what is AscendVie
Hey! I'm Jessica Donovan, the founder of AscendVie, a neuro-intentional strength and wellness system featuring several programs designed to be neurorehabilitative in nature.
I'm a CPR/AED-certified NASM personal trainer, a NASM-certified Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), and a Nutrition Coach (CNC), and I'm deeply committed to helping people feel better, move more effectively, and become stronger physically and mentally.
Why I Do This
Life can be challenging to navigate, but everything in our lives shifts when we choose to move through it with more purpose, in the gym, at work, at school, or in our daily habits; these can all be measurements of how we care for our nervous systems. I believe that movement is medicine and that strength is strategic. We all have the capacity to heal, grow, and ascend; we need the right tools and support which is what AscendVie means to help provide.
My Coaching Philosophy
My approach integrates progressive overload, mobility work, yoga-informed breath and movement, corrective exercise, calisthenics, and individualized nutrition strategy. It’s designed for people dealing with pain, burnout, disconnection, or anyone who needs a structured, compassionate way to rebuild. You don’t need to show up perfectly. YOU JUST NEED TO SHOW UP, and keep showing up. Whether you're starting from zero or stepping into the next phase of your training, this space is built to meet you with both challenge and support. You’ll be seen here. You’ll be pushed when it matters.
The Bigger Vision
AscendVie is built on the Ascend Cortex Method.
This is a neuro-intentional training system designed to rewire movement patterns, strengthen the brain-body connection, and build resilience that lasts beyond the gym. Using tools like Neural Reps, Anchor Points, Neuroform Encoding, and The Synaptic Phase, clients experience tangible changes, including:
Faster strength development
Improved mobility and posture
Reduced risk of injury
Sharper mental focus
Long-term nervous system regulation
This method is built from research. I’m currently entering my senior year, completing my B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Rehabilitation Services, as well as my B.S. in Sociology at SDSU. Upon completing those degrees, I plan to pursue a third B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior to prepare for a PhD in Neuroscience. My long-term goal is to contribute to research on how movement impacts cognition, emotion, and system-level recovery.
AscendVie isn’t a fixed program. It’s an evolving system designed to integrate new findings, adapt to the individual, and build real self-leadership through movement. This is training that transforms more than muscle.
Ascend life. Move with intention.