Get to Know Ashley in Our June Instructor Spotlight

Meet Ashley! She joins Union Yoga as a new yoga instructor but has years of teaching under her belt. Ashley has taught and directed kids in Educational Theatre across the US and Canada and taught Theatre, Music, and Movement to grades K-9 at a Tribal School in Eastern WA. You will love her sweet spirit, exuberance, excitement and passion for yoga and she brings light and energy with her every time she steps into the studio. Ashley has travelled all over the world, loves cooking, learning, being in nature and sharing yoga. Click below to learn more about this incredible yogi. We are so lucky to have her join our team!

How long have you been practicing yoga?

My practice began about 9 years ago, beginning in Ashtanga twice a week for a few years. Soon after, I found Restorative and Yin Yoga, which changed my life and significantly reduced my physical pain (shoulders and neck specifically). I enjoy cultivating my practice daily, both on and off the mat.

What made you want to become a yoga instructor?

My heartfelt goal is to create a nonprofit that brings youth yoga and mindfulness classes into libraries, schools and communities! However, my yoga teacher training (Heights Yoga & Mojave Yoga Collective, Vancouver WA) shared such a thoughtful approach to teaching yoga that I felt inspired to share this practice in a broader way than I had initially intended!

What yoga pose(s) makes you happy?

Balancing postures!! The moment a teacher says 'Half Moon', 'Soaring Eagle', or 'Figure Four Chair', I have to try and contain my smile (which I can barely do during practice, as is)!

I also love a deep, restorative twist! Give me a bolster and I will just melt!

Describe yourself in three words.

Energetic, creative, determined!

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

'Attitude of Gratitude: the Power of Positive Thinking' 🌸

What three items would you bring with you on a deserted island?

My yoga mat, snorkeling gear, and an endless supply of sunscreen!

What's a pet peeve that you would make illegal if you could?

I feel an overwhelming ache in my belly when I see people being rude/hurtful, giving ugly looks, or getting snappy at someone. We don't know the impact that may make on another person, and life is too precious to bring anything to the table that isn't from a place of love.

If you were to DJ your own life, what song or songs would you play in the background as you made your way through the day?

LOVE this question! It would begin with gentle folk/indie acoustic instrumental tunes, then it would HAVE be music from the 60's and 70's in the AM all the way into the early afternoon, then some funk or a variety of rock music mid afternoon (depending on the day and mood), lofi or international tunes in the early evening and gentle classical or soft flute to close out the night.

What is your most used emoji?

🌸 : Cherry blossoms have a deep significance in my life & are shared via emoji as a way of conveying gratitude, love, and sincerity.

I share a beautiful memory hiking with my partner in Japan; we were alone on this trail that was wide and spacious, with trees that had no leaves, just bright, flaky brown bark. As we topped a hill, we were amazed to see what looked like a continuous stream of what looked like snow flakes floating through the open path in animated swirls. We were astonished, not just by the sheer beauty of nature, but knowing it couldn't possibly be snow as it was Spring and the weather certainly wasn't cold enough. As we stepped closer, we realized it was cherry blossoms petals flowing through the forest. We were astonished, it was something out of a dream. Experiencing the swirling cherry blossoms petals is a moment to cherish the rest of our lives.

What is your favorite Knock-knock joke or silly/bad joke?

A group of veggies get in a van to go on a well-deserved vacation out of town. The road is rocky and a tire blows out! The veggies swerve, but safely make their way to the side of the road, putting on the hazard lights. The celery stalk gets out of the driver's seat, hobbles to the back of the car, opens the trunk, looks around and yells, 'Oh no!!' The other veggies turn around and say 'what's the matter?!'

What did the celery stalk say next??

(Find the answer at the bottom of the blog!)

Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Why?

Twilight. The colorful sunset, the first stars peeking in the sky, and the moon beginning to take her place in the sky... It speaks to me. While the colors and shapes of the sky may change each night, the stars and moon remain the same, and I deeply relate to that sentiment.

What is something you are really great at cooking?

Spicy Miso Butter Salmon with Miso Eggplant & Veggie Spring Rolls w/ Homemade Peanut Sauce, as well as BBQ Salmon with Mango Avocado Salsa & Cilantro Lime Rice are two that I feel very proud to share with others. And being from the South, I am proud to have the Southern Staple dishes under my belt!

What made you want to become a Yoga Instructor? How long have you been teaching?

Enrichment programming for youth was the initial motivation, but sharing healing modalities, my passion for yoga (both on and off the mat), and my AMAZING mentors (including Tanya and Cal!) have inspired me to begin sharing yoga in studio settings and beyond!

I've been 'teaching' for awhile: I taught/directed kids with Educational Theatre for a majority of my professional career across the USA and Canada. Then I taught Theatre, Music, and Movement to grades K-9th at a Tribal School in Eastern WA for 2+ years. Union Yoga Co. is my first yoga teaching position, and I cannot wait to begin sharing this practice with our community!

Do you have any other hobbies other than practicing yoga?

Absolutely! I love being in nature : hiking, snorkeling, gardens, waterfalls, etc. Just have to have an ample amount of sunscreen ready and a hat! Additional hobbies include learning/studying new things, reading, tasting and making foods/dishes, travel/adventuring, going to museums, and gaming/spending time with my partner.

If you were the captain of a pirate ship, what would be the name of your ship?

Ooooh! 'The Floating Lotus' or 'Lotus Root', I'd let my trusted crew take a vote!

Our mantra would be, 'No mud, no lotus' 🪷

Anything else? Is there a surprising fun fact you'd like to share?

My partner and I traveled around the world for two years! We went to 20 countries, not including a massive US/Canada road trip. We learned SO much about various cultures, foods, languages, and customs. The journey changed our lives and made our relationship stronger than ever.

So grateful for the amazing opportunity to share the practice of yoga at Union Yoga Co.

Come practice Hatha with me Wednesdays at noon and let's chat about travel, food, and all the ways we can make an impact in our community!

**<The answer to the dad joke: 'We forgot a spare, I guess!' (We forgot asparagus!)>