Wikipedia lists the phrase ‘Safety in Numbers’ as the hypothesis that, by being part of a large physical group or mass, an individual is proportionally less likely to be the victim of a mishap, accident, or other bad event. A concept worth exploring in relationship to the BodyMantra community, and one that I would argue cannot be achieved without the active engagement of each participant.

As we grow in number and familiarity in our community, the complexities of interaction and requirements for attentiveness increase in order to maintain a safe space for our work together. There are an infinite number of angles to examine when we speak of safety. For this particular article, I offer one viewpoint to consider: safety in community stems directly from its participants’ integration of both internal and external experience.

The Internal / External Playground
BodyMantra is about cultivating presence through movement. This includes being present both to self – the internal canvas – and to what surrounds us – the external canvas. Neither half of this equation can be ignored, as both are required for true presence. If I neglect my own needs, I am not being present to Self; if I ignore how I fit into the greater environment of the room, I am not being present to Community. The practice of BodyMantra requires a commitment to understanding how each of us contributes to the balance of Self and Community.

Deepening self-awareness is an underpinning of this practice. Through movement, we are discovering how to connect to the inner, authentic voice of the body; the voice that guides us to make decisions that maintain balance and ease as we move through the world. The beauty of an organic movement practice is that there are countless pathways that lead us to this inner voice. And so it stands to reason, my way of moving through internal landscape is likely to differ from yours.

On the flip side of this coin is the other underpinning of our practice: community. As we move through this practice in a group format, we are discovering how to connect to the external, community voice; the voice that teaches us how to move with grace, compassion, and sensitivity as we move in group. The quest in a room full of moving bodies is to arrive at a place where all of the puzzle pieces fit together, most of the time, rather than landing in a confusing jumble.

Seeking Balance
One of the challenges of this practice is learning how to bring the two sides of the coin into play at all times – rather than having to flip the coin, as they say. Learning how to blend our own experience with the greater experience of All. This is the part of BodyMantra that can be our greatest teacher, as we investigate how we can better the human experience – ours and others’.

In considering both sides of the coin and how that impacts safety in our community, a myriad of questions arise. How do I enhance the group experience without diminishing my own, internal process? What can I expect from others in any given moment? What is my responsibility to the safety of this community? What if I just want to do my own thing? What are the tools that can help hone my sensitivity to the balance between internal and external influences? What is the right balance between the two?

It is my belief that each and every one of us is responsible for the safety of ourselves as well as the safety of the space we create together. This means that each of us carries responsibility for the collective experience, which is a melding of all of our individual experiences. This is an on-going process of teaching and learning – there will likely never be final answers or perfect seamlessness. However, the more we work as individuals, woven into the group matrix, the more we are developing the necessary sensitivities that lead to safe space for everyone.

Personal Responsibility
And so, I ask each of you to consider your part in this equation. To become a curious witness of others, remembering that your internal experience may or may not match the external expression in the room. I challenge you to seek the openings for harmony between internal and external circumstance – not compromising your own journey, while being keenly tuned to the subtle cues of others. To notice when the dissonance between internal and external circumstance begins to create a hot spot in the room that detracts from the whole. To recognize your power as a teacher in the room, every time you show up.

Consider approaching others with compassion – using the cues of the body not to prod or alarm, but to invite with a willingness to walk away – knowing that we all deserve the privilege of choosing when to engage and when not to engage. Many are comfortable with touch. Many are not. Many are comfortable with one-to-one interaction. Many are not. Many come to BodyMantra with a need to interact. Many do not. Many wish to be comforted when strong emotions arise. Many do not. Imposing our own comforts on others does not a strong community make. We are not here to fix each other, to make our own story more important than another’s, to rescue those whose internal stories we cannot know. We are here to be teachers, students, and witnesses. To find the sweet spot marked by the honoring of our own passage and that of others.

Notice when another has closed eyes or gestures that suggest solitary journeying; this is a time to provide more space, rather than to attempt direct interaction. Approach others with movement that is not invasive or disquieting, allowing an organic melding or parting to surface. Equally consider your individual contribution to the whole, acknowledging your own freedom to gently turn away or engage. Witness how the articulation of your inner journey influences those that surround you.

True Safety
This is not a petition to promote separation, but an encouragement to cultivate an ever-deepening attentiveness to your part in this BodyMantra community so that there is no separation. A suggestion that, as we open our eyes and hearts to others in the room, we are inherently creating more space – and safety – to go deeper into our own, internal world. Watch how you impact others. Be willing to talk to each other about your experience after class. Remain open to the bumps in the road as we all try to find this balance of the spinning coin, honoring Self and Community alike. Allowing us to uncover true safety in numbers.