About | The Recovery Barre

Inclusive fitness class helping break stigma around recovery and wellness.

Why We Exist

Movement is one of the most powerful ways to experience joy, improve daily quality of life, and build community and connection. Yet it remains one of the most underutilized tools in recovery, and barriers like cost, access, and stigma keep it out of reach for many.

With 1 in 6 Americans experiencing a substance use disorder last year (SAMHSA, 2025) — and 95% of patients in treatment expressing interest in exercise as part of their recovery (Abrantes et al., 2011) — creating opportunities for movement is a critical need that has the power to transform the lives of communities and the individuals within them.

The Recovery Barre exists to fill that gap.

We build sober movement communities that offer a welcoming, accessible classes designed to support the emotional and physical needs of sobriety. We carry out this mission in two ways:

Nonprofit Impact (501(c)(3)) — Keeps classes free, funds training scholarships that equip instructors to launch free sober movement communities in their own cities, puts mats in the hands of communities that need them most, provides outreach and networking support to instructors and sites seeking classes, and builds partnerships that raise recovery awareness, reduce stigma, and expand access to movement, connection, and belonging.

Instructor Training in Partnership with Fit Pro Programming — Equips instructors with the tools, research-backed education, and recovery-informed, turnkey programming to bring The Recovery Barre into their own communities. Continuing education credit approved through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and offered in generous partnership with fitness industry leader Fit Pro Programming.

We're dedicated to making sure that anyone seeking, living in, or supporting sobriety has access to an uplifting community where movement, connection, and joy support their journey toward lasting recovery and wellness.

Together, we are breaking barriers, building strength, and igniting joy — one sober community at a time.

We believe movement is an essential tool for wellness in sobriety — and access to healthy, connected communities can empower lasting recovery.

Our Mission

To expand access to wellness in sobriety by building free movement communities that pair an open recovery meeting with an accessible barre & Pilates class — creating spaces where anyone seeking, living in, or supporting sobriety feels seen, welcome, and empowered to thrive.

Sober men and women in recovery from alcohol and substance use disorder perform a mat-based Pilates exercise in The Recovery Barre class, combining movement, mindfulness, and community support for sobriety.

An instructor leads The Recovery Barre meeting, guiding participants through a supportive blend of community discussion, sobriety support, and movement-based practices for healing and connection.

Our Vision

We envision a future where movement, joy, and belonging are woven into every sober journey — and where free, uplifting communities to make that possible are open and accessible to anyone who seeks them.

Leadership

Founder & President

Ashlynn Howe

Ashlynn Howe is the founder of The Recovery Barre nonprofit and the creator of the Recovery Barre instructor training program, offered through Fit Pro Programming. After hosting The Recovery Barre meetings virtually in 2021, she recognized the demand for sober movement opportunities when over 350 women signed up with interest in just a few months. This inspired the creation of an instructor training, designed to reach more people in recovery in their own communities.

With a B.A. in Communication and an M.Ed. in School Counseling from Grand Valley State University, Ashlynn brings nearly a decade of experience as a school counselor to The Recovery Barre, as well as professional experience working in nonprofit writing and communications. She also has eight years of lived experience in recovery, shaping her passion for helping others in sobriety find joy, fun, and freedom in movement.

In addition to leading The Recovery Barre nonprofit, Ashlynn is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Fit Pro Programming, teaches multiple group fitness classes each week, and leads instructor certification trainings. She presented at the SCW fitness conference in Chicago in 2025, and creates monthly musicality-driven classes for thousands of Barre Above and Pumped Up Strength instructors as a creative choreography member.

Years in the making and shaped by the hearts of many, The Recovery Barre carries deep significance for Ashlynn. Inspired by her own experience of community as a lifeline in sobriety, she created this space to give back that same comfort, connection, and hope to anyone seeking recovery.

Treasurer & Community Development

Danielle Paoni

Danielle Paoni is an educator, counselor, and community leader passionate about enhancing mental health and wellbeing by building systems that nurture strong, community-wide connections. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Spring Arbor University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Currently, she is pursuing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership & Development, furthering her expertise in creating sustainable change in education and mental health.

Danielle is the creator of Every Student Known, a school-wide initiative designed to combat teacher burnout, reduce student isolation, and address behavior and mental health risks through intentional connection. Her current work and impact as a High School Counselor has been featured in multiple news outlets and presented at EdCon, highlighting her dedication to reimagining how schools support both students and staff.

With a blend of clinical insight and organizational leadership, Danielle brings deep experience in counseling, education, and systems design to The Recovery Barre, helping expand access to wellness and community.

Secretary & Service Outreach

Annika Thatcher

Annika Thatcher brings a powerful blend of professional expertise in advertising and over three years of lived experience in recovery to The Recovery Barre. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Cornerstone University, with a focus on alcohol and drug counseling.

After earning her B.A. in Communication from the University of Washington, Annika spent nearly a decade in Chicago leading advertising teams at top tech companies, including Microsoft, Simpli.fi, and AdAdapted. Following her move to West Michigan, she felt called to shift toward work that is more human-centered and healing-focused.

A certified Barre Above instructor, Annika is passionate about integrating movement, mental health, and recovery. She brings both professional expertise and personal insight to The Recovery Barre board and is passionate about creating communities where every individual feels seen, heard, and supported in their growth.