Reflections on connection and community

learning to show up as our full human selves and healing as part of a community

Hello, I’m Jodie. A Yoga teacher & wellbeing creator/ writer. I write about life post burnout with themes of rest, living slower, healing, self discovery, Yoga & more. Please subscribe to support my work & to read more. You can join my monthly journaling club and also find me on Instagram.

At 23 I moved my life from North Wales to Lincoln. For a while I was swept up in the chaos of so many life changes all at once. In the lead up it felt new and exciting, then once the dust started to settle, I found myself incessantly busy, using anything I could to avoid looking at the situation and how I really felt.

It was a pivotal time. My husband was working away more than we thought he would be when we first moved, and I didn’t want to accept that I wasn’t enjoying this life I thought I wanted. That I wasn’t managing perfectly. I thought I needed to be independent and just suck it up. This is what adults did, right? That I’d get used to being in a job I didn’t like, a house that didn’t feel like a home, a place that never felt like mine.

It was a hard time, but it taught me one of the most valuable lessons that’s ended up informing how I live today, and it’s just how powerful and essential a sense of connection and community is for our wellbeing and fulfilment in life.

5 years on, last weekend I had the pleasure of teaching at Tawelu retreats in North Wales, and once again, seeing beautiful friendships and connections blossom over the course of the retreat was a reminder of just how valuable it is.

We all need to feel seen and heard, it’s a part of being human.

Of-course there’s something to be said for solitude and learning to enjoy alone time, but it does worry me how individualistic so many wellness practices have become, how many of us are now working from home still, craving community. That feeling of being a part of something.

We say it takes a village raising a child, and I don’t think that need for a village stops. Not in the sense of having lots of people in our lives, but good quality connections. Moments of being vulnerable face to face, having difficult but healing conversations, opportunities to be seen and heard, to engage in general chit chat with people who light you up. Those conversations that could go on for hours because you all find joy in the same things, gosh they feel like gold right?!

Healing through meaningful connections

Despite sharing snippets of my life online and bringing my Self to what I do, for years the fear of not being enough held me back from authentic social connection. Before therapy and EMDR I’d show up as this perfect polished version of myself, feel embarrassed at any small “mistake” or “weird” thing I’d say. It didn’t feel safe. It became exhausting to experience this at times, so much so I’d isolate further.

If there’s one thing I’m certain on, it’s that the best thing to do is to keep showing up. Keep softening. Keep sharing parts of yourself and notice how people warm to you. Keep showing up as your beautiful human self, I promise it gets easier.

We don’t heal in isolation, but in community ~ S. Kelley Harrell

My experience with this is what’s made me so passionate about connection and creating safe spaces for that, both in-person and online.

This doesn’t mean to say I don’t experience those old wounds still, but showing up and connecting with others is honestly what’s allowing that part of me to start to feel at ease. I find connection in so many small ways now, whether it’s through volunteering, talking to neighbours, this very Substack and the amazing conversations in the comments/ chat section. My regular Yoga practice and teaching has also provided a greater sense of connection and sense of belonging in the world. Through nerves and “what ifs” I’ll attend events, retreats and workshops alone, knowing that I always take something away from the experience…

I’m always looking for new ways to seek out deeper connections so I’d love to know, where do you get your sense of connection and community from?

Lets connect…

My focus this year is on doing more in-person events, but also offering ways to come together and connect online. Here’s what’s coming up if you’d like to get involved and connect with the growing Slower Space community…

Rest & Reset Yoga Workshop

April’s Rest & Reset workshop is coming up! You’re welcomed to invite rest, ease and connection with a 90 minute session designed to support your wellbeing through mindful embodied movement, Pranayama (breathwork) practices, a guided journaling session and a Yoga Nidra practice to finish.

Expect a safe and welcoming online space where you're encouraged to come as you are. All levels of Yoga are welcome (beginner included). The session will be hosted via Zoom.

The Next Monthly Journaling Club…

On Monday the 1st of April we have the next Monthly Journaling club! The theme for next month is connection. There’s a different theme each month all inspired by the Slower Space community’s words for the year.

You can find all of the details for the journaling club here. I’d love to see you there ❤️

If you’re reading this over Easter, I hope you have a lovely restful weekend.

Until next time,

Jodie x

If you found this post useful or enjoyed it I would be so grateful if you shared it or restacked it. It helps more people find the Slower Space community… Thank you x