Meet Candace “Coach Felyne” Liger | Founder of Center for Body Autonomy | Educator, Artist, & Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Candace “Coach Felyne” Liger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Candace “Coach Felyne”, how does your business help the community?
My work across Trauma-Informed Consensual Kink (TICK), Fortify Fitness, and Jahration Nation is deeply rooted in creating safer, more empowering spaces for people to reclaim their bodies, pleasure, and strength—especially those who have experienced trauma, marginalization, or systemic harm. Through TICK, I educate individuals and communities on trauma-informed consent, ethical power dynamics, and the role of pleasure in healing. By integrating the SPACE principle (Safety, Pleasure, Awareness, Communication, Empathy) into kink and intimacy education, I help people—especially Black, queer, and marginalized individuals—navigate relationships and power exchanges with greater self-awareness, agency, and care. This work contributes to reducing harm in kink spaces, strengthening community accountability, and providing survivors with tools to reclaim pleasure on their own terms.

In Fortify Fitness, I shift the conversation around movement and strength training by centering trauma-informed principles, nervous system regulation, and accessibility. My approach challenges toxic fitness narratives that prioritize aesthetics or punishment, instead focusing on strength, mobility, and empowerment. By helping people reconnect with their bodies in ways that feel safe and supportive, I break down gym anxiety, encourage body autonomy, and provide community spaces where strength is about resilience rather than perfection. Through Jahration Nation, I extend this mission beyond individual coaching by curating workshops, conversations, and healing spaces that center Black joy, collective care, and embodied liberation. Jahration Nation serves as a bridge between movement, education, and activism, ensuring that wellness and kink education are not just trauma-informed but rooted in cultural understanding and community-building.

As the Director of Trauma-Informed Weightlifting (TIWL), I lead efforts to educate coaches, trainers, and movement professionals on how to create safer, more inclusive fitness spaces for trauma survivors. TIWL provides certification programs, resources, and workshops that emphasize body awareness, nervous system regulation, and consent-based coaching. We train professionals to recognize trauma responses in movement, adapt training methods to individual needs, and support clients in building strength without retraumatization. By merging trauma-informed education, strength training, and radical pleasure advocacy, my work in TIWL and beyond helps shift individual and collective narratives from trauma survival to thriving, embodied liberation.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I got to where I am today through resilience, self-awareness, and a deep commitment to work that aligns with who I am. It wasn’t easy—I’ve been fired from almost every employee role I’ve had, which only pushed me to carve my own path.

The biggest challenges came from navigating spaces that weren’t built for me. I overcame them by staying true to my values, prioritizing education, and creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and empowered. I’ve learned that success isn’t about fitting into an existing system—it’s about building something that allows me to show up fully as myself. More than anything, I’m proud that my work resonates with my own experiences and gives me the freedom to create on my own terms. That includes fitness, poetry and performance, erotic health, and consent education.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Write About Now
Houston Black Munch
Anywhere with good Sushi
Hiking trails
Gangham day spa

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey as an educator, advocate, and entrepreneur is deeply shaped by the powerhouse that is Alice Joiner—my mother. Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, I had a front-row seat to what it means to build something from the ground up. She was a force—running tax offices, restaurants, and rental properties—while teaching me the art of business processes, organization, writing, and leadership. Before I ever stepped into my own work, I was balancing checkbooks, managing tax files, cleaning out properties, and absorbing the ins and outs of entrepreneurship firsthand. Watching her navigate challenges with resilience and strategy taught me that success isn’t just about talent; it’s about discipline, adaptability, and vision.

Her influence flows through everything I do—whether it’s developing the Trauma-Informed Consensual Kink (TICK) framework, leading Fortify Fitness, curating healing spaces through Jahration Nation, or directing Trauma-Informed Weightlifting (TIWL). The way I approach community-building, education, and business systems is a direct reflection of her ability to turn ideas into action, serve with integrity, and always keep the bigger picture in mind. So much of my work is about reclaiming agency, creating access, and empowering others to step into their fullest selves—and that is a lesson I first learned at home.

Beyond my mother, I owe immense gratitude to the Black, queer, and kink communities that have shaped my understanding of pleasure, consent, and liberation. I also acknowledge the mentors, authors, and thought leaders who have pushed me to think critically, move intentionally, and show up fully in every space I enter. This journey isn’t mine alone—it’s a collective effort built on the wisdom, love, and radical care of so many.

Website: https://www.candaceliger.com

Instagram: @candaceliger

Image Credits
Mr. Sevyn