Ashley’s Story: Rebuilding Strength After Injuries

Before she ever stepped through the doors at Elevate, Ashley had already lived a life defined by movement.

CrossFit was her thing. The kind of training where effort meets adrenaline. High-skill gymnastics like pull-ups and handstands once felt like second nature. She even began coaching, helping others chase their own goals.

But when pain started creeping in — shoulders, hips, back — everything changed.

Pull-ups were out. Gymnastics were gone. Even putting on a jacket or reaching into a high cupboard became difficult. Movement wasn’t joyful anymore. It became something she feared might be slipping away for good.

“I told myself, maybe I just can’t do pull-ups anymore.”

And maybe worse than the physical limits were the questions that followed: Who am I if I can’t do these things? Where do I belong if I’m not the athlete or the coach?

That’s when Ashley reached out to Elevate. She was looking for a different path. What she found wasn’t just a training program. It was the beginning of a new relationship with her body, her identity, and her future.

Learning to Trust the Process, Even When It Felt Slow

Ashley admits it wasn’t always easy. The movements at Elevate didn’t look like the ones she used to love.

“Some of them felt like flossing your teeth. You don’t want to do it, but it matters.”

Stabilization drills. Mobility work. Muscle activations that didn’t leave her breathless but quietly rebuilt her foundation. She became stronger, more balanced, and more pain-free than she had been in years.

And slowly, something shifted.

She started hiking again. Coast trails like Cape Lookout and God’s Thumb. She took her dog along, no longer worried that a sudden squirrel chase would yank her shoulder out of place. She could jog a 5K if she wanted. She felt capable again.

“I didn’t realize how much I missed just doing normal things — reaching overhead, moving without pain, feeling strong again.”

Letting Go of the Old Version of Success

The deeper shift wasn’t just in her body. It was in her mindset.

There was a time Ashley defined progress by output. What she could lift. How fast she could go. What impressive feat she could do on the bar or rings. But pain forced her to redefine success — not as a peak to hit, but as a path to walk.

“It’s a journey, not a destination. And I’ve realized the little things, the things that don’t look like much, have made the biggest difference.”

That shift wasn’t automatic. Ashley says she still has to coach herself through it daily. But now she can catch the old thought patterns. She knows that strength isn’t about dominating a workout. It’s about doing what matters most for her body today, even if it doesn’t look impressive on paper.

“Some movements that didn’t feel exciting were actually the ones fixing things. Five weeks later, I’d realize, oh, that’s why we did that.”

Coming from a coaching background, Ashley wasn’t used to training without analyzing. But Elevate helped her carve out a space where training could be just for her. It became a place where she wasn’t responsible for anyone else’s progress. She didn’t need to perform, teach, or compete.

“I’ve gotten a lot better at just appreciating this place for me. This is my hour. I’m not here to critique anyone else’s form. I’m here for my own growth.”

And somewhere along the way, she realized she was inspiring others, even when she didn’t feel like she was doing anything special.

“People would say, ‘I want to be where you’re at.’ I didn’t think anyone was watching me. But it reminded me, my body can still do cool stuff.”

Prepared for Anything, Even the Unknown

Today, Ashley doesn’t train for one big goal. She trains for readiness. She’s open to possibilities. A return to Olympic lifting. A longer race. Maybe even a competition down the road. But there’s no pressure to prove anything.

Instead, she trains with confidence, with a strong foundation, and with tools she didn’t have before.

And most importantly, she trains with hope.

“Where I was before, things weren’t getting better. I couldn’t see a path forward.
Now, I know if something flares up or goes wrong, I can come here and work through it. I don’t have to stop training. I don’t have to quit.”

She’s no longer at the mercy of pain or guesswork. She has a system, a team, and a mindset that keeps her grounded and growing.

Ashley’s Advice to Anyone Feeling Discouraged

“Find something else that gets you excited — something you can do.
Even if you’re frustrated, don’t quit. Don’t throw it all away.
Keep showing up. Do the work, even when it’s not glamorous.
Because this stuff matters. And your body’s not done yet.”

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