Albertville Business Owner, Trainer Releases Long-Awaited Book

Through her work at Anytime Fitness and her original endeavor, InFit, Ashley Darkenwald has given the St. Michael-Albertville community a resource for health and fitness unmatched by most communities this size.

“It’s always been about more than just getting your body in shape,” Darkenwald told Patch two years ago when she sat down with us. “Your mental and spiritual well-being is just as important. If they’re not it the game as well, it makes it almost impossible to succeed. And everyone wants to be successful at this, for so many reasons.”

Darkenwald has now put those beliefs and her time-proven strategies for health and well-being on paper, releasing her book “Living Wellness.”

“It’s been a lot of hard work. This is like pouring everything inside onto paper, and I’m really proud of it,” Darkenwald said. “It took a lot of time and effort from so many friends and family who encouraged me along the way. It’s been a great experience.”

Living Wellness is on PRE-sale at this website today, November 13th, 2013. Each book purchased in the pre-sale will be personally signed by Ashley. The book will be shipped or available for pickup in the Anytime Fitness in Albertville office after January 2014. 

Future copies will also be available on AshleyDarkenwald.com. She's also working to develop a social media site for the book. 

The book uses a unique approach to handle wellness at every personal level. There is the physical aspect, with Darkenwald leading you through diet tactics, where to shop, what exercises for different “trouble areas” (tummies, butts), and the importance of water, probiotics and more of the things we’ve all heard about.

But there’s also a section in each chapter, penned by friend and longtime colleague Christina Zaczkowski, that tackles spiritual health, with affirmations and “nourishment for the soul.”

“I couldn’t do a book like this without at least acknowledging my spirituality,” Darkenwald said. “It’s just as important to keep that relationship healthy.”

The book isn’t, necessarily, something that needs to be read cover-to-cover, either.

“Absolutely not,” she added. “It’s more like a textbook. You’re going to jump around in it a bit and find what areas you really need help with, and maybe what areas you’ve been able to tackle on your own. But I think, eventually, you’re going to find something helpful on every page. I really do.”