Ashley Park is the walking definition of je ne sais quoi. She’s such a natural, she makes everything — including singing, acting, and walking Paris’ cobblestone streets in stilettos — look easy. Like her character, Park isn’t afraid to really go there. In talking with Shape, the 31-year-old was outspoken about her career, how cancer impacted her approach to health and wellness, and where she finds motivation in all areas of her life.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:02 Does Mindy work out?
00:06 Yeah.
00:07 Definitely high ponytail, probably Ariana Grande style.
00:10 For Ashley, depends on the last time she washed her hair.
00:14 I usually work out with a hat on.
00:16 It makes you look like you're cool when you're working out.
00:21 Ashley is definitely more strength-based.
00:24 And Mindy, I just keep on trying to imagine Mindy working out.
00:28 Does she go running with Emily?
00:29 I would say maybe Mindy's strength, too.
00:31 She loves yoga.
00:32 No, they both like a good sweat.
00:34 What I will say is Ashley loves Pilates these days.
00:37 And if Mindy walked in, she'd be like-- she'd
00:39 walk in and see a Pilates reformer and be like, OK,
00:41 thank you, bye.
00:44 Mindy would have to say espressos because coffee's not
00:46 really a thing in Paris.
00:47 But no, she likes a nice cup of tea.
00:49 And Ashley's coffee, but she's trying to be a tea person.
00:57 Ashley really loves to cheat in a workout class,
01:01 like when the teacher's not looking,
01:02 like drop down from the plane.
01:04 So I've benefited a lot more from having private sessions
01:08 because I'm called out and held accountable.
01:10 Mindy loves a private session.
01:14 Depends on who's teaching.
01:15 [LAUGHS]
01:17 No, but really.
01:20 That's tough.
01:21 I think both Mindy and Ashley are still
01:23 trying to figure themselves out.
01:24 But I think Mindy's motivation, in a very general sense,
01:27 is probably living life to the fullest.
01:29 And I think Ashley's motivation is trying to be a good person.
01:35 I don't know what we're all doing if we're not
01:37 trying to make other people happy.
01:39 That makes me happy, so yeah.
01:43 I think Mindy likes to go out with a friend with a glass
01:47 of wine to decompress.
01:49 Let's call that meditation.
01:52 And Ashley-- here's the thing.
01:53 I want to be a journaler.
01:55 I love stationery.
01:56 I have like 8,000 notebooks.
01:59 And they all have the first page of it written,
02:02 today, da, da, da, da, da, da, da.
02:04 And then I just can't do it anymore.
02:07 They're both about living in the present, meditating,
02:10 or hanging out with friends and drinking a glass of wine.
02:15 I've really been loving Pilates because I
02:17 come from a dance background.
02:18 It really is strength and a full body workout.
02:22 Really also centers me in my breath for the day.
02:24 So when I do it to start the day, it feels really great.
02:27 And I think Mindy's favorite workout--
02:30 she does do yoga in the first season.
02:32 What am I even talking about?
02:33 Mindy's favorite workout is like dancing at the dance club.
02:38 Remembering to take care of myself,
02:40 whether that's emotionally, mentally, physically.
02:43 I love being present in each moment.
02:46 And sometimes that priority of really making sure
02:50 that I'm sound and centered goes away.
02:53 But I think just sleeping and drinking more water
02:55 are things I think about every day.
02:57 Like, you should do this.
02:58 [LAUGHS]
03:01 When something feels very impossible or really hard
03:04 or disappointing one day, I look at in my calendar
03:07 what I was doing a month ago on that exact date or a year ago.
03:11 And I think about what was really stressing me out
03:14 or what felt larger, overwhelming for me on that day.
03:18 Whatever felt monstrously hard at that time
03:22 is always easier when you look back at it.
03:24 If you can acknowledge all of the small little mountains
03:27 and hills that you've already climbed over,
03:29 each day and each moment, you get a little bit stronger
03:32 and you get closer to your goal.
03:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]