Opening a space to share a yoga practice feels especially motivating in light of the global pandemic. We were all forced, for some while at least, to practice in among our domestic set ups- whether it meant in the garden, the living area or kitchen floor. However challenging or idyllic that may have been, once the yoga studios and gyms were open again, it was a blessing to be among the presence of the practice community- to hear breath, support and insight, to be witness to the wobbles and the developments, to offer adjustments and a sense of a boundary where roles and responsibilities can be left beyond the walls of the studio.
Yoga is about connection - to yourself, to your breath, and to the moment. The environment you’re in can either support that connection or make it harder to find. Harsh lighting, clutter, or constant background noise can keep the body on edge, stopping you from truly dropping in. On the other hand, a calm, welcoming space can encourage your whole system to soften and settle.
As the notion of The Breathing Space becomes closer to a reality, I have become very aware of what it is that can either support your connection to a practice space, or hinder it. Ideally, it will be somewhere that feels like a deep exhale the moment you walk in, and that you leave feeling as if something has been fulfilled, some question answered.
When I first visited the space it was a damp, grey morning in February. Even then, its potential shone through. Natural light spilling across the floor. High ceilings, with the interest of the beams to remind you to look up, the beautiful tree-top windows.
Of course, there was a lot to look past, and I have felt nervous that the challenges of creating the space may become louder than the experience of being in it...but I'd like this place to offer a quiet that you can feel in your bones.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about creating an environment that holds you while you practise.
So while, for some of us, the best place to practice might mean a sunlit corner of their living room, with a mat and a favourite blanket. For others, I hope it will be a dedicated studio, like ours here, where the concept is intentionally set. Or maybe it will be a bit of both, because yoga is so portable, part of its appeal is that you can enjoy it almost anywhere. The important thing is that your space feels safe, uncluttered, and nourishing — somewhere you want to spend time.
Saucha is one of the niyamas (personal observances) in Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga, and can be translated as cleanliness, or purity. On a literal level, I dream that the studio will appear free from unfinished jobs, unnecessary clutter, that we will look after it with a dedication of respect and attention. This environmental purity enhances our connection to being purer in our natures- thoughts, habits, feelings, sieved through the mesh of the practice, to point us towards our highest selves.
The best practice space doesn’t just make yoga more enjoyable. It changes how you respond on a physical level, how your mind quietens, and how you carry that sense of calm into the rest of your day.
At The Breathing Space, that’s exactly what we’re building - a place where the environment supports your practice as much as the teaching does.
With love,
Emily xx