The Art of Holding Space
Whether you're a dedicated student, in the middle of yoga training, or guiding others as a teacher, it’s worth pausing to ask:
How can I create a supportive environment for the practice to flourish? We often think of "holding space" as something we do for others, but it begins with how we show up for ourselves. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, it says:
“The place where yoga is to be practiced should be clean, free from stones, fire, and disturbances... It should be neither too high nor too low, and well-ventilated.” (Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1.12)
Many of us don’t have the luxury of a sacred cave or a perfectly lit, silent studio. We’re practicing between laundry baskets or teaching on Zoom from the kitchen corner. Still, the essence remains…Treat your space with care, however humble it may be. Make it safe, make it clean, and most importantly make it yours. The real transformation of holding space doesn’t equate to how big, small, cluttered or decorated your practice place is, it all comes from your presence. Quality of presence and how to cultivate that is what matters here. Let’s explore a few basic principles to improve the quality of our presence whether we are guiding others through a physical practice or taking a class ourselves….
Always try to give yourself permission to land. Don’t sprint into class. Arrive 10–15 minutes early. Let your nervous system catch up to your body. If you're teaching, this time is gold, take a few breaths, anchor your thoughts, and check in with yourself before holding space for others. Presence means asking, what do I need in order to feel supported today? That could mean hydrating before a hot class. Warming up your wrists before Chaturangas. Eating a real meal before you teach so you don’t run on adrenaline and intention alone. We know these things, but how often do we actually do them? In Yoga Sutra 1.20, Patanjali reminds us that the path is sustained by:
“Śraddhā-vīrya-smṛti–samādhi-prajñā–pūrvaka itareṣām”
“Faith, energy, memory, concentration, and insight.”
To show up fully, whether you're on the mat or at the front of the room you need to cultivate energy and insight by honoring your own needs first. Presence isn’t something that magically arrives once you unroll your mat, it’s something you prepare for. Like any good ritual, it begins with intention and attention.
In Sanskrit, the word svadhyaya means self-study. And self-study begins before you even arrive at practice. Study your schedule, how often are you practicing, what are you practicing, with who are you practicing? Study the style of class you're taking or teaching, get to know the nuances and differences so you can prepare yourself fully for what’s to come. Study how the food you eat and the sleep you get affect your energy. Preparation isn’t perfectionism, it’s a way of respecting yourself, your students, and the space you're stepping into.
There's a well-known saying: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." In the context of yoga, this isn't about rigid control, it's about conscious preparation. Because, when the unexpected inevitably arises (as it often does) having laid a solid foundation means you’re better equipped to meet it with grace.
Below, you’ll find a few resources to support your own pre-practice or pre-teaching ritual, tools to help you prepare in a way that feels grounding, intentional, and aligned. Use them to set yourself up for success, so that presence and the ability to hold space becomes not just something you hope for but something you create.