Frequently Asked Questions
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Neuro-affirming means we respect and value different ways of thinking, feeling, and processing. We designed our space with accessibility, choice, and consent in mind and welcome a wide range of sensory, communication, and movement needs.
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Self-advocacy is central to our neuro-affirming approach. We encourage people to name their needs, set boundaries, and make choices that support their wellbeing. You are the expert in your own body and experience, and we trust and respect that here.
Make sure you read the class descriptions and have a clear understanding of what to expect.
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‘Not speaking today’ stickers and staff trained to respond to nonverbal participation
Neurodivergent teachers with lived experience
Low lighting
Optional low sensory classes (even lower lighting, no mirrors and soft music only) as well as higher sensory classes (pumping music)
Quiet corner to escape to at any time
Support workers are welcome
Sensory swings
Stim toys, weighted blankets, and ear muffs
Options to bring loops/ear muffs and stim toys into the Green Room
Options to step out at any time
Peer support groups onsite
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We know that not everything is for everybody. Our efforts in creating the space for you to make choices that support you in participating here will not be perfect for all.
If you have any helpful feedback, our preference is to hear this in person, otherwise via a short email, preferably with numbered points, to hello@zenly.com.au.
Neuro-affirming
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Bring a mat if you have one, otherwise you can grab one for free use (in the green room).
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Zenly is in Studio 8 at 1-7 Unwins Bridge Road in St Peters.
We have parking onsite, untimed at the back of the property. There is also street parking at selected times, please check the signs.
If you park down the back: we are opposite Temple and Webster, down the lane between the two biggest buildings, the last studio on your right before the ramp.
If you park at the top car park (in front of the climbing gym), walk down the ramp to the right of the climbing gym entrance, then turn left and we are the first studio on your left.
There's plenty of space to lock your bike up :)
If you're a little nervous about finding us and what to do when you arrive, check out our Accessibility page for a detailed step by step :)
Make sure you read the class descriptions and have a clear understanding of what to expect.
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Zenly is an all-bodies safe-space and we want you to all wear exactly what you’re comfortable in, whether that be big baggy tops, eensy-weensy bottoms, hijabs, bikini tops, or basketball shorts. As long as all chests and bottoms are covered, you’re free to dress as you please!
At Zenly, we have a no-tolerance creepiness or bigotry policy.
In terms of equipment, bring a water bottle, a towel or two (one for your body and one for the mat), and a yoga mat if you have one. We also have mats available to use for free. (We also have mat storage for regulars!). Bolsters and blocks are also provided.
Some other ideas of equipment you may like are earplugs (there’s also some behind the bar), an eye mask for meditation and rest poses, or anything else that helps with your sensory preferences.
Also please note that Zenly is STRICTLY NO SHOES past the entry way. There's a space of to your right to place your shoes.
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Zenly has communal site bathrooms. These are located a few meters to the left of Zenly and are accessible by a changing four digit code. If you don't know the code, poke your head into Zenly, and it is on the wall to the left. Ask us if you need a hand.
Please note, the communal bathrooms are stuck in the gender binary. Please use whichever feels most comfortable for you.
Please note that there is no shower in the disabled bathroom.
Please note there is a sharps bin in the disabled bathroom.
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Please arrive around 5-10 minutes before your session start time. This gives you time to set yourself up/change/pee/begin meditation or just to chill out in the peace of the yoga room (where there is no talking before or after class).
We always start and end our sessions exactly on time, and the studio is locked during sessions to avoid disruptions to your practice (and to secure your belongings in the entry space). If you arrive and the door is locked; we’ll see you next time, cutie!
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Yoga can release emotions that have been stored deep in your body. Sometimes you may feel a little vulnerable and open after yoga. We recommend being gentle on yourself in these moments. Rest, water, yummy food, cuddles from your people, journalling, and more therapy appointments are great supports to the practice.
For the hot classes:
After getting all sweaty you need to replace the minerals and water you lost. We sell a variety of electrolyte drinks, and we can also recommend a home blend (himalayan salt, apple cider vinegar and juice of your choice). Being well fed (but not full) and hydrated (before & after) helps.
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We use Team Up, create an account to view our live schedule.
Logistics
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Our entire lives we’ve all been indoctrinated into the belief that the goal of movement is to transform how our bodies look. When your connection to your body is intrinsically linked to society’s beauty standards, all the mental benefits are shrouded in dysmorphia, external validation, and competition. By offering movement in a safe environment with a community you’re comfortable in, you actually have the chance to begin breaking down these internal systems that may have been part of exercise avoidance. We want Zenly to be a comfy nest where you can feel safe to let go of the external environment, and create deep connections inwards.
At Zenly, we’re dedicated to making movement easier and safer for all brains and bodies. Movement and rest won’t manage your mental health for you, but everything’s easier when you’ve got your basic physical needs covered.
Here are some very cool sources about movement and its effect on mental health if you happen to be a reader (nerd):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/2/4/30
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8523680/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-simply-moving-benefits-your-mental-health-201603289350
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Yoga is a spiritual and physical practice that originated around 5000 years ago in what is now South Asia (SA). It bears huge cultural significance in South Asian cultures, and since the country’s colonisation by the British around 300 years ago yoga has been banned, appropriated, whitewashed, and heavily commercialised at the expense of its founding practitioners and their ancestors.
