Story & Lesson Highlights with Ediva Zanker of Union square

We recently had the chance to connect with Ediva Zanker and have shared our conversation below.

Ediva, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I don’t talk about the work I do in the Domestic Violence space, but it’s something I’m extremely proud of. As someone who experienced DV, I used boxing as a way to heal from the anger and trauma of the experience. I love how empowering it feels to hit a boxing bag. Boxing is a somatic experience that can healthily release stored sadness. After realizing how much it could help me heal, I wanted to give it back to others. I ended up creating a trauma-informed boxing class that I teach to survivors from various non-profits around NYC. I incorporate journaling, meditating, and body-conscious movement as a way to move through the pain.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I teach a trauma-informed boxing class to survivors of DV, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. Over the course of an hour, I teach a practice that incorporates many of the modalities I’ve used to heal myself. I start my classes off with some grounding meditation, a journaling exercise, boxing for release, and mitt-work. What sets me apart from other trainers is my ability to be trauma sensitive throughout my entire practice. As a survivor myself, I always keep in mind that healing is not linear. We are all a product of the things we’ve experienced, and at the same time, it doesn’t define us. We each show up daily with our unique set of backgrounds and experiences, and it’s my job as a coach and facilitator to ensure everyone has a safe space to be themselves.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Being a DV survivor has definitely shaped me. It’s a part of who I am. As awful an experience as it was, I learned just how resilient I am. It also made me realize that healing happens in connection. When I first went through it, the first thing I was looking for was a support group of people who had gone through something similar. There weren’t people in my own life who had been through it, so it felt like I was alone. When I couldn’t find other groups to support me, I decided to create my own. My trauma-informed boxing modality was a direct result of my need for something that wasn’t on the market. Also, there was an element of shame I was holding onto for a while as a survivor. After meeting other people who had gone through something similar, I was able to find healing, and the shame lessened.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’ve been sexually assaulted and have survived domestic violence. I don’t think that I’ve fully “healed” those wounds, nor do I think I will ever be 100% fully healed. It’s a forever journey that makes me who I am. Some things have helped me along that process, however:

1. Taking a solo trip: learning to trust myself, make decisions on my own, and be by myself was one of the scariest but most healing things I’ve done.
2. Going to the Hoffman process: a weeklong healing retreat where you can’t have your phone or laptop. This taught me how to slow down.
3. Connection: meeting other people who have experienced their own set of traumas made me realize that I’m not alone.
4. Boxing: connecting with my body, my strength, and my power.
5. Meditation: sound baths and clearing rituals ground me.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to helping other women heal. The ideal world is one where we don’t have to heal from anything to begin with. The unfortunate truth is that trauma is out of our control. My journey towards self-love has been arduous, with many twists and turns. I would love to save other women the pain and time of trying to figure out how to feel better. I’ve tried so many different modalities to heal, so I would love to share my knowledge, my experiences, and my trauma-informed boxing with the world.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I’m a firm believer in doing everything in life to the best of your ability. I bartended for around two years. During those two years, I took that job extremely seriously. I wanted to be the best bartender, clean the cups to perfection, and make my customers feel like they were the most important people. There’s a saying along the lines of, “how you do one thing is how you do everything.” If you give anything you do 100%, you will reap the rewards. It might not be obvious in the exact moment, but you will see the payoff down the road. You will respect yourself more, and in turn, others will respect you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shes-got-grit.squarespace.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ediva-zanker
• Other: Substack: https://substack.com/@healingissexy?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page