That night, Maya wrote in her journal: Body positivity is not pretending every day is perfect. It’s showing up for yourself on the wobbly days, the bloated days, the days you can’t touch your toes. It’s understanding that health looks different on every body. And the most radical thing you can do is live well—not perfectly—on your own terms.

Tasha was quiet for a long time. Then she took a forkful of pasta and smiled. “It’s really good.”

Maya laughed. “I know.”

That week, Maya made small changes. She swapped her 5 a.m. punishing workout for dancing in her kitchen while boiling tea. She deleted the fitness app that shamed her for rest days. Instead, she started following a chef who made colorful meals for “bodies of all shapes,” and a therapist who talked about emotional eating with compassion, not judgment.

“I’m not doing any poses that hurt,” Maya announced, sitting down cross-legged.