An Inspired Chat with Ashlee McDougall

We recently had the chance to connect with Ashlee McDougall and have shared our conversation below.

Ashlee, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Something I think is often misunderstood about Yoga Loft and our accessible approach to yoga is that “accessible” means the classes are boring.

In reality, it’s the opposite! We’ve built a team of teachers who deeply understand anatomy and know how to structure classes that help you feel better long after you step off the mat.

Our classes might not look like the flashy sequences you see on social media, but they’re still captivating, dynamic, and designed with purpose. And because of our slower, more intentional pacing, you’ll actually learn how to move your body in ways that feel authentic to you.

The best part? Over time, you’ll notice you’re moving better, feeling stronger, and gaining flexibilitywithout ever sacrificing accessibility.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashlee McDougall, and I’m the co-owner of Yoga Loft Tucson. I’ve been teaching yoga for over a decade and have completed more than 1,600 hours of training. Yoga is truly my passion.
I found yoga in my early 20s while looking for a movement practice to help manage my lung disease, cystic fibrosis. What made me stay wasn’t just the physical practice, but witnessing a room full of people deeply connected to their bodies and breath, a concept that was completely foreign to me.
Over my years as both a student and teacher, I noticed many ways that traditional yoga spaces unintentionally created barriers. So, when the opportunity came to open Yoga Loft, my vision was clear: to create a safe, welcoming studio where everyone feels seen and included.
With the help of my business partner, Jackie, that vision is now a reality. At Yoga Loft, you’ll notice a community rich in diversity and a practice that looks and feels different, because we’ve built it that way from the ground up.
Accessibility is at the core of everything we do: our studio is smoke-free and fragrance-free, equipped with state-of-the-art air filters, non-heated, and fully stocked with props (including chairs) to ensure every body and ability level is supported.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was about 10 years old, I accidentally discovered that my life expectancy was 18 because of a genetic disease, cystic fibrosis. In that moment, everything shifted. I knew my health made me different, but I hadn’t understood the full weight of it until then.
There are no words to describe the emotional pain that followed, pain I’ve been learning to navigate my entire life. But through it, I discovered how important it is to fully live.
I’m 35 now, with a life expectancy in my mid-50s. I still carry the weight of that early discovery, but it feels lighter these days because I’ve used it to create a life of meaning. And through yoga, I get to help others find joy and presence in their own lives.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Two years ago, I was fighting for my life with a bacterial lung infection. I spent nearly a month in the hospital, went through countless procedures, and endured two years of oral antibiotics.

It was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced.

But through it, I discovered the power of surrender and the importance of leaning on community. Before getting sick, I thought I had to be brave, strong, and fiercely independent. Losing that independence taught me something I’d resisted for years: people wanted to help, I just hadn’t let them.

Now that my health is almost back to baseline, I know my true strength lies in vulnerability. I’m no longer afraid to ask for help or to be seen.

And that, to me, is power.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I am painfully real. I wish I had a stoic bone in my body, but instead, you get all of me.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Medically speaking, I’ve always lived with the reality that I only have about 10 years left to my life. So I’ve never really “stopped” doing something; I’ve simply refused to dim my light for the comfort of others.

Your joy, your success, your love, they don’t take away from anyone else. And as long as you’re moving through life with integrity and compassion, someone else’s discomfort with your shine isn’t your problem.

The world needs you bright. Don’t dim yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yogalofttucson.com
• Instagram: yogalofttucson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogalofttucson

Image Credits
photo credit: Nina Konjini