CANDID Interview: Ashley Mills
Ashley Mills is co-founder and co-CEO of obé fitness, a live and on-demand fitness network, and community. Ashley and the obé team are committed to bringing fitness to our living room’s and on our own terms and timetables, designed to meet us where we are. Moving our bodies a little bit each day makes all the difference for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
“There's never been enough time between two young kids and a young business. As a newly minted homeschool mom, there's really not enough time now. One of the things I continue to remind myself is that the best thing I can do for my family and for my business is to continue to show up for myself.” -Ashley
What are you doing to keep your kids engaged throughout the day, while you're all at home, and how are you approaching your work?
We're doing a lot of arts and crafts with household objects. Masking tape is now a much sought-after item in our house! My approach to screen time has also changed quite a bit: What was once a "no, no," now it's a "yes, please!"
As far as work goes, at obé, we teach 14 live classes a day beginning at 6 am, so the workday starts early. We're a fitness streaming platform that's been rooted in a rich community since launch, so given everything we're all experiencing globally, with everyone at home, we're scaling the business in a way that's new for us. For example, we're finding ways to include more members of the family than ever before, including expanding our kid's programs and adding classes for seniors.
How are you lifting your spirits and keeping sane in the midst of this new normal?
Working out (and coffee) is what's keeping me together right now. I've always kept active to help me feel strong and present, and that habit is serving me very well right now.
What's your biggest challenge right now?
There's never been enough time between two young kids and a young business. As a newly minted homeschool mom, there's really not enough time now. One of the things I continue to remind myself is that the best thing I can do for my family and for my business is to continue to show up for myself. For me, that means finding time to move and finding time to breathe throughout the day.
What is your ultimate S@H garment that's giving you coupled confidence and comfort?
I love a luxe duster! There's something about them that feels a bit like a secret weapon: they provide a little bit of comfort while being impossibly chic. Wearing a great piece, like this one from Stelen, helps mentally delineate between work and family time and dresses is up my WFH legging look.
How are you reinventing your Mother's Day this year?
Both my kids are under 5, with my youngest being 5 months, so Mother's Day has been an evolution in our house over the past few years. This year with us all being cooped up and unable to travel to see my and my husband's mom, we'll be relying a little more on technology, and I'm looking forward to cuddling up with my boys at the end of the day.
ARE YOU INSPIRED BY ASHLEY? KNOW SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE, TOO? SHARE HER CANDID MOMENT.
About this Interview Series
As Mother’s Day approaches I’ve thought a lot about the importance of shining a light on all moms, particularly in the midst of this unprecedented new normal. The world is changing, but honoring and celebrating mom remains intact. Mother’s come in many forms; some gave birth to us, some just became a new mom, some adopted us, some are grandmothers, some enter our lives later in life, some are a best friend, and some found us in times of need and invited us into their lives. As part of my Candid Interview series, I had the pleasure of connecting with inspiring women who are mothers, founders, and dynamic individuals who are sharing their stories of navigating the now and how they’ll reinvent Mother’s Day this year amidst this ongoing pandemic. -LKS
This article was originally published on April 30 by Town & Style St. Louis.