This space is for stories, musings, meditations and reflections from our core collective. Our first offering here looks at the yogic philosophy we follow and what we aim to achieve with our work.
Our call to Action!
We want to break barriers in access to wellbeing for those easily ignored through trauma informed movement and breath work.
We follow yogic ethical philosophy of Yama & Niyama which offers values to live by that can allow us to develop a union with our True Selves. These ethical considerations encourage us to respond to the world from a place of ease and claim back the peace that is taken from us in the external world.
We believe that the key teaching of yoga is that peace is found within. We want to support people to develop their internal capacities and resilience to be able to participate in what is often challenging external environments. We encourage the exploration of ‘interoception’ which means providing a safe and trauma sensitive environment for people to understand their own needs in their body and mind.
Our approach is firmly rooted in the view that yoga is a social justice practice. It is about breaking cycles of dominance within the mind and within society. Yoga has a liberating power; we believe that removing the barriers to participation, we can facilitate the process of accessing truth within ourselves. We create space for people to realise their agency and control; to trust and advocate for themselves and their communities.
What is Energy Healing + How does it fit into our Work?
There’s no doubt that life feels increasingly heavy and overwhelming these days, and people are looking for ways to reconnect, heal, and reclaim strength. Its roots lie in centuries-old practices the world over. The impact of stress, emotions, and trauma on our bodies is widely recognised, and by addressing imbalances in our energy, we create space for deep healing and restoration.
EVERYTHING IS ENERGY. Right? Our bodies are more than just flesh and bones – we are energetic beings. Energy/Xi/Chi/Vital Life Force flows through us and all around us. Practices like Reiki, breathwork, and therapeutic touch work to balance, clear, and strengthen this life force, removing blockages and promoting wellness on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level.
Glasgow faces its share of challenges—poverty, trauma, addiction, mental health struggles, and systemic inequalities. Those who are most vulnerable often carry not just physical and emotional burdens, but also energetic ones. In Change Collective, we work with Reiki as a gentle, non-verbal way to release deep-seated wounds that more mainstream approaches may not fully address. This can be especially valuable for individuals who don’t feel comfortable talking about their experiences, or who feel overlooked by conventional healthcare systems. We’ve seen first hand the transformative effects it can have, including:
Restoring a Sense of Empowerment and Agency:
Energy healing offers a moment of power and peace—a reminder that within each of us lies a capacity for healing and transformation. Through this offering, we empower individuals to become active participants in their own healing journey, rebuilding confidence and self-worth.
Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout:
The pressures of living in poverty, isolation or with constant stress take a significant toll on health. Energy healing is has the ability to reduce anxiety, calm the nervous system, and encourages emotional release.
Creating Connection and Belonging:
We love facilitating group energy healing sessions to create a sense of community and belonging. Whether it’s through group meditations, shared breathwork, or Reiki circles, these sessions foster connection—helping people feel seen, valued, and supported. In spaces where isolation is common, this connection can be life-changing.
Accessible and Inclusive Wellness Care:
Energy healing is gentle, simple, and adaptable. It can be practiced in different settings, with minimal tools or costs. This makes it accessible for individuals who may not have access to expensive treatments or holistic therapies. We aim to bring energy healing wherever it’s needed, breaking down barriers to care.
Within Change Collective, Reiki complements our other offerings: Yoga Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Massage and Sound Healing.
What Have We Even Been Doing the Last Year?!
We go through cycles of death-birth-rebirth in the collective ; our mission, vision and purpose is unchanging, however people and places can be in flux and flow. In 2024, we secured funding from the Unltd grant awards which has given us a small financial foundation from which to build and grow our work.
The funding from this grant has allowed us to develop projects with two spaces in Glasgow city. Nest is a family-focused wellness studio based in the East End of Glasgow that hosts classes for mothers, babies and young children. We have partnered with local charities to provide funded spaces for yoga classes in a limited time project. It’s paramount that spaces like Nest are available to all families to access; spaces are free or pay-what-you-can. This is in line with our main aim of making yoga accessible, affordable and inclusive.
The Glasgow Autonomous Space is based in the Govanhill area and is a collective-run free-space for communities of activists and social justice movements. We have brought yoga to this space, offering rest and relaxation for the GAS community and other local people. It is important to us that yoga is available in non-traditional spaces, for people who would not access traditional yoga studios.
We also have our long-running weekly yoga with St. Paul’s Youth Forum in the Molendinar Community Centre in Blackhill, Glasgow. This project has been running for over 2 years and welcomes all members of the community in North Glasgow to yoga class every Wednesday. In these classes we support older adults and teenagers to reduce their stress, relax and restore.
Summer energy has brought lots of activity to change, and it does not stop yet.
Look out for an exciting announcement about our new premises where we will be hosting some weekly yoga, retreats, workshops and more!
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