RADIQAL'S MISSION

To facilitate a health and wellbeing community where queer and gender diverse folk can find holistic wellness, community and turangawaewae (a sense of belonging) through joyful exercise and social experiences.

WHO ARE WE?

We are a queer-affirming, body-liberating, "fitness" organisation formed in November of 2021. We are one of the first and only organisations in Aotearoa to offer gender-affirming, joyful exercise experiences tailored to our LGBTQ+ whānau.

We offer weekly group fitness classes (in-person and online), personal training, facilitate community groups and run events.

We have a diverse team of instructors and facilitators who are all queer. They bring with them unique lived experiences of disability and/or neurodivergence, varied gender identities and expressions, diverse sexualities, and other facets that have shaped them into the incredible individuals they are today.

We currently run our services at various locations throughout Tāmaki Makaurau. With continued engagement and support, it is our goal to have our own permanent space and expand our services throughout Aotearoa. Radiqal Movement is one of the first and only fitness platforms in Aotearoa to provide a dedicated space for rainbow communities. However, we also welcome keen allies who share our values.

OUR FOUNDATIONAL VALUES

BODY
NEUTRALITY

ALL BODIES ARE WORTHY

We ensure the use of body-neutral language, teaching of non-gendered fitness, provide services that cater to all fitness levels, experience, and confidence, and are proudly anti-diet.

MANĀKITANGA

INTERGENERATIONAL & COMMUNITY PEER-SUPPORT

Prioritising community and peer support with manaakitanga, we create non-judgmental spaces that respect everyone's journey while fostering collective strength and affirmation for all identities.

HAUORA

HOLISITIC APPROACH

We take positive, holistic approaches to movement and wellness, with inspiration from holistic models of health such as Te Whare Tapa Whā. We use exercise and movement to help combat body dysphoria and enhance gender euphoria and positive mental health.

AUTONOMY

SELF DETERMINATION & JOYFUL MOVEMENT

We celebrate autonomy and joyful movement, empowering individuals to move in ways that feel good for their bodies and align with their unique needs and desires.

OUR WHY

Mainstream gym culture and conventional exercise narratives often perpetuate harm toward LGBTQ+ communities by fostering exclusion, unrealistic body standards, and environments that feel unsafe or unwelcoming. Gyms are a wide-reaching public resource which should, by definition, improve the health of their members, rather than create more barriers to mental and physical wellness.

Our rainbow communities lack safe, low-cost spaces to gather and move their bodies joyfully. As a result, LGBTQIA+ folk are exercising less than their cis-het peers, and face disproportionately poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of mental illness.

Radiqal Movement aims to reduce inequities and improve the wellbeing of our communities.

LAUREN HARTRIDGE

Founder, Director,

Exercise Specialist.

Kia ora e te whānau,

I am the founder and director of Radiqal Movement. Radiqal was built to provide joyful exercise opportunities for LGBTQ+ folk and other communities underrepresented and often omitted from mainstream fitness spaces.

I believe that to better serve our communities and reduce intersectional inequities, the narrative(s) surrounding exercise needs to change. A whole new landscape of movement, one that takes holistic, body-liberating, community peer support approaches to hauora, is the way forward.

I am an Inspiring Stories Impact Awards Finalist (2023), Health Sciences and Exercise Sciences graduate, two-time National Futsal Champion, former International Waka Ama competitor, and have 12+ years of gym training experience.

Trans, gender diverse, and queer folk deserve to have positive, healthy and happy relationships with movement and their communities.

~ Lauren Hartridge (she/they) ~

Can I attend if I am not part of a rainbow community?

Of course. Although Radiqal Movement centres LGBTQ+ communities, our services extend to anyone who shares our values of body-liberation, manākitanga, genuine inclusivity, respect, and anti-discrimination.
What if I am late to a session?

Our main goal is to provide the best possible service to our clients. Our late/no-show policy: Radiqal Movement works on an appointment based schedule to allow you the time required for your session. Personal training sessions will generally be 30 minutes to 1 hour. Group fitness classes tend to be 45 minutes in duration. Please be on time for your appointments. If you are late for any session it will still end at the scheduled time. If you are more than 15 minutes late for a personal training session, it will be considered a no-show and you will be required to pay the fee for the session. If you are more than 15 minutes late to a group fitness class, you may be asked to obtain from joining late as the risk of injuries is increased.
Can I cancel my session?

Yes, however it is important that you give us sufficient notice when you need to cancel an appointment. This means a cancellation should be made at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment. To cancel an appointment, please contact us. Failure to cancel a training session within this time will result in you being charged for the session. This helps offset income lost due to being unable to find a new client in time. Should you wish to reschedule an appointment, a minimum of 24 hours notice is required. We will do our best to accommodate this - we understand that emergencies happen.
How do I pay for my session?

Classes must be payed-for in advance via Stripe Payments or bank transfer. Personal training clients will be sent an invoice pre-session. Subsequent payments alternatives may be organised.
Where are you located?

We currently run our group fitness classes at the Grey Lynn Library Hall, and Empire Studios Grey Lynn. We provide personal training, however, at our home-gym studio in Grey Lynn or via Zoom.
Do I have to be fully vaccinated to attend classes and sessions?

Due to the changes in Government policies, you are not required to be fully vaccinated to access our services. - 5/07/22
Do you have a physical gym?

We currently hire out various spaces around Tāmaki Makaurau for our group fitness classes and have a home-gym set up in Grey Lynn/Newton. It is our goal to one day have a fully functioning health and wellness centre where queer, gender diverse, and takatāpui individuals are able to access all types of gender/queer-affirming healthcare, including physios, doctors, therapists, and of course, our gym. We are working towards this. If you do have a million dollars wanting to be shared, please know our hands our wide open ;)
What are 'community activities'?

Our community activities are Volunteer-facilitated activities and events such as our Dykes n Hikes (walking/running group), Mermascs (swim group), and Bouldering.
I am struggling financially, what support can I access?

Please email us at rm@radiqalmovement.com. We will take into consideration your situation and do whatever we can to ensure you are able to access our services.
Where do you do personal training from?

We offer personal training from either a home-gym in Grey Lynn, and/or from your own home. When the weather is good, we can also facilitate sessions at your local central Tāmaki Makaurau park. Our trainers provide all equipment necessary, including heavy barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls, resistance bands and kettlebells. Let us know what would work best for you, and we will try our best to be accomodating and accessible.
Do you provide group fitness classes?

Yes - we currently offer a variety of classes every week, from Q Resistance, Pole, to Yoga Vinyasa Flow. Check our schedule under "classes" on our website for the latest group fitness timetable.