Holding the Space
Holding the space in workshops or coaching sessions.
What does it mean to hold space
especially in a workshop or during a coaching session?
For me, it means being present with Body, Mind and Soul as a whole self, welcoming you, welcoming the participants as a whole with the experience in the moment of what we are exploring together: movements, centring or breathing practices, exercises, voice, sensations, emotions…
It happens also that working with the Body, bringing awareness to sensations, movements and needs, the Body can show old patterns that are not useful anymore and indicate new ways of behaving, moving, and living life. Can be that then you are in a situation where you are leaving the old patterns but still the new is not so strongly present.
This in-between moment can be scary and bring big confusion.
As the caterpillar that has to go through different stages of transformation before becoming a butterfly without knowing what it will be next, the same is for us when we go through a transformation.
Here comes in action all the experience, trainings, understanding, compassion, non-judgemental and open-minded behavior of the trainer, who with humility, curiosity and intuition is able to create and hold the group (and the space and time for it) and to witness the transformation and flourishing of each person in the group.
Sometimes we see big differences from when we started together, other times differences are subtle and minimal but nevertheless important.
For example, in a short one-day workshop, you will experience small and almost invisible changes, but they will be important steps to reconnect to your Body or to deepen your capacity to listen to your needs. And remember that once you start this journey of re-connecting to your body and needs, your body will then continue to work even if not in a visible way. Maybe one day you will be in a situation that you don’t know how to deal with, but you will be surprised by your response to it: it’s your Body giving back what it has learned through the embodiment practices learned in workshops or embodiment coaching sessions.
Always choose a trainer/teacher who has a strong background and good experience and trainings in what he/she teaches.
Choose a teacher that is making experience him/herself of what he/she is teaching to you.
Choose a teacher for whom connection with authenticity and curiosity to other humans is important and usual.
Choose a teacher who is able to hold space for you to feel safe in the space and time you work together so that you can better express yourself and be open to the change.
This article is being inspired by the book “The art of holding space” and by my years of experience in teaching and facilitating groups in dance and in the embodiment field.
Alessandra Carelse