Life-changer

A devastating personal experience left fitness influencer Ashy Bines in a dark and depressed mind space. Through the love of family and friends, and some valuable life coaching, she reclaimed her confidence and now wants others to know how the simple act of asking for help can have an instant impact.

TAKE IT UP A LEVEL

WORDS ANNA BRAIN Aday in the life of Gold Coast fitness guru Ashy Bines is exhausting to follow, never mind trying to keep up.

Family life, workouts, several businesses to run, a new book to promote and social media — the backbone of her huge following. One conversation with Ashy can leave you wondering, “What have I done lately?”

This lady owns “busy” and runs her diary with military precision.

“I’m a very structured, routine person,” Ashy says.

“I only have one child (Taj, 5) but I do have to be flexible and adapt to him, if he gets sick or if he needs me. Overall, I know what’s important to me, what’s a priority. I’ll always make time for that. And if something’s not really important I will justify why I can’t do that. Family time, date night, connection with my friends, working, working out, focusing on my health, all those things that light me up. I have to make sure I schedule those in every week.”

It sounds idyllic but life is unpredictable, and in her new book, 15 Lessons That Changed My Life, Ashy recounts the online trolling that grew to such horrific proportions she considered ending her own life.

“It was a horrible time. It was 24 hours a day, people were showing up at my front door, death threats online, people following me, taking photos, throwing things at my car, threatening my son, my family, posting my address online everywhere.

TRY 3 ROUNDS OF THESE 6 EXERCISES

110 x CHAIR DIPS Place hands on to the chair and feet in front of you. Lower down into a dip position and back up again. *Keep chest high and knees close together

210 x ELEVATED BUTT RAISES

Use a chair or bed. Place heels on to the chair and raise booty so your knees, hips and shoulders are in one line. Squeeze and control as you lower back down.

310 x CLAMS (PER SIDE)

Lie on your side with knees bent. Lift the top knee away from your bottom knee while keeping your heels together. Squeeze and control as you lower back down.

TAKE IT UP A LEVEL

“It was pretty awful. It was scary to be honest.”

In her book, Ashy writes: “I believed the only way to stop the pain and fear and to no longer be a burden to my friends and family was for me to end my life.”

Looking back, she can see she was depressed, “100 per cent”.

“I didn’t want to get out of bed. There were times I didn’t want to be here anymore. It was so consuming. I don’t think these women realised the extent of what they were doing to me, the impact it was having. Not only me but the people around me as well.”

With the support of husband Steve Evans and life coaches (a worthwhile investment according to Ashy) she pulled through the darkest of times, and now takes a positive view of the experience: “I think I’ve grown so much resilience now, which is another gift of going through all that.

“The moment that I reached out for help and got help from friends and family, but also from professionals, that definitely got me through and I’m such an advocate for therapy and coaching and mentoring.”

Ashy and Steve closed their gym business early last year, just before the COVID crisis struck.

“It felt good to let go of them and move on. It was really good timing. When I sat down and really thought about what I was passionate about it was not running a gym.”

While other online fitness brands boomed during the pandemic, Ashy says she has used the time differently.

“We had an old app that we completely reinvented. We used the time for our fitness brand to step back and start fresh. It was a bit of a different journey for us.

“Pandemic or not, I want to help people forever,” she says. “For 11 years I’ve been helping women find their confidence and build a healthy foundation for themselves in all areas of their life. In 10 years I’ll still be doing the same thing.”

beyondblue.org.au 1300 224 636 lifeline.org.au 131 114

Ashy’s

WORKOUT WEEK

I don’t work out seven days a week. I walk most days — six or seven days a week, and then I train three or four times a week. Twice a week in a gym and twice a week at home, using my app because all the exercises are already laid out in there for me. I get in and get it done. I’m obviously the biggest advocate for my app. We have beautiful beaches and parks around, so I love getting outside. When it’s steaming hot in summer I keep it indoors, but my walks are always in the fresh air. I think for a morning walk it starts my day off, clears my mind and gives me such good energy for the day.

15 Lessons That Changed my Life by Ashy Bines, published by Pan Macmillan, RRP $39.99

430 x STANDING TWIST JUMPS

Twist side to side while jumping at the same time. Focus on engaging the core like you do in a Russian Twist. *It’s all about core engagement

510 x KICK

THROUGHS

Swing leg back and forwards while balancing on other leg. Focus on activating core and squeezing glutes.

610 x LATERAL

LEG LIFTS (PER SIDE)

Lying on your side, bottom leg slightly bent for balance, raise the top leg up and down.

EAU DE PARFUM

@ASHLEYMESCIA @OLIVIAMESCIA