Yoga is so much bigger than what we experience in a weekly class. The philosophy, history, ethics and practices are rich, thoughtful, and incredibly relevant. South Asian people were asking questions about suffering, purpose, relationships and peace thousands of years ago -and their answers are still relevant today, resonating through thousands of years, over oppression & across oceans.
Yoga is made up of 8 limbs, of which physical movement (Āsana आसन) and meditation (Dhyāna ध्यान) are just two parts - these are our main focus at Zenly.
At Zenly, our teachers are all trained to the Australian legal standard of a yoga instructor, and still it’s important to note that each of them is still simply a student of yoga - not a yogi, not an expert. We are so privileged and grateful to be able to share elements of this 5000 year-old practice to facilitate movement, meditation, and breathwork, and we credit the original creators and the cultural heritage of Yoga.
We also consider it important to use sanskrit names of poses where we can, whilst not using spiritual and cultural terms and gestures outside of our own cultural practice (e.g. “namaste”).
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Firstly; everyone feels kinda bad at any movement for a while. It takes months to learn the names of poses and get a sense of what the heck you're doing -so be gentle on yourself where you can.
We know this sounds strange; but being flexible / strong is NOT a prerequisite for attending a yoga class. Nor is it something that everyone can just work on and eventually "achieve".
You may have;
a bigger body that is just physically in the way of certain poses
a shorter upper body than lower body or vice versa
mobility stuff (i.e. degenerative tissues diseases)
genetically tight hamstrings, etc.
You can;
use your blocks, towels, bolsters to land at least semi-comfortably
adjust your legs wider, let your belly fall into that bigger space -literally (and lovingly) pick it up and move it
change the pose completely and do something else that feels better
work on being grateful to yoga for existing, and enjoy the absolute privilege of having a body that can land on the mat
You might never touch your toes, and part of Yoga is being OK with that and keeping your focus inwards -even when ole' bendy McGee is cranking the splits in the front row.
We have different styles and classes at Zenly, and our recommendations for first-timers (or nervous folk) are YIN and MAT PILATES.
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We hear you. Mirrors can be intense, especially if you aren’t used to viewing yourself during movement or out of your everyday clothes.
Mirrors are a powerful tool in yoga for correcting form and working on new poses. We’ve also learned through yoga that using mirrors for practical purposes can be vital in your body-neutrality/acceptance/positivity journey.
So, as you become more and more comfortable in the space, we urge you to start working on the concept of mirrors being for poses, not posing.
Anyway, our Yin sessions and Low Sensory Yoga sessions have the curtains drawn, and in Mat Pilates we have curtains hald-drawn.
Even so, every session will have spaces at the back of the room where you can avoid the mirrors.
Zenly
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1. Zenly is STRICTLY NO SHOES past the entryway.
2. Please be mindful of our teachers' boundaries. We are holding a lot of energy in the space, as well as managing our own mental health. We understand that yoga can crack you open a bit, but you need to check in before sharing with our staff as they may not have the mental or emotional space, and/or may have specific triggers.
Please ask 'do you have space for this?' before sharing your experiences/trauma.
If you forget, or if we change our minds, we may interject you to let you know. We are here to provide you with a safe space to experience yoga, and we encourage you to lean on your supports when stuff comes up (friends, chosen family/family, therapist, etc).
Part of this is knowing that our teachers aren't robots, and thus our level of care towards you, as hard as we try to be “on it” is impacted by our own neurodivergence, things that have happened that day, our sleep, cycles, etc. We ask that you give us grace if we don't have as much energy/space for you, we are doing our best on that day.
3. We have Not Speaking stickers. With us, everyone has the opportunity to opt out of social interaction and still get their movement and rest needs met. If someone is wearing headphones or ear protection, do not attempt to engage with them (even if it's a staff member - we will have additional staff on days where this is the case). They are managing their sensory input and Zenly is a safe space for them to do so.
4. All bodies must have a top on. Until all nipples are free, none are.
6. Bring 1 towel for the mat if you are using one of ours. And if doing Yin, one for your bolster too.
7. While the pink room is a place for communing with each other, there is no talking in the green room before and after class please, people might be meditating.
8. There is a strict policy at Zenly of no-creepiness, no bigotry, no gossiping, no unkindness, and no judging. People come here to try are better themselves, and you need to give everyone the respect that you would like to be shown. If you don't follow this rule, you may not be in-line with our values and this could result in an immediate cancellation of the at-fault party's subscription. Keep your focus inwards and on your own breath - no staring, no comments. All teachers are prepared to advocate for the safety and comfort of all clients, and any concerns can be voiced directly to teachers or via e-mail.
9. Listen to your body, take breaks at any time.
General Rules
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Nope, no, absolutely not. Zenly flows are a mixture of Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga poses, and modern stretching and breathing techniques in a hot room. We are in no way associated with Bikram nor do we tolerate or support his views or behaviour. Yucky.
