★ 5

I’ve been working out at this place for a year now and I wish I could say it’s been fun. The music played is loud and usually French rap or Jamaican jazz, which can be motivating to hurry up and get out and go grab a latte. Both, Tess and Laura call themselves ‘personal trainers’ and spend a lot of their time watching me workout. I wouldn’t mind so much, but then they start telling me how to properly swing a kettlebell, or perhaps I should move away from others like safety is a big concern or something! Once, I even saw them write something about me on the back of my chart. Hmmm.

Source: Google

★ 5

Joining this studio has changed my life. Prior to finding "ASS", I did not like lifting weights nor going to a gym. But alas, as a doctor, aging-expert and menopause provider I know how important strength training and particularly lifting heavy is. Muscles are the key to longevity and nature's spanx. I love the small groups, comradery, and personal trainer attention. The every changing workouts keep it interesting and I don't have to think about what do to! The workouts are compound, high yield and plenty exertional! Joining ASS is the best gift you can give yourself.

Source: Google

★ 5

It’s been a great experience to train here and get back into my body after time away from intense exercise. I’m easing back into it and already feeling stronger after a month of classes. So good to find a non-dude-bro gym that gets me!!

Source: Google

★ 5

Too often, I am laughing too hard to lift all the heavy things! Smart people and their clever tongues are so distracting.

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess is a superb trainer and has cultivated such an accepting and encouraging space in their studio! I've never been in a gym space where I've felt so comfortable asking questions and moving at my own pace. Tess genuinely cares about creating a workout that caters to each individual's abilities, body, and goals. Would recommend Ashland Strength Studio to anyone of any experience level - Tess will make sure you feel welcomed and will teach you to love strength training!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

My general apprehension about strength training went away in the first 5 minutes. The small class experience is intimate, but you've got freedom to set your own pace and define your own limits. Tess and Valerie make an amazing team!

Source: Google

★ 5

I started training with Tess when she was living in Seattle. I had never done strength training before, had a lot of complex feelings about movement and exercise, and I was not super comfortable in my body.

Tess and I worked together in-person for a year, and I learned to love strength training, the feeling of getting stronger and more comfortable in myself, and the simple joy of lifting (and swinging) heavy things. I also just got to know my body better than I ever have before, which has made movement in all areas of my life more conscious, intentional, and joyful.

After Tess moved down to Ashland we started training virtually, using my home kettle bells. It has kept me moving, growing, and just feeling good.

I would highly recommend Tess as a movement/strength coach, virtually or in-person. I can only envy the folks that get the chance to join her in the new Ashland space!

Source: Google

★ 5

I'm delighted to have connected with Tess shortly after she opened her Ashland studio. I was looking for an enthusiastic, knowledgable partner in overcoming years of inertia, and getting ready for adventure. Tess is all that and more! HELL YEAH!
No mirrors in the studio, which pushed me to connect with my inner body awareness, and learn techniques based on the way they felt. I wholeheartedly recommend Tess.

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess was absolutely amazing. The classes were wonderfully structured and she gave modifications for those that needed it. She always focused on listening to your body. Very happy that I stopped in to try this place!

Source: Google

★ 5

We stumbled on Tess' class with her 3 classes for $3 each deal and are so happy we did. She's created a beautiful gym space with an inclusive environment, and we felt so welcomed in spite of popping in on vacation. Her kettlebell and yoga classes were a fantastic workout but able to be tailored for any fitness/mobility level. Looking forward to going again next time I'm in town.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great space. Good environment.

Source: Google

★ 5

Ashland Strength Studio is a genuinely inclusive environment that facilitates self-awareness and intrinsic motivations for preventative physical health education. Expect a highly enthusiastic, individualized approach with minimal gear and zero pretense. Expect only “Hell-Yeah!” energy, great music, great location, and the best clients in Ashland!

Source: Google

★ 5

I've been only to a kettlebell and yoga class thus far, and I am thrilled. Tess is the bombdiggety - knowledgable, down to earth, fun, smart, sassy, encouraging. Freaking so excited that she's graced our community with her bad self. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Source: Google

★ 5

With my recent health challenges & dwindling desire to go to dance, I’ve been struggling for a couple years now to get enough exercise. I’ve finally found a class and trainer/instructor who inspire me. Tess Ball is knowledgeable, skilled, trauma-sensitive, patient, fun, and nerdy in all the best ways.

A few months ago, I tried working with a trainer who has a home gym a block from my house. So convenient, right? Yeah, except that person pushed me to keep doing something even when it hurt, and the workout ended up tweaking my whiplash & giving me a monster headache.

Tess, on the other hand, takes my injuries very seriously and is working with me to strengthen and realign my body slowly, so that my body doesn’t go through more trauma as it tries to heal.

