Holding space as a community
- breathepower
- Oct 18
- 2 min read
There are moments in teaching yoga that remind me why I do what I do. These moments that move beyond the mat, beyond the poses, and into the very heart of what it means to hold space for another human being.
Today, as were just about to begin our Yoga for Women session when a woman walked in and quietly asked if she could speak with me for a few minutes. As we stepped outside, I noticed her body trembling and her face wet with tears. Her breath was shallow. She whispered that she couldn’t breathe and she needed help.
She was in the middle of an anxiety attack.
We spent the next several minutes simply grounding. Breathing. Letting her know she was safe. I invited her to join the session whenever she felt ready and told her I’d keep a mat ready if she just wanted to sit quietly.
About five minutes later, she walked in and sat down on her mat. She didn’t move through the practice. She just sat. Breathing. Letting herself be. After about forty minutes, she quietly gathered her things and left.
Inside the studio, something powerful was unfolding.
The rest of the women continued their practice in calm presence.
No one questioned. No one judged.
In that silence, I witnessed the strength of a true community. Women holding space for one another without words, creating safety through stillness and understanding.
When I came home, I felt a little shaky myself. Energy, as we know, moves through us and when we hold space for others, it’s easy to absorb what they’re releasing. I washed my hands with salt, an age-old way of cleansing energy and releasing what isn’t ours to carry.
In yoga and traditional healing practices, salt is known for its absorptive and purifying qualities. It draws out stagnant or heavy energy and restores neutrality to the subtle body. After intense emotional exchanges or energy work, washing your hands or bathing with salt helps discharge what isn’t yours to hold.
I’m deeply grateful that at BreathePower Yoga, we’ve created a space where people can arrive exactly as they are; without judgment, and feel they are supported.
Healing doesn’t always look like movement. Sometimes it looks like sitting still, breathing, and being seen. 💛
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