The story behind…
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It’s lethal.”
Hi, I’m Audrey and I think that every great adventure starts with one simple "yes."
If you asked my friends to describe me, they'd probably tell you two things: I can never sit still… and I'm rarely the one to say no.
No to a spontaneous trip? Hardly ever.
No to trying something new? Almost never.
No to a crazy challenge? Even less.
I've always been curious. Curious to explore, to learn, to push my limits and to embrace every experience life has to offer.
Maybe my last name has something to do with it... Carter. Originally, it referred to someone who transported goods—someone who was always on the move. I like to think that's a little wink from destiny, because standing still has never really been my thing.
Adventure has always been part of my life.
But sport came even before that.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a family where being active wasn't something you had to think about—it was simply part of everyday life.
From a very young age, I realized that sport was about so much more than exercise.
It became my way of feeling free—probably the value I cherish most.
Sport pushes me beyond my limits, clears my mind, turns bad days into better ones, recharges my batteries and helps me find my balance again.
Some people call it a passion. I often joke that it's my healthiest addiction. Because it gives me energy, keeps me grounded and reminds me every single day that energy creates energy.
At sixteen, while many of my friends were dreaming about getting their driver's licence, I decided that jumping out of an airplane sounded like a pretty good idea.
Alone.
A few years later, I did it again—this time with my grandfather to celebrate his 90th birthday.
In between came bungee jumping, solo backpacking adventures around the world, and countless moments that pushed me just beyond my comfort zone.
Looking back, I realize I've always been chasing the same feeling:
The feeling of being truly alive.
For almost fifteen years, I built my career in real estate. I genuinely loved it—and I still do today. It taught me so much about people, entrepreneurship, negotiation and turning ideas into reality.
But deep down, I knew there was another project waiting for me.
Something that felt completely mine.
A place where I could bring together everything I love: movement, people, adventure, challenge... and lots of laughter.
Then, shortly after Covid, something unexpected happened.
One evening, while scrolling through social media, I came across a Bungee Fitness video.
One video.
That was all it took.
It was a revelation.
Flying.
Laughing.
Moving.
Having fun.
Everything I had always loved was suddenly brought together in one activity.
But what truly convinced me was discovering a workout that challenged the body while protecting it. High energy, low impact, and accessible to so many people.
I knew I'd found exactly what I had been looking for.
From that moment on, there was no turning back.
I followed a Bungee Fitness training and became a certified Personal Trainer. Understanding how the body moves, how it adapts and how to guide people with confidence felt just as important as my passion for the sport itself.
I'll be honest...
I still remember my very first classes.
I was probably far more nervous than I looked.
Teaching was completely new to me, and Bungee Fitness was still almost unknown in Belgium. I kept wondering whether people would enjoy it and whether they would feel the same excitement I had felt the very first time I discovered it.
Looking back, those first classes make me smile.
I've always been very self-taught. I love learning, observing, experimenting and constantly improving.
Every class taught me something.
Every member made me a better coach.
Today, I honestly believe that every member who has walked through Ao Studio's doors has helped shape the studio just as much as they've helped shape me.
And that's probably my favourite part of entrepreneurship.
You're never finished learning.
Looking back, I realize something else too.
I never really wanted to open another fitness studio.
I wanted to create a place where people forget they're exercising.
A place where movement feels like play.
Where laughter matters just as much as the workout.
Where people leave feeling stronger, lighter and happier than when they arrived.
Today, Ao Studio has become my passion project.
Even though I still love my career in real estate and keep on with it, Ao Studio is the place where I pour a little piece of myself every single day.
Teaching has become my own breath of fresh air.
It's probably the moment in my day when I feel most alive.
I walk into every class with a smile, and somehow I leave with even more energy than I had before.
Watching people laugh, surprise themselves or discover they're capable of far more than they ever imagined... that's what fills my cup.
Over the years, Ao Studio has grown alongside me.
What started as a dream built around Bungee Fitness has grown into something much bigger.
Today, Ao Studio continues to evolve through new classes inspired by our members, their goals and the little ideas we build together.
I love that Ao Studio keeps evolving.
Because I do too.
The greatest reward isn't watching Ao Studio grow.
It's watching the people inside it grow.
Watching someone who thought they hated exercise look forward to their next class.
Seeing confidence come back.
Watching healthier habits slowly replace old ones.
Seeing new friendships begin.
Realizing that one positive choice often leads to another.
That's the beauty of a virtuous circle.
And being lucky enough to witness those transformations is, without a doubt, the most rewarding part of what I do.
I truly believe that we're all capable of far more than we think.
If I can help someone find the confidence to try, the courage to step outside their comfort zone, or simply leave with a smile, then I feel I've created something that truly matters.
Because that's exactly what sport has always given me.
Energy.
Freedom.
Confidence.
Joy.
And that's what I hope every person who walks through Ao Studio's doors will take home with them.
Maybe that's the real story behind Ao Studio.
It's not a finished story.
It's still being written...
One class.
One smile.
One challenge.
One "yes" at a time.
What will your "yes" be?