Our Community Agreements
With the help of our staff, we crafted these community agreements in 2023.
It is our intention that these agreements are ALIVE and IN PRACTICE at all times in our space.
Please take a few minutes to read and digest these 10 agreements.
By entering our space, you are agreeing to the following:
1. We Practice Consent, Care, & Honor Each Other's Boundaries
We acknowledge that each individual that walks in the door is in a unique energetic space. As a community, we practice care by asking for consent every time around physical touch, emotional check in, feedback, and social sharing. Consent or refusal can be given verbally or nonverbally, and can change at any time. We acknowledge that each person knows best what they need for themselves. We recognize “no, thank you,” as a complete sentence and do not take other people's boundaries personally.
Physical Touch: “Would you like a hug?” “Are you open to physical adjustments today?”
Emotional Check In: “May I share about something hard I am going through?”
Feedback: “Are you open to/Is now a good time for me to share my feedback?”
Social Sharing: “Can I post this picture on social media?”
2. We Engage Together In Brave Space
We collectively agree to encourage brave space within our community by inviting each person to ask for what they want and need, and choose for themselves within their practice. In the community space, we engage together with the principles of non-judgement, and allowance in mind.
3. We Value Community, Human Connection, and Meaningful Conversation
We listen first from the heart, and honor that each has the capacity within themselves to heal and find their own truth. We are here to be vulnerable and to connect with each other, and not to “fix” each other.
4. We Recognize Intent vs. Impact
When interacting, we agree to first assume positive intent. We agree to meet each other with the intention of kindness and positive impact and assume the other person meant well. We recognize that intent and impact don’t always match. (Impact meaning the way our actions/words are received). When conflict arises, we agree to first take reflective space and then work towards repair.
5. In Conflict We Work Towards Repair
As a collective we value repair. Repair means that we practice self accountability and come together compassionately to address the rupture. We seek to practice immediacy by addressing the rupture as soon as possible.
Addressing the rupture might look like direct communication with the source, putting feedback in the anonymous comment box, emailing/talking with the owners, or speaking with our Community Peacemaker, Baheya.
When needed, a neutral third party can be made available to aid in the process.
6. We Practice Confidentiality and Refrain from Gossip
We recognize many vulnerable stories and experiences are shared in our space. We hold each person’s name, experience, and story in confidentiality. This means that we refrain from sharing names or details unless explicit permission is given. We recognize the energetic impact of our words, and refrain from gossip.
7. We Practice "Both/And" Thinking
In our culture we have been programmed to believe that there is only one "right" way in any situation . As a collective, we agree to practice Both/And Thinking, which allows for multiple truths to exist at all times. We practice holding multiple points of view as true, and make room for diversity of perspectives and experiences.
8. We Practice Cultural Appreciation vs Appropriation
We acknowledge that as a space that weaves together many wisdom traditions, appropriation exists. We name, honor, and respect the roots of the teachings and practices offered here with love and integrity. As a collective, we value and seek continued education, unlearning, and open-hearted conversations around all aspects of colonization and cultural appropriation. The learning/unlearning never stops.
"Cultural Appropriation- Taking something from a culture that is not ones own. Involves privilege and a power imbalance plus harm to the source culture. The harm can be of disrespect and also of material, cultural, economic, social and spiritual harm." - Susanna Barkataki
9. We Acknowledge Systems of Privilege and Practice Inclusivity
We acknowledge that systems of financial, gendered, and racial privilege exist. As a healing space, we work toward inclusivity; and acknowledge, honor, and value the diversity of all bodies.
As a community, we agree to the following:
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To honor desired pronouns, ask if unsure, not make assumptions about gender and sexual orientation, and practice gender neutral language (ya'll, folks, friends).
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To refrain from commenting on other peoples bodies/abilities.
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To support the sliding-scale model by choosing to pay what best reflects our financial ability at the time.
10. We Practice Making Mindful Choices for our Planet
We acknowledge that part of the practice of yoga is recognizing that each one of our choices impacts the whole. Therefore, we seek creative solutions to support our planet and collectively agree to prioritize producing less waste here at the studio.
11. Rest is Sacred
In our current reality, rest is an act of resistance! We honor the importance of integrating REST into our practices and relishing in the sacred pause. Honoring Octavia F Raheem's book : Rest is Sacred - "Reclaiming our brilliance through the practice of stillness."
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- Our deepest gratitude to KG Martinez & Dr D for your help and support in the crafting of these agreements.
Thank you to all those who have come before us on this path and upon whose agreements we took inspiration.
From everyone here at the Be Free Healing Center,
ALL parts of YOU are welcome here!
We can not wait to support you in experiencing your own #befreerevolution.
How are we doing?
We are here for YOU. If something happens at the studio that doesn't feel good to you, or you witness someone acting out of alignment with the above agreements, please either speak with them directly or reach out for help in resolution! ​
call/text Melanie 970-286-4447 or melanie@befreehealing.com