Tess can tell from my feedback exactly which muscles we need to target, and she has modifications when something doesn’t work. Her focused attention helps me get the most out of the workouts, and is increasing my body awareness (which I’d already thought was pretty high).

In short, she’s phenomenal. I couldn’t recommend her more, for one-on-ones or small group training. She’s just the best.

UPDATE: Fast forward a few years, and I still think Tess is amazing. We’ve done some workouts over Zoom during the pandemic, and even from far away she was able to see my posture and give me helpful suggestions as I went through my exercises. She tailors a plan not just for my body’s needs overall but for where I’m at that specific day. She’s one of the best things to happen to my life and worth her weight in gold.

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess is a phenomenal movement coach. She seeks to understand what the true root cause of why you struggle with basic movement. She was able to work with me and help me find additional resources to further improve my health. She is the best. I highly recommended her!

Source: Google

★ 5

As a person who was active my whole life, being sidelined by an injury for over a year made me risk averse and intimidated by even beginning the journey of retuning to an active lifestyle, worried I would make things worse. Working with Tess was without question the best way to return to full health stronger, happier, and more confident than ever before. Tess truly cares about you as an individual (both physically and mentally), has a deep knowledge of the human body, and brings a unique and fun perspective to personal training. Beyond injury recovery, Tess is a badass personal trainer, and you will be stronger and more personally mindful after any amount of time working with her. Whether it's with Russian-style kettlebell workouts, yoga influenced by her training as a yogi, or movements she invents in her own practice, Tess is able to create programs that are personal to you and your body to accomplish your goals. She pays attention to detail and is amazing at coaching you through every movement or lift - with her feedback and lots of practice we tweaked how I do some of the most basic movements like squatting or a pushup, and they feel like entirely new and more effective exercises. She openly shares her innate knowledge of how the body moves to help you understand your body and to help you stay healthy through life's aches and pains. After working with Tess for over a year, I am stronger and more confident than ever, with a greater appreciation for my body, and a newfound appreciation for how it works and how to keep myself healthy. Thank you Tess!

Source: Google

★ 5

What I most liked about Tess was her creative exploration of the body. You can tell that she's interested in fitness on a much deeper level than the typical muscle/ cardio-obsessed trainer. She showed me new functional fitness movements that I'd never seen before and encouraged me to step out of my "box."

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess was a godsend!. I broke my ankle in three places and she had me strong and confident in no time. She is very knowledgeable about the body, a clear communicator, and fun. You will so glad you chose to put yourself in Tess's capable hands.

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess is with doubt the best fitness coach I've ever worked with. Her knowledge of the body and how it works with and around injuries is immense. She combines her knowledge with attention to detail, and working with her I'm finally making progress on a 15 year old injury that never healed, and by carefully watching how I moved, she's prevented several more by finding alternative exercises and movements. Even so, she in no way goes easy on you, and working out with her remain challenging and immensely satisfying. As an Acupuncturist who treats hundreds of people per year who've been injured by bad trainers, I would not hesitate to recommend Tess to any of my patients. She is truly exceptional at what she does.

Source: Google

★ 5

It was always wonderful to work with Tess. She is smart, patient and knows her stuff. She also knows how to make things work so you can truly understand the movements and exercises. I look forward to when I get to work with her again.

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess is fantastic! She is inspiring with her own fitness and can do all sorts of crazy things but she is the best at making things doable for all fitness levels. I loved training with Tess-- do it!

Source: Google

★ 5

I found Tess when looking for a trainer to work with after an ankle injury. I was new to the world of physical activity but she had a blog post about working out like a pirate (when you have one foot damaged) and her playful tone in the article told me that this might be the trainer for me. I was right! Tess' attitude was immensely helpful, positive, and fun!  I now LIKE strength training which was inconceivable a few years ago. I think it's amazing and empowering and a freaking high and that is entirely because Tess was willing to meet me exactly where I was (a couch potato) and step by step take me to the next thing. I always feel that I'm in safe hands with Tess; she challenges me in the perfect way that will get me over the next obstacle without discouraging me. It is not an understatement to say that Tess has changed my life. I know that sounds cheesy but it's absolutely true. I went from wanting a few exercises I could do while sidelined with a sprained ankle to making daily movement an integral part of my life.

Source: Google

★ 5

Tess is simply amazing. Not only does she have a wonderful soul, she's so incredibly knowledgeable about the human body. Whether working on strength, movement or active recovery, Tess is a wealth of knowledge and is an amazing teacher. She truly changed my life and helped me work through some difficult body issue in a number of ways. I'm forever grateful to have crossed paths with her.

Source: Google