"Stop thinking about the “what ifs” and just go for it" with Ashley Estanislao
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With a Bachelors in Exercise Physiology and as a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate, Ashley Estanislao is an expert on all things movement, sharing her fitness and physical therapy knowledge on her blog, The Movement Celebration. She strives to inspire others to view the movement as a celebration of our bodies and abilities, rather than a dreadful “punishment” for calories. With her emphasis on having a healthy relationship with exercise, she has helped hundreds start their journey to developing consistent and healthy habits around movement. On her blog, she shares tools on how to adopt this mindset that is both actionable and evidence-based.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
Movement has always been part of my life. From being a competitive swimmer to providing fitness training for the elderly, I saw the importance of exercise throughout my life. I went on to study Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida and continued on to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy there too. I am a few months away from graduation and have had the pleasure of working with a variety of patients including professional athletes, cancer patients in the hospital setting, and patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
What inspired you to start your business?
Exercise is hard. For most people, myself included! I wanted to create something that encouraged people to focus on the positives – what they CAN do, ways they LOVE to move – rather than focusing on weight loss, calorie-burning, or appearance. I have found that this mindset facilitates a positive and healthy relationship with exercise and I wanted to share it through my blog.
Where is your business based?
Online! I currently live in Jacksonville, Florida.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
I took a couple of blogging courses and got plenty of advice from other bloggers in Facebook groups. If it wasn’t for COVID canceling one of my 8-week clinical rotations, I’m not sure if I would have started it!
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Word of mouth and Instagram. But across platforms, I’ve found authenticity is key. I just want people to feel, share, and be helped by my message.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
On a mindset level, my biggest challenges have been concern around what people will think of me, perfectionism, and feelings of unworthiness. I’m still overcoming them, but I’m practicing positive self-talk, as well as breaking through these limiting beliefs via meditation and consuming inspirational content. On a personal level I’m still in the process of getting my doctorate, so finding time to grow the blog has been a challenge! I try to find time on weekends to batch content when I can, but also take breaks as needed.
How do you stay focused?
Now this is something I struggle with. Making a schedule and making time to batch content are the most effective strategies I’ve found so far, but I am not always consistent with this! I’m a work in progress for sure 😉.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
I don’t think of anyone as competition. If I’m authentically me in my business, no one else will be doing exactly what I’m doing the way I do it. I consider anyone with a similar message to mine as a teammate.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Being authentic and creating real connections. I strive to live this out on Instagram, through my email subscribers, and in my interactions with friends and family.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
If it is making you excited and happy, it will come together. Stop thinking about the “what ifs” and just go for it.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
My favorite app right now is “The Pattern.” It’s sort of like a horoscopy social media app, but I mainly find it helpful in providing insight into my moods and feelings. It always raises my energy and has me thinking in broader, more spiritual terms, which I love!
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
I have to say Trello. It is simple to use and keeps me organized. I also list all my random ideas on there when I’m feeling more inspired, that way they can turn into something more concrete later on.
Who is your business role model? Why?
My business role model is actually my life partner, David Dela Cruz. He is a Real Estate Agent in Winnipeg, MB, Canada and he has had success in business through his authenticity and his true desire to help others. He puts all his energy into creating true connections with others and puts full trust in God/the universe to provide.
How do you balance work and life?
Taking breaks when I need to, even when the social media experts say your “engagement will drop” or “consistency is most important.” I know these things are true, but in the end, I can create my best when I’m in my best state of mind, and sometimes breaks are necessary to achieve that. Respecting myself and my limits always pay off in the end.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
Anything that kicks in my parasympathetic nervous system - yoga, meditation, and spending time outside.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
In the near future, I will focus on building more community within my business. I’m also creating content that is helpful for successful habit building within the new year.
How can our readers connect with you?
Blog: movementcelebration.com
Instagram: @MVMTcelebration