Meet Ashley Fazio

We recently connected with Ashley Fazio and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found my passion when I found pole fitness, my calling when I began teaching pole to others, and my purpose when I took a leap of faith and opened my own pole and aerial fitness studio, CLAQ HAUS Pole Fitness.

I started pole fitness for many reasons, but what began as a fun hobby, I quickly learned was so much more than that; it is truly my passion. It is the first time I tried something and did not quit. In fact, it kept me coming back for more. It sparked a fire in me that I had never experienced before. I found and fell in love with myself through pole and I can’t imagine my life without it. It was truly love at first spin.

Once I began teaching, I realized that as much as I loved pole fitness for myself and what it does for me, I loved it even more as an instructor and what I can do to help others. I have met so many amazing people with so many different stories over the last 5 years and I truly enjoy being a page (or chapter) in every single one of their journeys! And that’s when the dream of one day creating a safe and supportive space for everyBODY began!

CLAQ HAUS had been alive in my mind for a couple years before it actually came to fruition. But on February 26th, 2024, I was able to finally bring my dream to life and CLAQ HAUS officially opened its doors! We have accomplished so much in the last 8 months and I’m so excited to see where this chapter of my life takes me!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Ashley and I am the proud owner and heartbeat behind CLAQ HAUS Pole Fitness, a pole and aerial fitness studio dedicated to empowering everyBODY through movement. My personal journey with pole started in 2010 when I attended my first class after seeing a live pole performance in Las Vegas during a girls weekend. I sporadically took classes for years before finally finding a studio close to home. It was there that I truly fell in love with pole fitness and everything it had to offer.

As a young mom who felt like I had lost my sense of identity, I discovered pole fitness and transformed into a confident woman, empowered by my body and my strength. Through this journey, I uncovered a side of myself I never would have discovered without pole.

The benefits of pole fitness extend far beyond the physical. It has significantly improved my emotional well-being by building my confidence and self-esteem. It is mentally stimulating and constantly challenges me to push my boundaries. It has even served as a therapeutic outlet during some of life’s toughest moments.

I think it’s hard to fully understand the transformative benefits and positive impact of pole fitness until people experience it for themselves. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to provide a safe space for others, offering the same supportive safe haven I had found when I needed it most.

CLAQ HAUS took off running and hasn’t stopped since. We are excited to be hosting our first ever student showcase on October 26, 2024: HAUS of Horrors, where our talented members and instructors will share their journeys and showcase their pole and aerial skills. I invite everyone to join us and witness the incredible transformations that happen through pole and aerial fitness here at CLAQ HAUS!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think the 3 qualities that were most impactful in helping me get where I am today specifically with my pole fitness journey as well as opening my own studio were resilience, consistency, and self-compassion.

Resilience and having the ability to bounce back from setbacks is an absolute must. Whether it’s struggling to master a move, dealing with injuries, or moments of self-doubt, or even sometimes in my case, imposter syndrome as a new studio owner, we need to be able to mentally recover and bring ourselves back to center. I often compare pole fitness, entrepreneurship, and motherhood because at one point or another, both have brought me feelings of extreme happiness as well as moments of frustration that lead me to the question “Am I really cut out for this?”. And the answer is yes everytime. In anything you do, not everyday will be your best day. But everyday you continue to show up for yourself will be a testament to your determination and resilience to be better than you were the day before.

Consistency is just always key! As an owner and instructor, I often get asked “how long will it take me to climb? how long until I can be hang upside down? etc” and honestly there is no set time frame as everyBODY is different. But one thing that is certain is it progress will take longer without consistency. If you want something to grow and flourish, you need to consistently care for it.

Which ties in really nicely to number 3: self-compassion. One of the beautiful things about pole fitness is the fact that there is no time limit, finish line, or one way to do things. So having the ability to allow yourself grace and the mindset to understand that mistakes will happen and are apart of the process can be extremely helpful. Same goes for my journey as a studio owner. And I have found that in both scenarios, embracing those moments and learning from them rather than beating myself up over it have helped me to truly enjoy every aspect of the process of business and pole fitness.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

My biggest area of growth has undoubtedly been learning to believe in myself. If someone had told me 15 years ago that I’d be a business owner one day, I would have laughed. Back then, I lacked the confidence, motivation, and passion to turn my dreams into reality.

For a long time, I played it safe in my career, prioritizing financial security for my children over my personal ambitions. Their well-being always came first, which meant working a job that provided stability but never truly fulfilled me.

However, after the birth of second child, my perspective shifted. I realized that being present for every moment was more important. Despite the fear and uncertainty, I chose to trust in myself to navigate a new path, and that was one of the biggest steps that led me to where I am today.

Last year, I reached another turning point. Looking in the mirror, I was dissatisfied with where I was and decided to take the biggest gamble I’d ever taken—on myself. Now, looking back, I can’t believe I ever doubted my abilities. I’m made for this. And every step along the way has prepared me for this chapter in my life.

Today, I no longer silence my ideas, visions, and aspirations. Instead, I vocalize them, go to the drawing board, and make things happen. I trust that if I want something, it’s because my future self has it. Now, it’s just about figuring out how I’ll get it done.

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Steven Otte

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