By Jeff Abell
Anyone who has met Kali Eastin of Burlington knows her optimism and enthusiasm are infectious. Through her business, she has changed minds and opened hearts by helping people embrace a positive body image.
Eastin, who owns Kalioke Movement Lounge, preaches the gospel of positivity through fitness that feeds the mind, body, and spirit. Eastin is no stranger to having a negative body image, a situation faced by many. It is something she has worked hard to overcome and it has become her mission to help others do the same.
"There is no one perfect size. We all have completely different bodies which makes us all beautiful," Eastin said. "Learning to love your body can be a difficult journey, but people need to know they can get there. Our goal is to put out a message of body acceptance."
The Kalioke Movement Lounge was born out of a desire to provide people an alternative to a singular-focused fitness approach to health. Eastin set out to build a community that could act as a support network beyond the limits of a typical gym.
"A lot of what I do here is to build a community of people, a support network for people to maintain wellness. Physical exercise is only one part of being healthy," Eastin said, adding mental and spiritual health are as important as physical exercise to a person's overall health.
Her studio's name reflects Eastin's love of singing (including Karaoke) and the importance of movement to wellness. The "lounge" part of the name represents the communal, relaxed atmosphere of her Burlington studio.
"Movement is so important to our overall health. We want to provide a relaxed, lighthearted environment free of body shame or guilt," she said. "The best part about it, though, isn't the physical benefits of movement. but the sense of community."
Eastin offers Pound fitness as part of her wellness program. Pound fitness is a combination of cardio and weight training exercise that includes some of the rhythmic techniques used in pilates. Colorful, light-weight drumsticks add an element of fun while helping exercisers count out the length of time they hold certain positions. Her studio also offers yoga, trauma-informed care, and functional training classes.
Through her studio at 2825 Mount Pleasant St., Eastin has created a trauma-informed space to discover and explore joy in movement. In doing so, she has created a community full of trust and understanding.
The community of encouragement she has built often spills out from the four walls of her studio onto the sidewalk — members write inspirational messages in chalk. One message, in particular, hit home for Eastin.
"One day I went to the studio and saw someone had written 'safe space.' (in chalk). I got tears in my eyes knowing someone felt that way," she said.
Eastin said keeping people motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle has been a challenge during a time of social distancing and social isolation amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Through Zoom classes and other means of distance instruction, which Eastin admits is not as fun as in-person instruction, she has kept her community of members motivated.
"We rely on the internet more," Eastin said. "It gives people a way to stay connected; it helps them maintain a support network."
For her friends and students, Eastin is more than just an instructor — she is an inspiration, which is something her friend, Lucy Miller, noted when she nominated Eastin for The Beacon's Everday Heroes story series.
"She can often be heard saying, 'Listen to your body.' She wants you to do your best, not what the most capable in the class does. She is great at helping you modify the workout to suit your situation."
Miller added: "She wants you to feel included, regardless of those capabilities or inabilities. She preaches that all bodies are worth loving and should feel joy in movement."
Always humble, Eastin credits her students for making her studio an inclusive, positive space. Every day, she said, she feels honored to be a part of her students' lives.
"I'm a small voice and sometimes I don't realize people are listening," she said. "Honestly, it's a privilege for me to be able to do this, to help others."
Editor's Note: Everyday Heroes is an ongoing series featuring people who make a difference in our community. If you want to nominate someone for a story, contact us at burlingtonbeacon@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.)
Photo by Anthony Dewitt
Kali Eastin, the owner of Kalioke Movement Lounge, has made it her mission to promote wellness — mind, body, and spirit. She offers Pound fitness, which incorporates colorful sticks as part of the exercise routine. Students often leave encouraging messages in chalk at her Burlington studio.