Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Fedarko.
Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Philly, where I attended a private Quaker school from the 1st to the 12th grades. I started playing organized sports around the age of ten, shortly after my dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack. I played soccer and softball pretty much all year round from when I started until I went to college. I went to Northeastern University for a few years and graduated from Drexel University in 2008 with a bachelor’s in Biology.
Shortly after that, I moved to San Diego in 2011. Along the way, I worked in many industries: hospitality, insurance, biotech, sales, and marketing, and eventually landed in fitness, where my passion lies. I had a baby in 2016, which led me to quit corporate America in 2017 because it reminds me again why I was at work all day, pumping breast milk, while someone else was home taking care of MY baby?! It seems crazy to me that we’ve normalized having children but not raising them because we’re too busy surviving Capitalist America, but I digress. After a major break-up in 2019 and a spiritual awakening from 2020-2022, I started a business – Ashley Michelle Fitness – in 2023.
I’ll give you a little more detail about how AMF came to be. It was an idea that had been stirring for years, probably decades. Ever since I started organized sports, I’ve been passionate about movement. I had a trainer during the off-season in high school and learned to appreciate personalized workouts at an early age. I considered being a personal trainer along the way. I always knew I wanted to own/operate a fitness studio, but I didn’t know if or how I’d end up in that industry full-time.
My mom bought a reformer from QVC sometime during my teen years when I learned about Pilates and the method. I tried to figure out the apparatus but didn’t make much progress. Instead, I started doing mat Pilates using a Denise Austin DVD I found at my house. I took that to college and tried to master the mat routine, but it was HARD. Fast forward to when I moved to San Diego. I found Club Pilates on Groupon, took one reformer class, and was HOOKED. I didn’t know I had so many muscles that had never been used – even as an athlete. I was a client at CP for many years before transitioning to an instructor.
Once I realized my time in corporate America was over, I started the self-paced program in 2017 and was teaching group classes before the end of 2018. I decided to enroll in the Club Pilates teacher-training program because I was fed up with my corporate situation and needed to do something that challenged me physically & mentally but was also a lucrative profession in an industry where I could thrive – not survive.
I started teaching Pilates while still working in the hospitality industry; ironically enough, COVID quarantine pushed me into the fitness world full-time. The restaurant where I was working closed due to COVID. Pilates studios were reopening and hiring, and I found myself working at a studio not far from my home. I was able to build my schedule from the ground up. COVID quarantine was a weird time for sure, but I am forever grateful for that era because since then, I’ve been able to follow my passions and dreams and help people get healthy daily. To say I am blessed would be an understatement.
Today, I teach about 30 group classes per week across multiple Club Pilates locations. I also train clients 1:1 at a studio space in Kearny Mesa. I’ve taught over 4,000 group classes since completing the education program, became a Nationally Certified Pilates Instructor, and sought additional certifications in TRX, Barre, and Pilates Suspension Method.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
That’s a loaded question on a first date, LOL. If you’re asking about my life in general, it hasn’t been the smoothest ride.
However, I don’t consider bumps or struggles to be a bad thing. We learn and grow each time we’re required to pivot both in life and in business. I like to say, “Lessons are blessings.” And honestly, the older I get, the more I appreciate each time I have the opportunity to learn something new. Even if it’s learning the “hard way.”
I mentioned earlier that my dad died unexpectedly when I was 10. However, that wasn’t the first traumatic experience of my life; my mother and I were hit by a car while crossing the street when I was about 4. I’ve had many other encounters with death along the way.
I’ve lost grandparents and friends and experienced the loss of my own babies after an ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous miscarriage of twins. I’ve also been in so many car accidents I can no longer count. I swear I’m not the worst driver in the world, but the universe speaks to me in car crashes. It might sound crazy to you, but every time I get in an accident, there’s a message or a lesson. Not about cars – about my LIFE. Thankfully, I’m in one piece, besides a little leftover whiplash.
I haven’t come across too many obstacles as a business owner, although it hasn’t even been six months since I launched Ashley Michelle Fitness, aka AMF (which are also my initials). I’ve been required to pivot, and I’ve lost a few dollars, but I’ve also gained so much knowledge along the way in regards to being an entrepreneur. I have some friends who own businesses, so I ask them for advice or to commiserate when things are going awry.
I expect there will be many bumps and bruises as I figure out how to manage a business, along with being a single mother who lives 3,000 miles away from her family and her roots. I know I will continue to grow and flourish as a business owner, and I am so excited to share AMF with everyone that crosses my path.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ashley Michelle Fitness is a wellness brand I’ve built around four pillars:
• Physical fitness
• Mental agility
• Community building
• Spiritual connection
I believe (know) that movement can heal. Your mindset is a choice. Community is necessary to thrive. A strong connection with a higher power will lead you to places you might never make it to on your own.
I train clients 1:1 (or 2:1) in a shared studio space in Kearny Mesa. Usually, the sessions are Pilates-focused, but with my athletic and personal training background, we can also get into plyometrics, calisthenics, and weight training if that’s your preference. I’ve got a wealth of knowledge from real-life experiences and plenty of continuing education. Learning is one of my favorite hobbies. After meeting a client for the first time, I will curate a program that’s specific to their needs and goals so we can stay on track and have a focus for each session.
I utilize an athletic teaching style that combines a mix of strength, endurance, and mobility training. I’m passionate about movement, flexibility, and helping clients understand the “what” & “why” behind each movement. I believe that a strong mind-body connection can be cultivated through movement and that movement (and Pilates) is for anybody. I am all-inclusive when it comes to body types, but I prefer training former and current athletes. My oldest client is 88, and my youngest is 15, and I certainly know how to challenge all age groups accordingly.
In addition to 1:1 training sessions, I also host Pilates/wellness retreats. Traveling outside your bubble is a great idea if you need to reconnect with yourself, others, or Spirit. If you simply enjoy time in nature, moving your body, and connecting with like-minded individuals, then you’ll be right where you feel at home during one of my upcoming retreats. Check out my website for more information and upcoming dates/locations.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Some of my favorite books are:
Finding You Way Home by Melody Beattie (or any of her others) for a little self-help/guidance.
Caged Lion by John Howard Steel. The author was one of Joseph Pilates’s clients in NY.
Return to Life by Joseph Pilates. It’s short and includes all the details for the mat routine, but he makes some good points about general health & wellness.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. This book has helped me stay present and in the now. Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King. An easy, uplifting read that will help you address and adjust your mindset.
These two are quick, enlightening, spiritual books:
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
- The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
And I Love Anything by Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point, Blink & David, and Goliath are my top 3.
I don’t really listen to Podcasts or read blogs, but I do believe in Astrology, so I look to the stars and moon for answers, signs, and guidance.
Pricing:
- Private session: $90+
- Duet session: $50+
- Mat session: $75
- Pilates Suspension Method: $75
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleymichellefit.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ashleymichellefitness
Image Credits
Josh Moffat and Hilary Lyke
