We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ashley Baer. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are dedicated to my wellness activities. I begin by drinking four glasses of lemon water, which immediately hydrates me, supports liver and kidney detoxification, and helps prevent afternoon fatigue. Afterward, I move my body through Tai Chi and QiGong, Pilates, and or yoga, followed by meditation. Next, I practice gratitude by speaking it aloud each morning- expressing thanks for both what I already have and what I wish to attract into my life. Finally, I enjoy two shots of espresso and study Italian daily as I hope to live in Italy one day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Since 2018, I have been focused on bringing mindful strategies into public schools. I created the Mindful Breathing Program, an embedded wellness initiative for both educators and students. I believe educators must be well to avoid burnout, and students must be well to learn effectively. Through breath and movement, I teach practical self-regulation strategies. When I am not working within my school district, I train teachers across Georgia, and I have recently expanded into other states. I have also trained professional athletes in using mindfulness for performance enhancement and frequently speak at conferences about the importance of mindfulness for health and well-being. In addition, I teach yoga and lead an international yoga retreat in Jamaica every summer. Outside of teaching, I create guided meditations for the InsightTimer app, and currently writing a memoir and a children’s book.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that I was unlucky and misfortune always seemed to find me. I felt unworthy of happiness and undeserving of good things. I suffered as a child from grief and experienced many traumatic events, which I rationalized were happening to me because I was bad or didn’t deserve happiness. I now accept that the bad things that happened to me were because the adults in my life had trauma or were narcissists who only cared about themselves. I realized the events were just something I lived through and survived, and I now see them as a necessary part of my growth. I feel lucky every day that I am alive, and I know only good comes to me.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I discovered it was actually my power. After being introduced to mindfulness in 2018, I learned to accept my pain rather than run from it-a pattern I had carried my entire life. Through meditation and mindful awareness, I began to embrace my pain as part of me. This practice helped me release the past while also acknowledging deep wounds I once couldn’t face. I am deeply inspired by Brene Brown, who says that owning our story is the bravest act of love we can offer ourselves. When I finally owned mine, it no longer controlled me. It became an act of profound self-acceptance, showing me that nothing was inherently wrong with me- it was simply what had happened to me. Instead of hiding, I began sharing my story, and in doing so, I found the doorway to my true path.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is my true self. When I speak at events, trainings, or conferences, I share my personal story with honesty and vulnerability. What I share is raw and unfiltered. Before discovering mindfulness, I lived with two versions of myself. I wore a facade of big smiles, hiding the pain I carried beneath the surface. Now, there is no separation between who I am in public and who I am in private. I am simply myself–openly sharing my flaws, my life lessons, and my heart.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me is that I helped them to find peace and that I lived with kindness. More than anything, I hope my sons say that I was a loving and devoted mother offering unconditional love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindfulnesswithashley.com/
- Instagram: @missashleybaer
- Linkedin: Ashley Baer
- Other: https://www.themindfulbreathingprogram.com/
https://insighttimer.com/ashleybaer
Image Credits
@wanderstowonder
