Finding Strength Through Grit and Gratitude: How One Woman Is Redefining Wellness From the Inside Out

Photo credit: Steil Image Studios @steilimagestudios  

In an industry often focused on appearances, Grit + Gratitude is built on something much deeper: resilience, purpose, and human connection.

Founder Ashley Howard has created more than a fitness studio; she has built a movement rooted in the belief that true wellness happens when physical strength, mental clarity, and heartfelt community come together. With the opening of a beautiful new Marina del Rey studio and exciting expansions on the horizon, Grit + Gratitude is entering a new chapter while staying true to the philosophy that inspired it from the very beginning.

For its founder, this expansion isn’t simply about opening another location. It’s about answering a calling.

“Expanding Grit + Gratitude is about stepping fully into my purpose and living my highest potential,” she shares. “I’ve always known this method was something special, and I’ve felt called to serve on a greater scale.”

That calling led her to the Westside, where every detail of the Marina del Rey studio feels intentionally aligned with a vision she had long imagined. It’s a space born from intuition, faith, and the courage to pursue something bigger than herself.

“This studio is proof that when purpose meets action, the right opportunities have a way of finding you,” she says. “You just have to trust yourself enough to go for it.”

A Philosophy Born From Life’s Hardest Moments

The name Grit + Gratitude carries a deeply personal story.

During one of the most difficult seasons of her life, her husband suffered a devastating snowboarding accident that resulted in multiple surgeries and a long, uncertain recovery. While helping him heal, she found herself living between two powerful emotions: the grit required to face unimaginable challenges and the overwhelming gratitude that he was still alive.

That experience forever changed her perspective.

“Life is often lived in the space between hardship and hope,” she explains. “We don’t get to choose every challenge we face, but we do get to choose how we move through it.”

That mindset became the foundation of her brand and her life.

To her, grit means the resilience to keep moving forward when life gets difficult, while gratitude gives you the perspective to see beauty even in painful seasons. Together, they create one of the most powerful combinations for healing, growth, and transformation.

Wellness That Goes Beyond the Workout

Walk into any Grit + Gratitude class, and you’ll quickly realize it isn’t just about burning calories.

The method intentionally blends movement, breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, and community into one experience designed to nourish the whole person.

“I believe wellness begins by honoring the body, the nervous system, and the energetic body as one,” she says. “When we nurture the whole self, transformation becomes lasting.”

Community is equally essential.

Healing, she believes, is amplified through connection. Whether clients are taking their first class or have been attending for years, they’re encouraged to support one another, celebrate growth together, and create relationships that extend well beyond the studio walls.

The result is an environment where people don’t simply become stronger physically; they become more present, more confident, and more connected to themselves.

Simple Habits That Create Lasting Wellness

While wellness trends constantly evolve, her personal philosophy remains refreshingly practical.

During the busy summer months when routines often become unpredictable, she encourages people to focus on consistency rather than perfection.

Her mornings typically begin with an early walk before the day gets busy and temperatures rise. She also schedules workouts with friends for accountability and enjoys hiking to combine movement, conversation, and time in nature.

She believes the foundation of wellness starts with simple daily habits:

• Drink more water than you think you need.

• Add minerals to improve hydration and replenish electrolytes.

• Stay consistent with quality supplements.

• Eat at least one nutrient-dense salad every day.

• Focus on sustainable routines rather than quick fixes.

These seemingly small choices, practiced consistently, become the building blocks for lasting health and vitality.

Transforming Lives From the Inside Out

Ask what has brought her the greatest fulfillment throughout her career, and the answer comes without hesitation.

“My favorite part is helping people realize just how strong, healthy, and capable they really are.”

Watching clients reconnect with their bodies, overcome limiting beliefs, and prioritize their own well-being never gets old.

She believes life isn’t meant to be lived on autopilot. When people begin feeling better physically, emotionally, and mentally, that transformation naturally ripples into every relationship, career, and aspect of daily life.

Being part of that journey, she says, is the greatest reward.

Practicing What She Teaches

Running a growing business while maintaining personal wellness requires intention, but she refuses to sacrifice one for the other.

“My workouts are my lifeline,” she explains.

Through movement, breath, and meditation, she finds clarity, perspective, and balance even during life’s busiest seasons.

She also reminds herself that challenges aren’t obstacles meant to break us.

“They’re here to shape us, expand us, and invite us into the next version of ourselves.”

That perspective keeps her grounded while allowing her to show up more fully not only as a business owner, but also as a wife, mother, leader, and friend.

More Than a Studio A Community

First-time visitors often expect a workout.

Instead, they discover something much more meaningful.

“When someone walks into Grit + Gratitude, I want them to feel seen, supported, encouraged, and lovingly challenged.”

Clients leave stronger, certainly, but also more connected to themselves and more aligned with who they truly are.

This feeling of belonging continues to set the studio apart.

An Exciting Future Ahead

The momentum behind Grit + Gratitude shows no signs of slowing down.

In Santa Clarita, the brand is expanding with Grit x Heat, introducing infrared heated and non-heated Pilates, sculpt classes, yoga, sound baths, Reiki circles, and wellness experiences designed to help the community reset together.

Meanwhile, the Marina del Rey location is evolving into a vibrant community hub featuring brand collaborations, wellness events, and opportunities for members to connect beyond the studio.

Looking even further ahead, an online platform will soon make the Grit + Gratitude method accessible to people around the world.

“We’re just expanding the good vibes everywhere,” she says with a smile.

A Legacy Built One Person at a Time

When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave, she doesn’t measure it in studios opened or milestones achieved.

For her, legacy is created through everyday interactions.

“Legacy isn’t something we leave behind one day,” she says. “It’s created in the small moments through how we show up and how we leave people feeling.”

Inside each Grit + Gratitude studio, a handwritten reminder is displayed on the wall:

Remember Your Why.

It’s a message she wrote herself with a Sharpie, a daily reminder that no matter how much the business grows, the mission remains the same.

Helping people feel seen.Helping people feel stronger.Helping people reconnect with themselves.

Because in the end, true wellness isn’t just about building a healthier body.

It’s about creating a life filled with courage, presence, connection, and gratitude one intentional moment at a time.