We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Velasquez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Health and wellness have always been a passion of mine, even back in high school. But everything shifted in 2021 when my mom passed away. That loss triggered a major decline in my own health—physically, emotionally, and mentally. I went to several traditional doctors, but their solution was always the same: medication. Deep down, I knew there had to be another way.

Out of desperation and determination, I started searching for more holistic solutions and came across the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. At first, I enrolled purely to learn how to heal myself. But as I went through the program, everything started clicking—and I realized this was bigger than just my journey. I knew I had to share this knowledge with others. That’s when I decided to become a holistic health coach.

People often think health is just about eating well and exercising, but true wellness goes far deeper. It’s physical, yes, but it’s also mental, emotional, and even spiritual. My mom struggled with autoimmune disease for years, and I truly believe that if I had known then what I know now, she might still be here today. That belief is what drives my passion and purpose. I want others to know that healing is possible, and that there are natural, empowering ways to support the body and mind.

Dance has also played a defining role in my healing journey. When I was grieving, I leaned into dance as a way to regulate my emotions. It became my therapy—it helped me reconnect with joy, process pain, and move through my grief in a way that felt nourishing. I had loved the gym for many years and it served me well for a long time, but as my body shifted into a more chronically stressed, sympathetic nervous system state, heavy lifting became too taxing. What I needed most during that season was lower-impact movement—and dance met me exactly where I was. It brought back the fun, creativity, and connection I had been missing.

Now, as a teacher, I’ve witnessed how dance has helped others transform as well—whether it’s rebuilding confidence, improving mental health, or even bringing couples closer together.

Becoming a holistic health coach and dance instructor wasn’t just a career change—it was a life calling that was born out of loss, healing, and the desire to help others reclaim their vitality.

Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve worked in many corners of the health and wellness world—weight loss coaching, personal training, and various wellness center roles—but something always felt incomplete. Each of those paths focused on just one aspect of well-being, when in reality, we are multidimensional beings. Our health isn’t just about our physical body—it’s influenced by our relationships, career, home environment, emotional well-being, creativity, and more.

It wasn’t until I started my training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition that I had a lightbulb moment: we can’t truly heal by looking at just one part of ourselves. That realization is what shaped the foundation of my coaching practice. I don’t believe in rigid protocols or one-size-fits-all plans. Instead, I meet people exactly where they are, and we work together to uncover the root causes of imbalance—whether that’s burnout, anxiety, fatigue, or anything else keeping them from feeling their best.

That’s what makes my services different. I created my signature 6-month Better Body Balance program to help people understand that health is not a quick fix—it’s a lifelong journey. Our needs shift through different seasons of life, and my goal is to equip my clients with the tools, knowledge, and flexibility to support their well-being long-term. I emphasize balance over extremes, and I help people discover what thriving means for them individually—because health is not one-size-fits-all.

My brand logo is a lotus flower and arrow—symbols that are deeply personal to me. I originally got the design tattooed with my mom, who is a big reason I do what I do. The lotus flower represents rising through adversity, and the arrow reminds us that when life pulls us back, it’s often preparing to launch us forward. Both symbols represent my journey and the transformation I now help others experience.

What I’m most proud of is staying true to my authentic self. A lot of people didn’t understand what I was doing when I first started—holistic health isn’t always easy to explain. But I kept going because I know my mission is to help people heal and live fuller, more balanced lives. Seeing my clients reclaim their energy, confidence, and joy is the most rewarding part of what I do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first shared that I wanted to become a health coach, I was met with a lot of skepticism—“That’s not a real career,” “You won’t make money doing that,” “It’s too risky,” and “How will you even find clients?” All valid concerns, but none of them outweighed the deep sense of purpose I felt. I knew that if I kept the knowledge I had to myself, I’d be doing others a disservice.

Still, the doubt from others wasn’t easy to navigate. I had moments where I questioned everything, experienced setbacks, and faced more delays than I expected. But I never let those doubts stop me. I kept moving forward because I knew this work mattered. Even if I had only helped one person, it would have been worth it.

Now, when I look at the lives I’ve touched—the clients I’ve supported, the dancers I’ve inspired, and the people who’ve found healing through the resources I’ve created—it fills me with so much joy. That sense of impact and fulfillment is worth more than anything I could have imagined. And in hindsight, all of the pushback only made me more grounded in my “why.”

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Active listening—without a doubt. It’s such an underrated skill, but in my experience, it’s one of the most powerful tools a coach or wellness practitioner can have. People want to feel heard, seen, and understood. Unfortunately, many traditional medical professionals don’t take the time to truly listen. I remember how frustrating it was during my own healing journey when I clearly communicated that I didn’t want to be put on medication, and yet my concerns were completely dismissed.

One thing I’ve learned is that most people already have the answers inside of them—they just need someone to hold space, ask the right questions, and guide them back to their own inner wisdom. But that’s only possible if you’re actually listening, not just thinking about what you’re going to say next.

When you genuinely listen without trying to fix, judge, or interrupt, people open up. They feel safe. And that’s where real transformation happens. I believe active listening creates deeper trust, stronger connections, and ultimately better outcomes for clients—and that’s what sets great coaches apart from the rest.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: ashleyy_velasquezz