About Ash
Ash Ryzen Witham (With-um) is a white, queer, nonbinary (they/she) Somatic Coach and Connection & Embodiment Facilitator. Ash is dedicated to generating inclusive spaces for personal and collective transformation.
With Los Angeles as home base, Ash has studied and shared in the domains of communication, connection, and embodiment in the US, Western Europe, Central America, Israel and Southeast Asia over the last 10+ years.
Ash is a Level 1, Embodied Level 1, and Level 2, Course Leader at Authentic Relating Training (ART) International—the most recognized organization sharing tools for Authentic Relating globally. She is also a certified coach through The Relateful Co.
For Ash, collaboration and innovation are a birthplace for inspiration.
To highlight: she is the co-founder of Shadow Academy: A Puzzle Piece for Wholeness (est. 2021), an online course designed to make the daunting task of shadow work more approachable and immediately integrative. She is the co-founder of ARCI Retreat (est. 2022), a first-of-its-kind residential retreat weaving together the complimentary practices of Authentic Relating and Contact Improv, for a holistic and whole-self approach to expression, intimacy, and connection. She is also the co-founder of We AR Queer (est. 2023), Authentic Relating workshops and conscious connection events for LGBTQ+ folks, providing a welcoming space for queer community an alternative to nightlife and an opportunity to learn tools for healthy intimacy.
Having lived nomadically abroad for 5 years, Ash is inspired by a global influence. In 2021, she brought the first Authentic Relating LVL 1 training to Guatemala, and initiated the Authentic Relating community in the vibrant village of San Marcos, La Laguna. Now grounded in LA, she continues to facilitate across the US and internationally. Ash is also committed to continued learning and generative partnering to create diverse and inclusive offerings.
Presently, Ash is diving deeper into Somatics. She’s completed Embodied Transformation and Somatics, Trauma, and Resilience courses at Strozzi Institute, and is currently in their rigorous Somatic Coaching certification program (certifying in 2024). She is also certified in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy through The Embody Lab.
Her formal education—a BA with honors in Fine Art and a minor in Visual and Performing Art Education from UCLA—not only cultivated her creative spark but also equipped Ash with trained critical thinking skills to contextualize her work within historical and contemporary dialogues. Coupled with a former career in graphic design, this multi-faceted artistic background lays her foundation for creating experiences with meaningful detail and inspired innovation.
Ash takes this work very seriously—and to her that means also ensuring play and humor support any deepening process. Whether a one-off workshop or a weeklong retreat, each of her offerings are designed to disrupt social programming, welcome more of ourselves, practice courageous vulnerability, expand our capacity to be with, attune awareness of self and other, integrate our shadows, and embody our fullest expression—so that we may play toward our transformation and cultivate fulfilling, authentic, and meaningful lives.
More with Ash
Trust the Mystery with Ash Witham - on A Little Room for Healing Podcast
Photo Credits: left - Casey Cooper, right - Mark Fisher