In a time of personal or global unrest, the world shifts in uncertain and overwhelming ways.  Many of us are carrying a quiet, persistent weight, leaving us with feelings of grief, anxiety and heaviness in our mind, body, and breath.  Whether you are mourning a loss, a relationship, a life chapter, or feeling generally unsettled, grief can feel as though the whole world changes or disappears.  Holding the World Within: Using the Mat as Sanctuary is a heart centered community workshop designed to hold sacred space where you can honor your lived experience and explore your personal narrative while processing the emotional toll of grief.  Through intentional group connection and embodied practices, we will explore healing through:

• Community Process Group with Sharing Circle and Guided Journaling: a confidential space to speak truth, share your narrative, and connect with others as you explore feelings of grief, fear and anxiety.

• Breathing and Meditations: grounding techniques to balance the nervous system, calm the mind, and build inner resilience  

• Trauma-Informed Yoga: intentional grounding movement followed by gentle stretching to connect with your body, release tension, and honor yourself. 

• Sound Healing: soothing vibrations from singing bowls, chimes, drums, and tuning forks to support deep rest, integration, and energetic harmony

• Maybe a few other surprises

This workshop is for anyone moving through grief, loss or feeling unsettled; emotionally, physically, or spiritually.  All levels are welcome.  Return to your mat, your body, and your community.   

About Us: 

Holding the World WIthin: Using The Mat as Sanctuary will be a series of workshops designed to hold space for a variety of experiences; including grief and loss, mental health, social justice, and more; while honoring your lived experiences and the narratives you create from it.  Each workshop can be attended individually or collectively.  

Sarah and Amanda have personally used The Mat As Sanctuary to process emotions and find grounding in their own lives.  From their lived experience, they are deeply committed to supporting their students in doing the same, while exploring the powerful connection between mind, body, and breath. Together, they create and hold inclusive, supportive spaces where you are invited to honor your lived experience and reflect on your narrative, alongside individual and collective emotions, especially those connected to mental health and social justice.

Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Doctorate in Social Work. With extensive experience in the mental health field, she has supported individuals navigating trauma, PTSD, grief, and loss. As a Registered Yoga Teacher, Sarah thoughtfully integrates her clinical expertise into her yoga teaching, offering students a unique opportunity to safely explore, process, and transform their experiences through movement and mindfulness.

Amanda is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Licensed Hiking and Backpacking Guide, and Professional Hairdresser who integrates the principles of yoga into all facets of her work. Whether leading a yoga practice, taking care of clients in the salon, or guiding individuals through hiking and backpacking experiences; Amanda is dedicated to holding space for others to reconnect with their bodies, cultivate presence, and find grounding through movement.