Yogis Uncovered | Meet Ashe
You might recognize Ashe from her popular programs such as Yoga for Flexible Hamstrings and Chair Supported Vinyasa Flow. Today on Yogis Uncovered we’re going behind-the-scenes and learning more about her personal background and personality. Subscribe to see the full interview!
“Clothing rolls up or falls down. It’s just nice to be naked. I love just being naked in the sun. It’s my favorite thing.”
My name is Ashe and I live in Hollywood.
Where are you from originally?
I am from New England.
How long have you been doing yoga?
Probably since I was about 16, so over 10 years now.
When did you realize you had a passion for yoga?
Immediately, I would say. My mom started taking me when I was younger, and it was a way for us to do something together.
What’s your favorite challenge with yoga?
I took an Ashtanga yoga teacher training. They had us come in and meditate, but they didn't give us any guidance. They said basically “sit down and close your eyes and meditate”. We had to sit there for an hour, two hours a day sometimes without any guidance.That was the hardest part, I think. But then I learned to really love meditation and it’s just as big a part of my life as yoga is now.
What are some similarities and differences between meditation and yoga?
I’d say the biggest similarity is just sitting with something that’s uncomfortable. In Asanas (postures) that are uncomfortable, being able to breathe into it. And in meditation, you’re trying to sit with your thoughts and feelings and not immediately move onto the next thing. Just breathe. Not be distracted like we normally are.
What do you like about doing naked yoga vs clothed yoga?
Ooh, just the sun on my body, I love that. Clothing rolls up or falls down. It’s just nice to be naked. I love just being naked in the sun. It’s my favorite thing.
How did you become so comfortable being naked?
I was raised not feeling too much shame about it. I was allowed to go skinny dipping and I wasn’t taught to be ashamed of that. And, you know, when I started to become a sexual person, I wasn’t shunned. It was like, okay, that’s normal. So I never felt weird about being naked or my body. And then when I started making money off it with camming and modeling, that’s when it was even more empowering. It was like, not only is this okay, but it's also valuable to a lot of people to witness it. I think it makes other people feel more comfortable too.
How do you like working with TNY?
Oh, it’s awesome. It feels very professional. All the shots come out so beautifully. Honestly, it made me nervous the first time I shot with them. And even today, there’s a lot of people around and you’re in these crazy positions and you’re just totally naked, but everybody’s so professional and it feels comfortable once I get past the nerves at the beginning.
If your career was a book what would you name this chapter?
That’s tricky. I'm in an interesting chapter. I lost my mom this summer, which was just a month ago. That was probably one of the hardest things that’s ever happened to me. So, it’d be a sad chapter, but also starting to move on from that now. I don’t know what it would be called. Yet to be named, TBD.
What was your first job and how did it end?
I used to paint and sell paintings on our street. I wouldn’t call that a job though. That was my entrepreneurial adventure. I was a soap carver for this lady and it ended because I was really bad at it and I could never make the soap the way it should be. So yeah, she fired me.
What’s your favorite food?
I love Thai food. Tom Kha. I like ramen, Asian soups. I need to learn how to cook. That’s my mission for the next year, to have like 10 dishes that I can cook well.
*this interview has been edited for brevity and clarity