, and have worked with thousands of athletes over the course of my coaching career. Tumble Method was officially formed in 2020, right as the world was changing because of COVID-19. When gyms shut down, I went from seeing kids on a daily basis to no interaction at all. I was in the car when I realized this may be a long term (at the time, thinking a few weeks) situation, so I jotted down some ideas for a virtual program to keep the kids engaged during the shutdown. When I got home, I spent the next two days creating a website, essentially creating a new platform for my coaching online, and on day three my classes launched. Thinking this would be temporary, I worked endlessly everyday making sure my athletes could have some normality in their lives. The program grew to athletes nationwide joining the classes, and we have now expanded to in-home private lessons, pod classes, and outdoor clinics for cheerleaders, gymnasts, and dancers.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Tumble Method inspires and enhances athletic skills for gymnasts, cheerleaders and dancers. Tumbling is a skill that is used across several sports, so it is awesome to get to work with a wide range of athletes. Some kids just want to be active and love learning outside of being on a team, so that is something that Tumble Method caters to as well. There are currently over 50 athletes that are enrolled on a weekly basis from multiple teams in the LA area. Tumbling is just a small component for gymnasts, cheerleaders, and dancers, so having a niche that helps athletes with that portion of their sport is really special. All sessions take place in-home or outdoors if it is a group setting. As gyms start opening across the LA area, we are excited to potentially offer indoor classes and camps as summer approaches.

Creating a business is not easy, but having experiences from the past and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals certainly helps. Once you take that leap of faith, you just have to have confidence that it will all work out the way it should. The biggest challenge so far has been battling gym closures with COVID-19, but I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with kids during this time both virtually and in person. The momentum is not stopping even though gyms are starting to reopen. The convenience of training in-home with a highly qualified coach that brings equipment to your home cannot be matched. Our youngest tumbler is 3 years old, and we have had tumblers join us online in their mid-30s. Anyone can learn to tumble, you just have to be willing to try and make yourself better every time you practice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love showing people what southern California has to offer. Two of my favorite things are food and exercise, so a lot of my recommendations would fall into those two categories. Here are a few food spots that I highly recommend if you are visiting: The Griddle Cafe, Cinnaholic, Monty’s Good Burger, Sage Vegan Bistro, Ginger’s Ice Cream, and Tito’s Tacos. If you’re up for a drive, go check out Eiswelt Gelato and get a handcrafted gelato character – the stacked pigs never disappoint. As for working out, I’d say to go paddleboarding in Manhattan Beach or take a day hike in Topanga. If you’re into climbing around in caves, go check out Victory Trailhead and be ready to take some amazing overlook photos!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I wouldn’t be where I am without the love and support of my family – my fiancé, parents, and siblings. Each of my loved ones has played a special role in my life. I am lucky to have grown up in a home where the sky is the limit. My mom and dad were both Marines and always pushed me to do my best in everything that I did. My parents had high expectations while growing up which has given me confidence in my abilities over the years. It’s really amazing to have parents who truly believe nothing is out of reach. So thank you to Nick, Mom, Dad, Pip, Rachel, and David.

As for Tumble Method itself, I’ve met so many people along the way that have helped me become the business owner that I am today. From 1997-2020 the following programs have had a huge impact on me as a gymnast and coach: Team Central Gymnastic Academy, Olympia Gymnastics Ellisville, LAX All Stars, Beverly Hills Tigers, and The Studio 4U. A lot of growth as an athlete and coach has happened because of these programs and I couldn’t be more thankful for the guidance I have received.

Website: www.tumblemethod.com

Instagram: @tumblemethod

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tumblemethod

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tumble-method-culver-city

Image Credits
Jaymz Eberly