Meet Ashley Howard | Business Owner of Grit + Gratitude Studios

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

Hi Ashley, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Life is short. I’ll always look at the risks I’m taking, and evaluate if at the end of my life I’d be ok having NOT taken the risks. Having not had the courage to believe in myself, and what’s possible continues to propel me forward with intention.

I remind myself that everything seems hard in the beginning, because there’s so much unknown, and so much to learn. But everything can be broken down into smaller more manageable steps, and if you truly want it you will find a way to make it happen.

I don’t ever want to allow fear to limit my potential and the calling I have to help others.

Me playing it small is the real risk and I’m not willing to do that. I want to live, and live fully to my calling and to my potential.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While I’m a business owner and a mom wearing all the hats and doing all the things, I like to think of myself as a creative person.

Grit + Gratitude is a space of holistic healing, utilizing pilates, Power Plates, Breathwork and meditation. It took me over 3 years to solidify the practice that encompasses all of my teachings from yoga, pilates, Urban Zen, and strength training.

Our mission is community, true transformation, and gratitude. We believe in building an inclusive community, where we cultivate gratitude daily, and encourage a culture of positive transformation from the inside out.

The art of the method is in the sequencing. The way the class is formatted and taught to flow from one version of the move to the next, until it leads into the peak pose is really the art. This sort linking of breath, movement, and feeling is was makes it special.

Each class our students take is different in terms of what’s being taught, yet the sequential flow remains the same. Leaving the students constantly learning, present, and exploring what they’re truly capable of.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have so many sweet spots I love! Keeping it local, we’d hit up a workout at Grit + Gratitude and then go to the Newhall Farmer’s Market. We’d grab honey latte’s from Henry’s, fresh flowers, and the best bagels from Tomorrow Bagel. We’d then walk down Lyons Street to Salt and Freckles Boutique shopping and chatting up the sweet sisters that own the shop. After that, another walk down Main Street would bring us to Eat Real Cafe, where we’d sit, and have lunch at the cutest little organic cafe in town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been blessed to have amazing mentors and teachers throughout my career. Yet, my biggest support has always been my community.

A handful of years ago, my husband was in a horrific snowboarding accident that left him with a brain injury, a broken neck, and a shattered left arm. It was during that time that our community rallied around us bringing us meals, cards, donations, and prayers. Not only did that love change me, but that support literally kept us afloat for months. I lived in the state of grit; this resolve to survive through the challenges we were facing. But then I also experienced so much gratitude. This deep, profound appreciation to God and to our community is where I promised myself that I would live my life fully, and to be of service.

It’s from the darkest, hardest moments of my life that the light was the brightest, the purpose and vision the clearest. That’s when I created Grit + Gratitude.

Website: https://gritandgratitudestudios.com

Instagram: GritandGratitudeStudios

Facebook: Grit and Gratitude Studios

Image Credits
Jennifer Arthur Photo
Kristin Kay Photo
Carly Mask