FAQS

CAIM Women’s Yoga Circle

Do I need prior experience of Yoga?
Whilst prior experience would certainly be preferred, this Circle is open to all levels. We are prioritising grounding, gentle movement to create a steady nervous system response, which is far more conducive to co-regulation and ease. If you’re a complete beginner, feel free to reach out to me with any concerns you may have. And please know; all movements are optional. If lying on your back for thirty minutes is what your body requires, you’re more than welcome to honour that.

Do I need to be a ‘spiritual’ person?
The short answer is no, because often when people ask this question they mean, “do I need to be someone who dresses like a hippie, dances around bonfires, and loves crystals?” Definitely not. There is no prerequisite for the type of person you are. The long answer is we are all spiritual, and it’s just a matter of finding our expression of that innate spirit. It doesn’t have to be expressed a certain way. As someone who’s impartial to a good fire, loves her crystals and owns her fair share of linen, please know hippies and crystal-lovers are welcome too!

I get nervous speaking in front of others. Can I still come?
You may find the prospect of speaking in front of other daunting at first, and gradually progress towards speaking in later sessions. You don’t have to speak a word. Sometimes being in the presence of other women, knowing that they aren’t judging your words or silence, is incredibly healing in and of itself. This is a journey — going at your own pace is important.

I’m non-binary AFAB, and not comfortable speaking as / referred to as ‘woman’, but I would still love to be a part of this offering. Is this a safe space for me?

Only you can decide if a space is safe for you to be in, but I can promise you I try my absolute best to honour your gender expression where possible. If you would like to come, but aren’t sure, let’s discuss what you would need to feel safe and welcomed into this circle. For ease of communication, this has been called a Women’s Circle, but not at the expense of including others. I have my own friends and family who identify was non-binary, and would never want them to feel they aren’t ‘allowed’ to partake in Circle.

How do you ensure safety and confidentiality in the Circle?

Everyone who attends the Circle commits to maintaining strict confidentiality. Upon booking and at the beginning of each circle, you will be asked to agree to the Circle Code of Ethics. To further ensure privacy, Circles are never recorded in any way. This approach helps everyone feel safe and comfortable sharing openly. A Circle founded on mutual trust is a strong circle.

Code of Ethics

One person speaks at a time.
During any discussion that takes place, it is important that we lend our ears to the person who is speaking. As we go around the group, each person speaks without interruption. To ensure that no one dominates the discussion, or takes away from another person’s thoughts and feelings, we are all given the same amount of time to speak.
Pay complete attention.
Complete attention is offered to each person as they speak. That means NO scrolling, wandering eyes staring off into the distance, or blatant disinterest. In a world where attention is monetised, consider it a GIFT to listen and to focus with your complete attention.
This is freeing for every member of the Circle.
Listen respectfully and non-judgmentally.
Free yourself of judgement and expectation then you walk through the door, and known that all judgement/expectation of you has been released by all others. In this, we are free. Stay mindful of never showing judgment with body language or facial expressions. You don’t have to agree with everything everyone says, and you don’t need to take on the load of judgement. We practice listening openly.
That being said;
No hate speech — racial, ethnic, gender-based, religious, etc — or put-downs.
Every one is welcomed here, and everyone deserves to feel safe. We don’t put-down ourselves or others with insults or negative labels. This is an opportunity to cast light on unkind patterns of thought and behaviour. This is not the place to push agenda or express hate and judgement, nor malicious stereotypes. Frustrations are welcomed, but not at the expense of others’ wellbeing existence. Some things are off-limits, and I trust members to discern between what’s safe and what’s not. I reserve the right to ask you to leave if you threaten this code.
No advice giving.
Everyone possesses their own answers and solutions, and these can come through when given the time and space to voice the question or issue at hand. This is a rare opportunity to simply be heard, without another person trying to ‘fix’ things. This code allows each member to tell her own story without others taking away her power and focus with their suggestions (even if well-intentioned).
Speak from your own experience.
Avoid making generalisations, as if all members are in mutual agreement with what you may have to say. Instead, use “I” statements to speak about your experiences and thoughts. This is a good practice of “owning your truth” as well as giving space for others to own theirs.
All personal information shared within the group is strictly confidential, never to be brought up again, except by the speaker, if and when, she chooses.
Let’s avoid referring back to something which has already been said by another member (e.g. “I just wanted to agree with Jane…”). Yes - this is challenging! We want to empathize, sympathise or agree. And we can, within ourselves! But in Circle, this code allows each person to hold an individual opinion, and releases others from the need to comment. We just listen. If duty of care action is required, I will approach an individual privately. We do not bring up someone’s comments inside or outside of the group venue. That means, we don’t go home to our partners or friends and divulge another woman’s story. In short, we don’t succumb to gossip, and we don’t breech trust. An individual member can decide whether she’d like to approach another for input, or simply to share more (with consent from the other member first). This helps us create and respect healthy boundaries.
Commit to consistent attendance.
The individuals in the circle ARE the circle. Your presence at each gathering contributes to the safety, dynamics and validity of the group. Respect yourself and other group members by honouring your commitment to attend. Open Circle tickets are very limited, but if the Closed Circle reaches capacity, these will be unavailable.