Frankie on movement as a tool of presence

Before I opened Zenly in 2023, I had become completely disillusioned with the lack of body representation and accessibility in the fitness/wellness industry. I’m an autistic lesbian with C-PTSD in ED recovery who had no place soft to land. So I set out to create a space for different bodies to find their home on the mat -through the joy of movement.

Zenly is about spreading the message that movement is a tool for presence.

Zenly is not your ‘new year's resolution’ and we are not a place to punish your body. When we have capacity to engage with movement, there’s a firm line we need to observe between forcing it for external validation and embracing it for what it brings us internally. 

There are intersections here under euro-centric body and beauty standards, and I acknowledge that I’m writing this from the lens of a white, able-bodied, inherently privileged position.

Unlearning all the fatphobic indoctrination and the intersections that come with it is a process. It’s a journey that I too am forever engaged in. Everyone at Zenly is here because they have a desire to better care for themselves, to improve their skills, and to have better relationships. And the grace we show ourselves and others is one of my favourite things about our community.

We will continue to consider you and cue for bigger bodies, to assist your bodies with consent and care, to say ‘fat’ because it’s not a bad word, and to not assume that people in bigger bodies can or can’t do certain things.

My final thought is this: life is so much better when we’re not hyper-focused on finding our worth in a smaller body. Your body, as it is, right now, is your precious home. And anytime you join us at Zenly to find presence in your body you will be held with respect and care.