This Space
Come back to your body,
with other women doing the same.
A small weekly circle for women who want to feel like themselves again.
Women only
A room where you can stop performing.
Gentle practices
Breath, movement, rest, and time in circle.
Start where you are
No experience needed. Do what feels right.
Why Women Only
Some things just happen differently when it's only women in the room.
Most women find their breath drops lower and their guard comes down faster when there are no men in the room.
You have to feel safe before you can soften
Your body won't let go of what it's still guarding.
Being seen by other women is different
Not measured against them, just seen. It's hard to explain until it happens to you.
This isn't new
Women have been gathering in circles like this for a very long time.
How We Are Different
Probably not like the last thing you tried
Slower than a class, and much smaller.
A place to slow down
No mirrors and no choreography. Your body sets the pace.
A circle you can return to
Start with one session. The room tends to get easier each time.
Rooted in something older
Breathwork, somatic movement, and circle sharing are old practices. We're just doing them in person again.
Small on purpose
Every circle caps at twelve women, which is the whole reason it works.
What Happens Here
What we actually do together
Each session pulls from these, depending on what the room needs that day.
Breathe
Simple breathing that quiets the mind and puts you back in your body. It's how we start.
Move
Unstructured movement with no choreography. Your body leads and your mind gets a rest.
Release
Gentle work that lets stored tension move through instead of staying stuck.
Rest
Stillness and guided rest. The kind of quiet where you can hear yourself think.
Reflect
Short prompts to make sense of what you just felt, without overthinking it.
Connect
We open and close in circle, where nobody gives advice and you get to be heard.
What to Expect
Your first session might look something like this
Meditation
We start in stillness so you can leave the day outside.
Breathwork
Simple, guided breathing to shift from thinking into feeling.
Gentle Release
Simple movements that help the body soften and let go of tension it's been holding.
Every session is a little different. This is one example.
Is This for You?
This space is for you if...
Practical Details
What to know before you come
Wear something comfortable, RSVP ahead, and bring a journal if you want one. We'll have tea, and a few minutes at the start to settle in.
Safety & Care
You deserve to know what you're walking into
A few things worth knowing before you come.
This isn't therapy
We don't diagnose or treat anything. If you're in therapy, this can sit alongside that work, but it doesn't replace it.
Your pace, always
Nothing is required. Sit still, watch, or step out whenever you need to.
What's shared here stays here
What's spoken in the room doesn't leave the room. Every woman agrees to that before her first session.
Common Questions
Things you might be wondering
What is The Return to Her?
A women-only circle in New York City. We meet weekly for 90 minutes of breathwork, somatic movement, guided rest, and circle sharing, in groups of up to twelve women. Not a class, not therapy. Something older and quieter than both.
Do I need experience with breathwork or somatic practices?
No. Everything is guided and you go at your own pace. You just have to be willing to slow down.
Why is this space women only?
Most women find their guard drops faster when there are no men in the room. You stop performing without noticing you had been. That makes a kind of release possible that mixed rooms rarely get to.
How much does a session cost?
The first circle is $40. Circles after it are $55. The waitlist is free and there's no subscription. Come once, come back if it feels right.
Where are sessions held?
In Midtown Manhattan, two blocks from Penn Station. You'll get the exact address when you book.
What happens in a typical session?
It varies with what the group needs. Usually a guided meditation to arrive, breathwork, somatic movement or tension release, and closing in circle. Tea on arrival, and come a few minutes early if you want to settle in.
Do I have to share or participate in everything?
Never. Sit still, watch, or step out whenever you need to. There's no pressure to share or move in any particular way.
Is this therapy?
No. We don't diagnose, treat, or provide clinical care. If you're in therapy, this can sit alongside that work, but it doesn't replace professional mental health support.
Your Facilitator
Aliia
I'm Aliia, with two "i"s. I'm not a guru, just a woman who got tired of living at a distance from herself.
I made this space because I wanted a room where women didn't have to perform or be further along than they are. My job is to hold it steadily and stay out of the way.
The First Circle
Thursday, September 10th
Before you ask
Do I have to talk?
No. You can sit the whole ninety minutes without saying a word.
What if I cry?
Then you cry. Nobody will make it a thing.
Do I need to be flexible or fit?
No. Most of it happens sitting or lying down.
What do I wear, what do I bring?
Something you can move and lie down in. Nothing else — mats, cushions and tea are there.
Will I know anyone?
Almost certainly not, and that's usually the point.
What if I've never done breathwork?
Most women in the room won't have either.
What if I need to leave early?
Then you leave. No explaining.
What's the refund policy?
Full refund up to a week before. After that, your spot moves to a future circle.
Can't make this one? Leave your name and I'll write with the next dates.
I'll write to you when the next dates are set. Until then, come sit with us here.
Follow @thereturntoher_nycQuestions? Send me a note.
Save your spot
$40for this first circle · $55 after
Up to twelve women — when it's full, it's full. I'll send the exact address once you've booked.
Book your place Can't make this one?