Ashley Mills is co-founder and co-CEO of obé fitness, a live and On Demand fitness network and community. She and the entire obé team are committed to bringing fitness to our living rooms on our own terms and timetables; they are designed to meet us where we are. Moving our bodies a little bit each day makes all the difference for our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
What are you doing to keep your kids engaged throughout the day while you’re all at home, and how are you approaching your work? We’re doing a lot of arts and crafts with household objects. Masking tape is now a much sought-after item in our house! My approach to screen time also has changed quite a bit. What was once a “no, no,” is now a “yes, please!”
As far as work goes, at obé, we teach 14 live classes a day beginning at 6 a.m., so the workday starts early. We’re a fitness streaming platform that’s been rooted in a rich community since launch, so given everything we’re all experiencing globally, with everyone at home, we’re scaling the business in a way that’s new for us. For example, we’re finding ways to include more members of the family than ever before, including expanding our kid’s programs and adding classes for seniors.
How are you lifting your spirits and keeping sane in the midst of this new normal? Working out (and coffee) is what’s keeping me together right now. I’ve always kept active to help me feel strong and present, and that habit is serving me very well right now.
What’s your biggest challenge right now? There’s never been enough time between two young kids and a young business. As a newly minted homeschool mom, there’s really not enough time now. One of the things I continue to remind myself is that the best thing I can do for my family and for my business is to continue to show up for myself. For me, that means finding time to move and finding time to breathe throughout the day.
What is your ultimate stay at home garment that’s giving you confidence and comfort? I love a luxe duster! There’s something about them that feels a bit like a secret weapon: they provide a little bit of comfort while being impossibly chic. Wearing a great piece, like this one from Stelen, helps mentally delineate between work and family time and dresses up my WFH legging look.
How are you reinventing your Mother’s Day this year? Both of my kids are under 5, with my youngest being 5 months, so Mother’s Day has been an evolution in our house over the past few years. This year with us all being cooped up and unable to travel to see my and my husband’s mom, we’ll be relying a little more on technology, and I’m looking forward to cuddling up with my boys at the end of the day.
About this interview series: As Mother’s Day approaches I’ve thought a lot about the importance of shining a light on all moms, particularly in the midst of this unprecedented new normal. The world is changing, but honoring and celebrating mom remains intact. Mothers come in many forms, those who gave birth to us or adopted us; our grandmothers and best friends; and those who found us in times of need and invited us into their lives. As part of my CANDID interview series, I had the pleasure of connecting with inspiring women who are mothers, founders and dynamic individuals. They share their stories of navigating the now and how they’ll re-invent Mother’s Day this year amidst this ongoing pandemic. I will add features daily to lauraksawyier.com until May 10, and all will be featured on townandstyle.com here as well. -LKS
Laura Katherine Sawyier is a women’s personal and wardrobe stylist and founder of the SALON X LKS event series. She is based in St. Louis and New York City.