Ashley Zarr
Originally hailing from Iowa Falls, Iowa, Ashley grew up actively involved in dance, theatre, and teaching (it’s in her blood- both her parents are educators and she nannied for the past 15 years). Following her passion for dance and the freedom and joy that movement inspires, she earned her BA in Dance from the University of Iowa, sharing that love throughout her studies, teaching at multiple studios both in Iowa as well as here in the Valley after her relocation in 2010 to follow her dream of dancing professionally. Ashley has been grateful to work with multiple companies over the past eight years, Halo Movement Collective, Scorpius Dance Theatre, Dulce Dance Company, and Liz Ann Hewett Presents, as well as a freelance and guest artist for other Phoenix based companies. After having worked with children and adults in the dance medium for the past 13 years, Pilates was a natural transition.
Introduced to the concepts and requirements behind the Club Pilates’ Teacher Training program by former fellow HMC company members Jordyn Siegfried and Erin Lovrien, Ashley knew it was the next right thing and jumped in with both feet. Having suffered from multiple injuries in her college dance career, Ashley has been a whole body health advocate for the past decade, and has been inspired and impressed with the personal healing and greater physical understanding she’s seen in her own body from self-practice. She has also gained immensely from the hands-on knowledge of learning to understand correct alignment and muscular functions, through those she’s been fortunate to work with. Excited by the possibilities and passionate about the journey, Ashley is looking forward to helping others see the potential within themselves that can truly only be unlocked by this “Mind-Body Connection” that Joseph Pilates knew to be true so many years ago. Ashley is ready for her classes to become challenging studies of ways to improve overall movement and function in our daily, and exercise, lives, therefore impacting everything else with such a positive energy. She hopes that you will join her.
In addition to pursuing all things health, Ashley loves being outdoors, especially if it involves the woods or water, creating handmade gifts for those she loves, cooking, and spending time with her friends and fiancée, Jon, and, of course, dancing.