Mother-Centered Community & Belonging: Lessons from Sangha
Something I’ve been thinking on this past week is the concept of “Sangha.” Sangha is a Sanskrit word meaning community. If you’ve been here for a little while, you know that community is foundational to the work I do.
I’ve heard the word “Sangha” in passing many times - yoga has been a part of my life for over 20 years (eek!). But something sparked this week and I decided to dig deeper into it’s meaning.
Traditionally, Sangha denotes a community of Buddhist practitioners. But the word transcends its origins.
Thich Nhat Hanh - Buddhist monk, peace activist, and one of the most important influences of Buddhism in Western society - even talks about discussing “beloved community” or Sangha with Martin Luther King Jr.!
At its root, Thich Nhat Hanh explains: “within Sangha (community), you don’t need to be like others; you just need to be yourself. You don’t need a perfect mind…without any worries and anxiety. But thanks to the practice, you can create more joy, peace, and understanding that nourishes you and nourishes the Sangha.”
In my (very!) humble and personal interpretation, when we come together as Mothers and create our sacred space, we’re in Sangha:
I’d venture to guess that most (if not all of us) are bringing our own worries, anxieties, and tough truths into the space.
All of us come into the space as ourselves, although oftentimes we’re masking some of our truth. Being held in supportive, authentic community may allow us to slowly let down our masks to find our commonalities and “me too” moments.
There is so much joy, peace, and collective compassion we take with us when we gather, especially when we do so intentionally.
I know (and very much personally understand) that the physical act of showing up can be a barrier for us as Mothers. We’re tired - in our bodies, yes - but also depleted of mental and emotional resources in our bones and in our hearts.
And yet… the sacred power of intentional community - of Sangha - is that we share our energy, our compassion, and our loving-kindness. We share our experiences to connect with one another. We share our time by showing up alongside one another.
And when we gather as Mothers, we witness each other in all our glory. There’s no space for comparison. We aren’t offering “expert” advice disguised as wellness. Instead, we’re centering ourselves and our narratives as Matriarchs.
This is how we make change in tiny, (almost) imperceptible ways - by resisting the societal and cultural norms that DON’T support us as Mothers and as the people who uphold and care for our families.
If there’s one thing I can promise, it’s that this is magical. This is life-giving.
Would you consider this as a goal for 2026: joining this Mother-centered community?
It could be committing to the Moms Yoga Night Spring Series
It could be by joining a Mothers Circle
It could be by showing up with your daughters & friends for our annual Galentine’s celebration
It could be as simple as bringing your kids to a library yoga pop-up to join fellow families seeking inclusion, mindfulness, and play.