When you hold space for people, it means you are being fully present, open, accepting, and sensitive to what another person or people need in any given moment.

SOMA Awakening Meditations can be a vulnerable experience for some people. By holding space for your class, you are creating a place for people to feel safe in what they are doing and experiencing. Holding space requires several different qualities:

Safety

In order for people to let down their barriers and become open, perhaps vulnerable, and receptive to the Awakening Session, participants will need to feel safe and that they’re in an environment they can trust. If participants do not feel they can trust you or the space they are in, they will not be able to surrender to the full SOMA Awakening experience.

Attention and Focus

Listening attentively without the need to interrupt or comment unnecessarily is a skill that takes practice. This skill is important throughout the Awakening Session.

At the start, people may have questions or concerns they want to be heard and answered: listening properly allows you to give them the best response. During the meditation, you will need to be present to make sure everyone is safe and to see if anyone needs extra support. At the end of a class, participants may want to share their breakthroughs, moments of insight, divine downloads, and so on. It is critically important that you are fully present with your class.

Acceptance and Non-Judgement

Holding space is about letting go of the need to control, and accepting each moment of your class as it is. Accept your participants as they are on this particular day, accepting yourself as you are on this particular day.

You are not there to pass judgement on your class or to evaluate their ability to do the techniques correctly. You are there to guide them, only helping them improve their technique so that they can gain maximum benefit from the experience.

Practising acceptance and non-judgement in your classes allows people the priceless freedom to surrender and be totally, authentically themselves.

It’s Not About You

In any moment that someone is sharing their vulnerability with you, your opinions and comments on it are irrelevant. Try not to start your sentences with “I”. When you hold space for your class, you are leaving your ego outside so that you can serve others fully.

When participants share with you, don’t respond with anything that relates back to your experiences or perspectives unless they ask for it directly. No matter how similar your stories may be, you will never truly understand another person’s feelings and the process they are going through. Being there for the person is enough.

Other Considerations

There may be personal differences in people’s perception of what it means to be safe. You can’t control what is safe for others, but you can be aware of someone being uncomfortable to then check in with them.

You are the leader in these classes, so whatever you are projecting (consciously and subconsciously) people can and probably will pick up on it. To make sure you are mentally, physically, and energetically prepared for your classes, it is a good idea to have some kind of routine or ritual that helps you get into the right place.

You will also have to be aware of any potential disruptions to the class. It could be pets that are not tied up correctly, or people entering the class without permission. Disruption can also be time management and conversations. The less disruptions you have, the better the flow and engagement will be for everyone.

Through holding space in your SOMA Awakening workshops, you act as a container for healing and transformation to take place. It is a gift.