Created a show for adults: a man with a spicy past unexpectedly became a monk (4 photos)
Former military man Ashley Edelman, who was a stripper star, found himself in spiritual practices and now helps others transform their lives. 
At one time, a 22-year-old Australian left his home country in search of adventure. His parents advised their son to find a job in the UK, and he found one, but not the one everyone was hoping for. 
"I'd been in the army since I was 17 and I'd always struggled with insecurity. I used to mask my social anxiety with alcohol. When the opportunity came up as a stripper, I thought, 'I'd been stripping for fun in the army for free, so why not get paid for it?'" he recalls.
The job didn't live up to expectations, so he decided to make a change and became a participant in one of the UK's biggest strip shows, with choreographed routines and group performances. 
The turning point came when his parents personally attended the show. They saw their son’s professionalism - it was not the vulgarity they were afraid of, but real performance art. The parents left the show with a sense of pride. At the same time, Edelman was involved in bodybuilding - he trained, participated in competitions and, like many others in this field, used steroids and other illegal substances. It was part of his lifestyle. But this rhythm could not continue forever.
Changes in life
"In 2018, I achieved bottom and left the industry. When my marriage broke up in 2022, I briefly returned to the profession, but it felt wrong. It felt like I was selling my soul. I started breaking my own boundaries just for money,” he admits.
That was the beginning of a change. Ashley began studying spiritual practices and taking up personal development. Eventually, in September 2024, he went to a monastery in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The 30-day program was designed for foreigners to live like monks - without a phone or music. He woke up at 4 a.m., chanted mantras, meditated, did work, and attended Dharma classes. 
Today, the former stripper lives in the Middle East, meditates daily for an hour, conducts breathing sessions, helps people regulate their nervous system and get rid of obsessive thoughts. "Before I left for the monastery, I knew I was done with the adult entertainment industry. I didn't use social media for six months and only returned in April 2024," he explains.
"I used to live the life that most men dream of - fast, wild, seductive. Now I'm entrenched in serving others," he concludes, planning to return to the monastery every year, although he knows he won't be able to live there permanently.