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For those of us who have the summer struggles, sweat anxiety, or returning to or starting movement as an adult, easing into yoga without pumping heat can be really helpful. Check out the class description to see if the class you want to attend is heated.
Some of the specific benefits of the hot room are increased muscle flexibility and range of movement, faster muscle recovery, alleviation of the symptoms and severity of Seasonal Affective Disorder, and can aid with blood circulation and reduce hypertension. So if any of your goals are movement, flexibility, mental health management, or just getting warm during winter, hot yoga is the jam.
Our muscles require warmth to safely stretch and support us, and in rooms where the fans or AC are pumping we’re cooling down our muscles as we move which makes snapping and tearing much easier.
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No! You'd be right in saying that many hot yoga establishments don't allow you to exit the room, but we do.
The aim of the heated room is to literally just be in the room, not necessarily do every pose, and we encourage you to take breaks on your mat as often as you like (and keep sipping water).
If you begin to feel a bit off for whatever reason and feel the need to step out you are absolutely free to do so - just try not to disrupt the session.
We have different styles and classes at Zenly, and our recommendations for first-timers (or nervous folk) are YIN and MAT PILATES.
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We will ALL be sweaty and red and revolting and bloody beautiful. You can take as many breaks in childs pose or just sitting on your mat as you like!
If it really freaks you out, wear all black and bring an extra towel. Plus, you can be at the back of the room where it's a little cooler and you can avoid the mirrors.
Heated Yoga
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Zenly is Neurodivergent owned and run. We have intentionally created our space to have gentle lighting, a balanced sound-system, and respectful and aware teachers.
Check out our Accessibility page and the Arrival Tool for help with getting here and what to expect.
Follow us on socials for some insight into our space and teachers.
Sit in the QUIET CORNER at any time -there's a bunch of stim toys and ear muffs in there.
Grab a NOT SPEAKING sticker when you walk in if you need it.
Bring your own stim toys, wear your headphones in class.
Be aware that we don't have air-con at Zenly. We are located in a bit of a cement cave and it is quite cool, however if lack of airflow is a struggle for you, please position yourself near the black fan at the back left corner of the room. Wave your teacher down if you need a hand.
We recommend our Low Sensory Yoga and Floating Yoga Nidra classes if that’s more your vibe.
One thing to note is that the bathrooms have automatic lights that are *quite bright*. We recommend wearing a hat / sunglasses in there.
We also know that no-one has exactly the same needs, and we’re always open to individual feedback or requests. Please let us know straight away if you or anyone else needs help during, before, or after the session!
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Yes, the friendliest! Zenly is queer owned and run, and while the space isn’t exclusively for any one kind of person, one of our goals is to create a space where we can facilitate queer joy, comfort, and community.
We’re not assuming sexualities and genders and we expect the same from you.
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Clients over approx. 6ft tall (or with long limbs) need to be aware that the ceilings are very low and contact with the heat panels and ceilings is possible. Our teachers will be on the lookout for people who may be at risk of reaching them and will make sure to advise you of safe places in the studio to practise.
The studio is entirely wheelchair and mobility-aid accessible - including a standard disabled toilet.
Our smallest doorframes are the Green Room and the bathrooms which are public regulation sizes.
There are no weight limits in any areas.
We have a variety of armless chairs and benches for bigger bodies.
Disability carers are always welcome. And friends/family members to accompany non-verbal people are of course welcome.
Accessibility
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This is completely dependent on your plan provider. You will need to reach out directly to them in order to determine what funding is available to you.
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04_106_0125_6_1
04_102_0136_6_1
09_011_0125_6_3
Social & Community Recreation is our most used category.
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We can invoice directly to the client or plan manager for a $15 admin fee, or clients can use their purchase receipts to claim.
For invoicing we require;
NDIS code
NDIS code title and description
NDIS client number and their name
Service to be invoiced
Email to send invoice to: hello@zenly.com.au
The client will need to create a Zenly account.
Please let us know if you'd like to book a service via hello@zenly.com.au.
NDIS Claims
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Great! You can purchase Zenly Credits that can be used for literally anything at Zenly (workshops, classes, groups, merch).
Zenly credits between $50-$500 are available for purchase anytime through the Zenly Store.
Gifting
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💲 How much is a single class?
Drop in: $28 per class.
✨ Do you have a trial offer?
14-Day trial: Access to unlimited classes for 14 days @ $69.
📅 What are the weekly membership options?
x2 Weekly: $39/week – 2 classes per week.
x3 Weekly: $49/week – 3 classes per week.
Unlimited Weekly: $59/week – unlimited classes.
Low Income Weekly: $22/week – 1 class per week (reduced rate). (All weekly memberships have a 6-week minimum, then you can cancel anytime. Holds available for holidays/illness).
📆 Do you have class packs?
5 Pack: $125 (valid 3 months).
10 Pack: $240 (valid 6 months).
🗓 Do you offer an annual pass?
Annual Unlimited: $2124 – 12 months unlimited (includes 3 months free!).
🎁 Do members get extra perks?
Yes! Weekly and annual members receive discounts for workshops and can pause memberships for holidays/illness.