Exclusive: Wellness Guru Ashley Stuver Says the 'New Year Is a Great Time to Focus on Making Positive Changes': 'Start Small'

It's only been a few weeks into 2024, but according to wellness guru Ashley Stuver, it's important to start off on the right foot.

"The new year is a great time to focus on making positive changes and/or establishing new habits. My biggest piece of advice is to start small! Little by little is better than nothing at all, and when we have these big lofty goals and try to do everything at once, we will likely end up failing. Once you add a new habit and feel good about it, add another and another until you have a routine you enjoy. Habits don’t happen overnight; they happen little by little over time," she exclusively tells Morning Honey.

Part of Stuver's wellness routine includes "adding magnesium to a Waterloo sparkling water (in the warmer months) or peppermint tea (in the cooler months) before bed," she shares. "Adding a scoop of magnesium has changed the game for my sleep, and I cannot shut up about it! Some of my clients and friends are also on the magnesium train. However, I always recommend anyone speak with their healthcare provider before adding new supplements to their routine."

Though it might be hard to work out in the colder months (hello, snow!), Stuver says it's "important to choose activities you enjoy" in order to feel motivated to move your body. "When you genuinely enjoy your workouts, the likelihood of consistency increases, and the release of endorphins will help contribute to feeling more confident. Whether it's dancing, hiking, Pilates, or playing a sport, the key is finding an activity that resonates with you," she notes.

She continues, "As for nutrition, simplicity is key. Rather than overcomplicating meals with elaborate recipes requiring a long list of ingredients, focus on keeping it simple. Opt for whole, nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body. This approach not only supports overall health but also makes meal preparation more manageable and sustainable."

Stuver worked in the corporate fashion industry for a few years before leaving due to burnout. When she put in her notice, she knew she wanted to be in the health and wellness space, but she wasn't sure what that looked like at the time. Fortunately, she was able to explore her passions and even managed a spin studio, leading her to get her certification in personal training and yoga teacher training.

"I grew up playing volleyball and basketball, but it wasn’t until I went through my own health issues that I realized this was something I wanted to pursue full-time. It started with teaching yoga and training clients one-on-one, eventually leading to grad school and receiving my master’s in nutrition and integrative health," she says.

Now, Stuver is helping clients everyday to improve their overall health and wellness so they can feel good from the inside out.

"My favorite part about my job is supporting my clients and seeing their transformations. Whether it’s improved energy levels, better sleep, weight management, or relief from specific health issues, contributing to any positive change is such a fulfilling aspect of the job. I think the most challenging part of my job is fighting the latest wellness trends and broad advice online. Nutrition should be personalized; there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to health and well-being," she says.

"When I envision ASW in 5-10 years, I hope to have a brick-and-mortar location that offers people a place to come for healing modalities and nutritional support," she adds.

Stuver is already starting 2024 on a fresh note, as she typically creates a board on Pinterest with "different photos, quotes and mantras that call to me and align with my goals," she says. "This year, my girlfriends and I are getting together for brunch and Pinterest vision boards, which makes this ritual even more fun! We all have some big goals for the year ahead, so we thought it would be fun to make it a group hangout to catch up and share our creations."

"This year, I’ll be launching a cycle synching guide with my friend, Emma (@thewellcoconut), who’s a health coach. The guide will outline how to eat, live, and exercise with your monthly cycle. We hope to introduce people to the tools that will make them fall in love with cycle syncing while providing sustainable and balanced habits. I would love to offer more programs like this to grow my clientele and collaborate with other holistic health professionals in different capacities to help expose ASW to new audiences," she adds. "Self-care and wellness tools can be fun, but you don’t have to break the bank to reach your goals! Things like hydration, sleep, movement, meditation, fresh air, walking and taking digital breaks are free and can all have a positive impact on one’s health and well-being. Supporting your health doesn’t have to be a luxury."