About Me

My name is Ashton Thompson,  I am from the south side of Chicago Illinois. I have two beautiful kids and they are my world!  I am 1 of 17 siblings, yes, we all have the same parents. Growing up was a blast and it was never a dull moment. On holidays the house would be packed with love and festivities, and the food was mouth-watering. I was a smaller kid then but the smell of holiday dinner, always had me coming back for thirds. It was also a time when I could show off my talents, and be seen in the family. We would go play football and it would be an embarrassing moment for some of my big brothers, which they would probably deny. The game came so easily to me, that I learned the game by playing with the family in the neighborhood. I adapted quickly to it and got noticed by one of my oldest brothers Adron. He saw attributes coming from me that caught his attention, so he and my cousin Dan set me up to play little league football in Robbins Illinois. They were called the Eagels and to be honest, they were a disappointment and weren't that good. I quickly became the go-to player on the field, but making that first catch on the field, felt like I was made to play football. My skills and field vision brought us to the regional conference alone. Opposing teams knew I was getting the ball and they couldn't stop it. It's been years since the team made it to the playoffs before I came.  As I'm thinking about it now, I laugh and cherish those memories. Having 5 sisters and 11 older brothers, my father had to be stern and work a lot, but just like any family, there is at least one or two who tend to struggle to grasp life. Unfortunately, one of those kids was me but make no mistake. In every event that came to pass, I was the catalyst, at the end of the day I am accountable for my actions. My parents, having a strong religious faith, do not stand for no malicious activities.

In high school, I was an intelligent student and had a promising future in sports. But, ended up finding the wrong crowd and starting to slip. I was getting into fights and was always in the dean's office. I thought I was finding myself by trying to fit in. But I always stood out and my father did not raise us to follow other people. I got blinded to my future expectations and was not aware of the hole I was digging myself into. One day I brought some illegal substances and a firearm to school and was expelled from it. The feeling I had was unthinkable, it's like having the keys to the kingdom just to have it taken away. What makes it worse, is that I lost offers and I don't associate myself with none of the people I tried to fit in with. I knew I was getting a major punishment and I understood my father's rules and I broke them. Unfortunately, the punishment was more severe than I thought, I was put out because of it. Learning to cope with the game in the streets, I found a local gym, which I used initially as my shower, but turned out to be my blessing in disguise. There is a saying, a seed has to rot in the ground before you can enjoy the fruits of its tree. By being placed in unusual circumstances in the streets, a seed was planted. Planted at a local 24-hour gym in the local neighborhood, At first I started going to the gym just to stay clean and attempt to make my situation better. Even though was homeless, I was not mentally.  So one day I woke up from the back seat of an old car and decided to start my day differently. That was when ASH Fitness emerged, Always Sustaining Health is a lifestyle of good living mentally and physically. Having a positive attitude in the most negative scenarios. I decided to work out before I showered this time and the feeling I encountered after I worked was unbelievable. I did not understand the chemical process of what physical fitness does to the body but I liked it and I wanted more of it! That same day I had an interview, and I got the job immediately. Now that may be insufficient for some. At that time and that moment, I felt a sensation I couldn't shake. I knew I developed an addiction and I liked it. I saw a future in fitness. Seems like in our darkest hour, God will place us in circumstances where we can grow. That is exactly what I'm doing. Over the last 10 plus years, I developed my knowledge of physical fitness, meditation, and breathing techniques. During those years, I've trained, corrected, and enhanced performances with various people. I showed them what I learned in my darkest time and they were astonished at how I could stay positive and not allow the situation to get the best of me. I told them "A smooth sail, doesn't make a good sailor". Some people go through life without the slightest hardship, and that's a good thing if you ask me. But going through tough times builds character, and you get a better understanding of life and yourself most importantly. As of today, I am a certified trainer and will continue adding to my knowledge, helping those who have similar backgrounds and optimizing clients' fitness levels. I truly believe if you always sustain a healthy lifestyle in every situation, you will live a peaceful journey. I am thankful that I went through those hardships because they made me the man I am today. But I'm not done, I have yet to enjoy the fruits of my tree. I will not escape from my calling. Because you see, I am like that tree that is planted by the rivers of water. I will not be moved.