Ashlynn describes herself as someone with an "inner restlessness". This inner restlessness kept her moving, achieving, and functioning throughout years of alcohol addiction. From the outside, she appeared to be managing her life well, but her inner life said otherwise. Debt and turmoil were mounting. Everything felt chaotic. She knew her relationship with alcohol was different than it was for others, but she simply wasn't ready to get help.

Eventually, with the support of family and friends, Ashlynn did seek help. Her long list of reasons why she wouldn't fit in a recovery group evaporated in the first few meetings. Listening to the stories of others in a similar experience, she felt seen and understood. She felt like she belonged.

This sense of belonging was happening elsewhere, too - in a fitness studio. In her recovery process, Ashlynn had been taking fitness class. It wasn't long before she was teaching fitness classes. She quickly saw the need for recovery programs in the fitness space and fitness classes in the recovery space, and COVID gave her the perfect opportunity to pioneer the fusion. She began livestreaming The Recovery Barre classes once a week. The premise was simple: brief recovery meeting followed by a simplified barre class. Anyone was welcome. Last November, on her 8 year anniversary of sobriety, Ashlynn launched The Recovery Barre as a nonprofit. Less than a year later, The Recovery Barre has classes in 19 different states and in Canada.

Ashlynn shares about her faith, her sobriety, the signals that tell her to slow down, and the practices that keep her living on mission. This episode is for the sober curious, those in recovery, and anyone impacted by substance use. Listen in and be encouraged.

Find out more about The Recovery Barre: https://www.therecoverybarre.org/

Follow The Recovery Barre on social media @therecoverybarre

Follow Ashlynn on social media @ashlynnhowemovement