Meet Ashlyn Rich | Owner and Founder of Sweat House OC Mission Viejo & San Clemente

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashlyn Rich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashlyn, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I am definitely a creature of habit and having daily habits and a solid morning and daily routine has helped me greatly! I typically start the day by waking up earlier than the family so I can get my journaling and day planning done. I have tried many different methods, apps, planners, etc over the years, but currently I use an app that helps me to organize my to do lists by categories and priorities. It can slo be shared with my 2 business partners so we can see what each other is working on. We can add to each other’s lists as well. I highly recommend the book Attomic Habbits. It helped me on my journey with habit stacking, prioritizing, etc. On a personal level, I make it a priority to have “me time” at some point in the day. That typically involves working out and having lunch (not at the work desk) It’s so important to be able to take care of ourselves so we have the energy and ability to take care of “all the things” especially when it comes to business and family.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sweat House OC is a Lagree Fitness studio located in San Clemente and Mission Viejo. We utilize a machine called the Megaformer, not to be confused with the reformer which is used in traditional Pilates, Our focus is on time under tension with slow controlled movements, yet quick transitions. It is a high intensity / low impact method, and is for all levels, all body types and all ages. For those that are not quite ready for group classes, we offer 1:1 private sessions for a more catered and customized experience. Our studios only have 8 machines, so no client gets left unattended too. Newbies are welcome in any class as all classes are all levels. All of our trainers are Lagree Fitness certified, many of them are level 2 and even level 3, and come with a wide range and long history in the fitness industry. I started my first studio in Mission Viejo in 2013 and 2 years later I opened San Clemente with my partner Pam. Last year, this month, I brought on my partner Sarah at my Mission Viejo location. Stay tuned, there just might be more studios coming to a city near year!
Our mission is to create a safe space in a small setting for women to come and workout without judgement, fear, or insecurities. We pride ourselves on our community and the positivity and encouragement of our trainers and clients. I’ve been to far too many fitness studios where it can feel intimidating, clicky, and out of place. We want every client who walks through the door to feel welcomed, encouraged, wanted, and that they found a place and a community to call their fitness home.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We absolutely love the cities of Mission Viejo and San Clemente! If we had to give some good recommendations for out of town guests, we would start your day with a workout at Sweat House OC of course! After that you can follow it up with lunch at a few of our favorite spots. In Mission Viejo we love Hacienda on the Lake. It’s a Mexican restaurant with stunning lake views! For dinner I would recommend Wineworks For Everyone in MV. They have a delicious array of wines and a phenomenal dinner menu. In San Clemente I would recommend heading down to the beach. There’s an endless amount of restaurants, shopping, bike rentals, etc. Some of our favorite restaurants by the beach are The Cellar, Nicks, and South of Nicks. South Orange County can feel like you’re living on vacation so there’s always something fun to do! If you head a little further north to Dana Point, you can rent jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks, go fishing, whale watching and more!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When asked who to thank and recognize for any success that has been brought my way, I can’t begin to answer that without acknowledging God first and foremost. I know without my faith and the presence of God in my life, I would never be where I am. With strong conviction in my faith, I know all things are possible, through the highs and the lows, especially the lows. I think in business it’s very easy to get distracted and I’ve seen too many people give up, but when you know a higher power is working FOR you, all things are possible. Second, I would like to acknowledge my late husband. He was the inspiration behind starting the studios, and to this day, inspires me to live my “best life”, work hard, be kind, and live generously. His spirit moves through so much of what I do to this day, even 12 years later.
My business partners Pam Weber and Sarah Ray. I couldn’t ask for better women to be in business with. The trust and faith we have in each other has been pivotal in the success of our businesses. You girls rock and I appreciate you so much!
Lastly, of the the up most of importance, my family, particularly my husband. Mike Rich, I love you. Thank you for allowing me to step into my own and support all my business decisions without waiver. You have allowed me to grow, to dream big, and to believe in myself, even when I haven’t. Thank you for believing that I can do “all the things” and still have room for more. You are a God send, truly, and I am so grateful for you and our family. I wish every girl could have a Mike Rich by their side, to believe in them and all their dreams. Let’s keep chasing!

Website: www.sweathouseoc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweathouseoc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweathousesanclemente/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Sweat+house+oc&find_loc=Mission+Viejo%2C+CA

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF5g4_eMm60

Image Credits
Millenial Media for all group shots, Mimosa Loung for the family shot