Move for Them: The Mat Pilates class making a difference

Posted on 4 November, 2025

An outdoors Mat Pilates class is raising awareness for domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) this November, honouring those who have lost their lives to gender-based violence.

Taking place on Saturday 15 November in Glebe Park, Move For Them: Canberra will see the local community come together to move their bodies while remembering the women who have died from DFSV in Australia this year.

The Canberra event is part of What Were You Wearing’s (WWYW) Move for Them campaign, a community-powered fundraiser that runs from August to November and invites people across Australia to get moving in support of victim-survivors.

“Domestic and sexual violence are not just private harms, but political acts. Whilst promoting victim-survivor autonomy, exercise serves as a collective form of resistance,” says Move for Them Project Manager/Survivor Healing Group Coordinator, Frankie Cheffins.

“Public movement disrupts notions of invisibility that surround domestic and sexual violence, transforming lived experience into shared political action. Through movement we celebrate our collective strength and unite against structural inequities, cultural norms and institutional complicities that facilitate the continuation of sexual violence.”

According to WWYW Ceo Sarah Williams, the organisation works every day to support survivors and create safer communities through a combination of direct support and prevention initiatives.

Inviting people to come together in honour of women whose lives have been tragically taken by DFSV – as well as to stand with survivors who are still living with its impacts – her hope is to continue the important conversations about its impact.

“The event’s purpose will be made clear: to move in solidarity, raise awareness, and inspire meaningful change,” she says.

“By centring victim-survivors and the memory of those lost, whilst highlighting Canberra’s role in driving national conversations, we will frame the event as both a commemoration and a call to action, uniting the community in hope, healing, and advocacy.”

Running from 10 am until 1 pm, Move For Them: Canberra takes a pay-as-you-wish approach, asking people to donate what they can to secure their spot.

Featuring a Mat Pilates class from Muse Pilates, coffee from local businesses and speakers sharing stories, knowledge, and messages of hope, Move for Them Canberra Lead and Legal Officer Avi Gottheiner says the event is designed to be inclusive, no matter your fitness background, accessibility requirements or gender background.

“The Pilates class will be run by Kim, an awesome instructor from Muse Pilates, who will tailor the mat session to meet people where they are. While this event is calling out the disproportionate impacts of violence against women, we encourage people of all gender backgrounds to attend,” she says.

“We are very lucky to be joined by the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, who will be joining us as a critical advocate in the domestic and sexual violence space. They will be briefly speaking to us after the Pilates class and providing merch!”

With limited spots available and all proceeds going directly to helping victim-survivors, not only will you get all the mind-body benefits of a Pilates class, but you’ll also know that as you move your body, you’ll be making a real difference.

“I hope Move for Them showcases the power of community, where we use movement to support and celebrate our successes, hardships and strength in the wake of rising national sexual violence rates,” says Frankie.

“Whilst I hope participants find collective strength through movement on the day, my greater wish is for Move for Them to ignite an ongoing conversation; one that embraces movement as a path to recovery, acts as a source of resilience in the face of adversity, and identifies a powerful form of advocacy that holds those accountable to act.”

Feature image supplied.