Meet Ashley Feeley
What originally drew you to DropGym?
This last summer, I was having a really hard time. I had developed really bad anxiety and insomnia. My husband was working a lot, and I was feeling really isolated and alone. I mentioned to my brother that I was feeling a lot of these things and he had mentioned he had heard of an all women's gym in Medford that might be good for me and help me find a sense of community. That next week, I signed up for the one week trial and the rest is history.
Who is one of your greatest superheros/ rolemodels?
That would definitely be my mom. She was an amazing woman. She was so incredibly, brave, and strong. She taught me how to love your family, and how to be brave even when things are really hard. She taught me to be compassionate, kind and to love others even those who are hard to love.
In 2009, she lost her battle with cancer, but even in the midst of all her pain and suffering she was always thinking of others and her family. I can't even begin to describe how brave she was, she never let on that she was scared. I strive everyday to be as good a mom as she was to me.
What's your favorite movement? And is there a movement in the gym that has spoken to or changed how you approach your life?
I love the kettle bell and pushing myself to see how heavy I can go. And I don't know if this is a movement per say but nose-nose breathing has truly changed how I approach my life. It has taught me that I'm not going to "die" when things get hard and honestly helped so much with my anxiety in day to day life. It's also helped me stay more present and focused on my breathing rather than checking out.
What's the bravest thing you've ever done?
Having a homebirth. I tend to be an anxious person and doubt my ability to do things a lot. I've never been so scared in my life. After seeing my mom go through cancer in the hospital, I couldn't imagine bringing my kids into the world in a place that brings back so many bad/hard memories. So, since I had healthy pregnancies I decided to have my kids at home. I've never felt so empowered in my life. It is crazy what the women's body is capable of and the pain it can withstand. I never thought I would be able to have a baby without any pain medication, but I did it and it has made me feel like I can do anything that I set my mind to.
Are there any fears you've had to overcome on this journey at drop gym?
There's been a lot of fears at the drop gym I've had to overcome. Firstly, I've always been afraid people are going to judge me for my lack of ability or that I don't know what I'm doing. I quickly learned that no one at drop gym is there to judge you. Everyone there is there to encourage one another and learn together. Secondly, I've always been afraid of heavy things. I have always doubted my strength and what I'm capable of. The coaches at drop gym have helped me push my limits and show me that my body is capable of so much more than I ever could have thought.
What are you most proud of for facing in the gym?
I've never been very athletic in my life and I've always been so self conscious and worried that other people will judge me because I don't know what I'm doing. I can't tell you how hard it was to sign up for just the one week trial and show up. I will never forget the first class I went to at drop gym. I remember thinking I was going to die and I just wanted it to be over. But guess what I didn't die and I was just fine and I told myself I have to give it a second chance and I'm so glad I did. I'm incredibly proud of myself for continuing to show up even when it's hard. And I'm so glad I did. The woman at drop gym have changed my life.
