Content at Home. Presence in Class.

I have been the new person in the room. The one who did not feel comfortable in her body. The one who already felt watched before anyone ever looked at her.

When a camera came out during class, it did not inspire me. It made me shrink.

I want to say this clearly. I love that some people feel confident enough to film themselves.

Truly.

Self expression can be powerful.

But someone else’s self expression should never come at the cost of another person’s safety or comfort.

Studios are shared spaces.

For a long time, my yoga mat was one of the only places I felt even a little bit safe in my body. I was overweight and did not love my body yet. I was not confident but I was showing up anyway. Not to be seen, but to try. To breathe. To cultivate respect and kindness toward myself, even before I fully believed I deserved it.

That mat was where I practiced staying.

Not performing.

Not proving. Just staying.

I know now that not everyone in the room is in the same season. Some people are seasoned yogis. Some people are there for the very first time, terrified, hopeful, unsure if they belong. I cannot presume that everyone wants to be seen. I cannot assume that everyone feels safe being recorded. And I will never believe that every space is meant to be content.

Even now, as someone who feels at home in her body, as a seasoned yogi and pilates girl, I still do not want to be in a video without my consent. I still do not want to be adjusted by a teacher I do not feel safe with.

Consent matters. Consideration matters.

The practice is not just the poses.The real work is presence. Awareness. Respect.

When we learn how to love ourselves, we learn how to love others. We learn to notice. We learn to ask. We learn to honor that safety looks different for different bodies. That showing up can be an act of courage all on its own!

There was a time I stayed quiet in moments like this. Not because I did not have something to say, but because I did not yet trust my voice. Learning to feel safe in my body changed that.

Now, when something matters, I speak.

I name my needs. I take up space.

And I leave room for others to do the same.

If this resonates with you, if you are learning how to trust your body and your voice at the same time, you are not alone. If you are navigating boundaries, consent, or safety and are not sure how to name your needs, reach out!

Showing up for yourself counts. Even when it is quiet. Especially when it is quiet.

You are allowed to take up space. And you are allowed to feel safe while doing it.