Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Frueh
Allison , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Upon reflecting on my journey, I’ve come to realize that my darkest struggles have also been my greatest sources of inspiration.
In my 20s, I faced some of the hardest battles of my life—struggles with drug addiction, eating disorders, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. During this time, I sought refuge in nature. Traveling solo across the country, I desperately tried to discover my path in life. I felt a deep calling to inspire others and create positive change in the world, but imposter syndrome held me back. I believed I was too “broken” to help anyone else.
My love of nature became my compass, leading me down unexpected paths. I earned a B.S. in Bioenvironmental Science from Texas A&M, visited 43 national parks, studied rainforest canopy ecology in Panama, moved to Portland, Oregon to learn professional tree climbing, worked in the tree-care industry, and became a certified Nature Therapy Guide. Though each path seemed like a “dead end” at the time, each step brought me closer to finding my purpose.
This deep connection to nature also inspired a personal challenge: on January 1, 2024, I committed to climbing a tree every day as a way to improve my mental health. This daily practice has become a cornerstone of my life, offering me a powerful way to connect with my body and the natural world. It has been a grounding ritual, reminding me of the joy and healing nature provides, and I haven’t missed a single day yet.
My struggles with eating disorders also sparked a passion for holistic wellness—learning to cultivate balance between food, exercise, and mental health. But when I returned to my hometown of Austin, TX in 2022, I was riddled with uncertainty. Crippled by loneliness and doubt, I felt hopeless about turning my passions into a livelihood. What I needed most was community.
Driven by my own experiences, I wanted to help others improve their health and well-being in a way that felt accessible and joyful. I strongly believed in the power of bringing people together outdoors to move their bodies in ways that were fun and engaging. From that belief, Adult Recess was born—a simple meetup group where adults could gather and play games like dodgeball, tag, and capture the flag.
What started as a casual, occasional event quickly blossomed into a vibrant and fulfilling community. Every week, we come together to reconnect with our inner child, build authentic connections, and enjoy the freedom of light-hearted play. Seeing the joy and transformation this community has sparked has opened my eyes to something profound: as a society, we’re starved for connection, authenticity, and play.
Now, my vision is to expand Adult Recess to cities around the globe—giving adults everywhere access to community, connection, and healthy outdoor movement.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been anything but smooth. In my early 20s, I became consumed by drug addiction. Even at my lowest point, I held onto a deep internal sense that it was “just a phase.” I knew I was meant to accomplish amazing things, even if I didn’t yet know how to get there. After several years of substance abuse, I managed to pull myself out of addiction without professional treatment, though the journey was far from easy.
Shortly after overcoming my addiction, I became fixated on fitness. In my mind, I was “making up” for the damage I had done to my body. I threw myself into weightlifting and HIIT workouts with relentless intensity, meticulously tracking every macro I consumed. I thought I was taking control, but in reality, I was trading one form of stress—drug addiction—for another: overtraining and undereating.
This obsession with fitness marked the start of my eating disorder issues. What began as orthorexia evolved into binge eating and eventually bulimia. My body began to revolt. My hormones became imbalanced, I lost my period, my hair started falling out, and my estrogen levels were practically non-existent.
Healing wasn’t a quick fix; it’s been a complex and ongoing journey. I’ve had to completely redefine my relationship with food, movement, and my body. Through this process, I’ve developed a passion for inspiring others to find joy in movement—not as a punishment or a way to change their appearance, but as something that enriches their lives. Movement can be playful, nourishing, and freeing, and I hope to show others how it can help them connect with their bodies in a positive way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve worked in the fitness industry as a group fitness instructor for over five years, where my focus has always been on bringing a fun, playful energy to an industry that often feels overly serious. This approach has helped me stand out and build meaningful connections with participants. Along the way, I’ve developed skills in public speaking, creating inclusive environments, and fostering personal connections—all of which have been invaluable in creating and leading events for Adult Recess.
Currently, my professional focus is on growing Adult Recess into a business that offers outdoor, movement-oriented team-building events for businesses, organizations, and groups. I’m also working on structuring the Adult Recess concept into a replicable model and training facilitators to help expand this vision of playful, authentic connection to communities around the world.
What sets me apart is my ability to combine movement with play in a way that feels accessible, inclusive, and genuinely fun for people of all backgrounds. I’m most proud of the sense of community Adult Recess has created—a space where adults can reconnect with their inner child, build meaningful relationships, and rediscover the joy of movement in a playful, light-hearted way.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The Covid-19 crisis highlighted for me just how essential community, movement, and time in nature are for human health and well-being. When everything shut down, many of us experienced deep isolation, and it became painfully clear how much we rely on connection with others to thrive—not just emotionally, but physically and mentally as well.
Movement also became a lifeline for me during this time. While gyms and fitness studios were closed, I rediscovered the joy of simply moving outdoors—whether it was climbing trees, hiking, or playing games. It reminded me that movement doesn’t have to be structured or intense to be meaningful; it can be playful, spontaneous, and deeply healing.
Spending time in nature became another key source of resilience. Being outside allowed me to feel grounded and connected when so much of the world felt uncertain. Nature provides a space to reflect, recharge, and reconnect not only with ourselves but also with something larger than us.
These lessons have shaped the work I do today. The pandemic underscored the critical need for spaces where people can come together, move their bodies in a joyful way, and engage with nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Adultrecessatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonwanderland3/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/adultrecessatx/
Image Credits
I have the rights to all photos.
