Ashley Dupre Says Russell Simmons is Mentor

Dupre, blogs on GlobalGrind.com that while the last year has been diffucult, it was also "a period of awakening." "I've gained a perspective on life that I probably never would have been able to achieve if not for all of the heartache," she writes.

"In great part, discovering my identity came through the quiet reflection I enjoyed while practicing yoga, and the inner strength I've developed attracts powerful things," Dupre writes. She also says that never in her "wildest dreams" would she have imagined getting to know Russell Simmons while taking a yoga class in New York City.

"Russell was there, reaching out to give me hand placement tips and educate me about the virtues of yoga that he's discovered throughout the years. He explained the importance of understanding that our actions sometimes have far reaching consequences -- a lesson that certainly resonated with me."

On his own blog for GlobalGrind, Simmons says Dupre told him that yoga had "saved her life" and that he was impressed that she hadn't used her notoriety for great profits. "She told me that she hadn't taken a nickel since the scandal broke and the reason was because every deal that had come in front of her involved further destroying her spirit," he writes.

Published 3/11/09 by