Our guest this week is Ashley who opens up about the struggles and losses she experienced, and how they ultimately led her to reDEFINE her own understanding of success. We delve into the importance of being kind to ourselves and the power of self-love and affirmation. Ashley's story serves as a reminder that through difficult times, it's crucial to acknowledge our own worth and treat ourselves the way we do our loved ones.
Ashley's journey not only transformed her as a mother and wife but also as a business owner. We explore her path from a successful dance career to opening a thriving boutique studio in London, to the unexpected closure brought on by the pandemic up to the creation of her new business and podcast Bizzimumzi.
Here are 3 talking points from the episode:
1. The importance of self-care and self-kindness
2. The power of self-reflection and sharing personal struggles
3. Resilience and adapting to change
Join us as we navigate through Ashley's empowering story, and discover how she discovered her true identity and built a brand with her daughter. We'll also touch on the joy of community and the importance of giving back. Stay tuned until the end, when Ashley graciously offers words of advice and encouragement for all our listeners.
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More about Ashley and Bizzimumzi:
Bizzimumzi was created by Ashley Verma’s own experience of becoming a first-time Mom in February of 2020. “Becoming a parent is life-changing. It’s a gift and lets be real… It’s terrifying! Once the little bundle of joy arrives, you quickly realise this isn’t all perfect Instagram shots. No, this is now all about survival!”
Ashley Verma – self-proclaimed “ always coffee-infused” – was born and raised in Moundsville, West Virginia. She began a professional Broadway career at just 19, performing on Broadway and around the globe. It was while performing that her fitness career began, teaching sold out classes and personal training the elite. Jumping the pond with her British husband, she launched her first fitness business Define London. Ashley’s fitness business was thriving pre-COVID-19, and she was the go to personal trainer for the likes of celebrities Jourdan Dunn, Pippa Middleton, Lorena Rae and Lisa Snowden.
The global pandemic gave Ashley the harsh slap of reality when she found her Define London brick and mortar having to close down. Forced to pivot to virtual practices, she had just given birth to her daughter, Adiya, and her husband was frequently travelling to Uganda building his solar energy business. She felt overwhelmed, finding great struggle at times, but began to combat the postpartum depression by sharing ‘Mommy and Me’ workouts and vlogging adventures with Adiya on their Youtube channel, Bizzimumzi.
Celebrating her daughter’s first birthday, Ashley began to feel a bit more normal in a ‘new normal’ world. She and her husband were expecting a second child, but things took on a tragic turn at 12 weeks when they received news of a miscarriage. “Motherhood, parenting…. It’s bananas! I found myself spiralling, depressed with the miscarriage news. I was doing my best to be the best for Adiya while grieving the loss of my child. There is no baby book for this, It’s life!”
Surrounded by family and friends, Ashley was encouraged to start a podcast about her journey and bring on other Bizzimumzi’s to share their life experiences. Ashley’s journey creating Bizzimumzi has been beyond therapeutic for her and through weekly feedback after a podcast launch, so does her following.
The Bizzimumzi community is not just about the pretty bits. Ashley and every Bizzimumzi is unapologetically At Its Best, even when “At Its Best” has paint on the walls, cries filling the room, and you haven’t washed your hair in 4 days. We All Got This!
Instagram: @Bizzimumzi
