#LifeLessons - Sasha Gollish

NAME: Sasha Gollish

AGE: 42

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @SGollishRuns

JOB TITLE: Engineer, Researcher, & Professional Athlete

Dr. Sasha Gollish is a gender equity advocate, ASICS ambassador and Team Canada athlete and coach with a research focus on improving girls and women’s wellbeing through sport, physical activity, and recreation. As a researcher, coach and athlete, Sasha is passionate about advancing gender equality and works tirelessly to create inclusive sporting spaces.  A contributor to ASICS Global Gender Exercise Gap Report which was published earlier this year, she is an active member of ASICS Gender Advisory Panel (GAP) advocating and supporting programs around the world remove the barriers for women and girls in sport, improve their experience and ultimately increase participation.

 Today Dr Sasha shares with us her biggest life learnings to-date:

#LIFELESSON – 1 - Prioritize Physical Activity & Exercise

The more we move, the better we feel. Yet, we do not often prioritize exercise even though we know that physical activity is not only for the body but also for the mind. Regular physical activity improves mental clarity, reduces stress, and builds resilience, forming the foundation for a healthier, more balanced life. It’s more than fitness; it’s a way to connect with others, challenge oneself, and find joy in movement.

Too often, competing priorities – from work to family responsibilities and other social engagements – take away from our time to move our bodies daily. We learned with the ASICS Move Every Mind study there is a gender exercise gap and men report fewer barriers to being active.

For women and girls, prioritizing physical activity also means reclaiming time and space in environments where they may not always feel represented. As we break down barriers in sport, let's empower ourselves to move freely, embrace strength, and unlock our potential, one step, jump, or stride at a time.

The Dubai 30x30 Fitness Challenge makes it easier to prioritize exercise with a variety of options across the city tailored to everyone’s taste. If 30 minutes feels like too much, the ASICS Move Every Mind research shows that 15 minutes gives you the mental health benefits.

Prioritizing movement is an investment in every aspect of well-being—physical, mental, and emotional.

#LIFELESSON – 2 - Find A Space Where You Belong

Finding a place where you feel truly accepted is powerful. It’s a place where you can be yourself, feel valued, and pursue your passion. When we find that place of belonging – whether that be a running or walking club, a fitness class, a sports team - we’re not just engaging in exercise, we’re connecting with others who share similar goals, values, and challenges. These spaces become more than just places to move; they become communities where we find support, camaraderie, and encouragement.

Creating accessible, affordable, safe and inclusive spaces, especially for women within sport and exercise, breaks down the barriers. In the ASICS Move Her Mind Study, researchers identified five major barriers preventing women from participating in exercise, including:

1. Competing commitments and limited time for physical activity.

2. High costs associated with participation.

3. Feelings of being unsafe or unwelcome in many exercise spaces.

4. Concerns about not feeling “fit” or “sporty” enough to engage in physical activity.

5. Lack of access to necessary equipment or spaces for exercise.

These findings highlight the unique challenges women face in pursuing an active lifestyle and the importance of creating accessible, inclusive spaces where everyone feels empowered to participate and find their place of belonging.

For women and girls, finding this space can be transformative – like what we saw in at the Dubai’s Women Run. In inclusive environments, we break down stereotypes, lift each other up, and show what we’re capable of. Seek out spaces where you feel encouraged, respected, and inspired—places where you belong. When you find that, you’ll feel unstoppable.

#LIFELESSON – 3 - Lift Each Other Up

Throughout life, women face unique challenges that can limit their ability to prioritize physical activity, particularly during phases like motherhood or when juggling career demands. Support from others—both women and men—can make a profound difference in helping women stay physically active and engaged with exercise.

For women, lifting each other up means creating networks of support, understanding the demands of each stage of life, and celebrating every effort to stay active, no matter how small. Whether it’s offering encouragement, joining a friend for a walk, or creating flexible fitness spaces that welcome mothers and career-focused women alike, we can help each other carve out space for well-being.

Find yourself an accountability partner, someone who may not always meet you to workout but someone who will message you to ask, ‘what did you do for activity today?’ We know that when people create small groups to check in with each other they are more likely to hold themselves accountable.

Men, too, play a crucial role in supporting the women in their lives. By sharing household responsibilities, offering to watch the kids, or simply cheering them on, men can create an environment that values and prioritizes women’s health and activity.

When we all work together to lift each other up, we empower women to prioritize their physical and mental well-being—enriching not only individual lives but whole communities.