What Does It Truly Mean to Hold Space and the Concept of Safety.

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Reflections from a Yin and tea sharing session on what it means to be seen, cultural nuance, and protecting the sacredness of a space.

At a recent Yin Yoga and tea-sharing session, something powerful unfolded. We moved gently, breathed together, and connected over a shared bowl of tea. Two meaningful insights were offered to me, one during our open sharing and another from thoughtful feedback I received afterward. Both stayed with me long after the session ended, giving me pause to reflect on the nature of safety and what it truly means to hold space, in the session, and beyond.

 Culture, Inclusion, and the Quiet Question of Belonging

One of the women present wore a hijab (head scarf). As did three others. During tea, she shared that wellbeing spaces where she feels comfortable arriving as she is, are rare. Not unsafe, but unfamiliar. She was not asking for special treatment, it was simply a question of: Will I truly be seen here? Will I be included without needing to shift myself in small, invisible ways?

That stayed with me.

Because this is the quiet kind of safety that is often overlooked. The kind that is not loud, not dramatic, but sits beneath the surface. It is about being considered. About a space quietly signaling: You’re welcome here. As you are. In your wholeness.

It reminded me that holding space for cultural nuance is not a checkbox. It is not about diversity for the sake of optics. It is about listening and designing spaces with all experiences in mind, especially those who often find themselves on the edges.

Honoring the Unseen Moments

Another woman in the group reflected on something very different, but just as important.

She spoke about the presence of the photographer. Even with the best intentions, the quiet clicking of the camera pulled her out of herself. It made her feel watched in a moment where she longed to feel held. Her words invited a deeper question, one of visibility as vulnerability.

It made me pause. In the age of social media, how often do we stop to consider whether the presence of a camera alters the energy of a room? Does it shift the experience into something performative? Does it create pressure to be seen rather than to simply be?

So, What Does It Truly Mean to Hold Space whilst Creating a Safe Space?

The feedback, though different, embodies the same truth:

Safety is not one thing. It is many things. And it means different things to different people.

For some, safety means being seen fully in their cultural expression.

For others, it means being invisible for a while, free from the gaze of the world.

Both are valid. Both matters.

And both must be held with care.

Holding space is not a performance or a somewhat overused string of words. It is an ongoing practice of awareness, humility, and presence. It requires us to ask hard questions and sit with answers we may not have considered.

On Safety as Both Internal and Shared

Safety is, at its core, an internal state. It lives in the body, shaped by experience, memory, and intuition. As facilitators, we cannot control how safety is felt within each person, but we can create an environment that feels welcoming, inclusive, and intentional. We can cultivate a perceived sense of safety through how we hold space, how we listen, and how we design our sessions.

Safety is nuanced and deeply personal. What feels safe for one may feel unsettling for another. That is why feedback matters. That is why diversity in the room matters. We are not here to have all the answers. We are here to learn, adapt, and keep creating spaces where everyone feels held.

Reshaping the Wellbeing Industry

Many well-being spaces still lack diversity. Often unintentionally, but still, the result is the same: we miss out on voices, perspectives, and truth, other than our own.

We cannot reimagine what we do not invite in.

True diversity is not just about who shows up, it’s about who feels safe enough to speak, share, and be seen.

If we do not create room for everyone, we remain in a state of ignorance and the divide between our experiences remains unspoken and unhealed.

We need voices that rise, not only in words but in actions that create meaningful change.

I dedicate this blog to the women who shared so freely. Without their honesty, this reflection would not exist. Their willingness to speak and to name what is often left unspoken reminds me why creating inclusive, intentional spaces matters. This piece holds their voices. It is only through honoring our differences that we uncover what truly connects us: our struggles, the longing to be heard and seen, the ache to belong, and the strength to show up as we are - a thread that runs through us all and binds us together.

With Gratitude

Surayya Hassan

The Holding Space Collective🧡