Ottawa Women’s Circle: When Self Care Feels Impossible
Why Women’s Circles Help
(Especially When You’re Too Burnt Out to “Do the Work”)
If you’re the kind of woman who knows journaling would help…
and knows meditation would help…
and knows you should probably “prioritize self-care”…
…but every time you try, it just feels like another thing to do…
Nothing is wrong with you.
You’re not lazy. You’re not failing at self-care. You’re not “bad at routines.”
You’re living inside a system that quietly trains women to be the emotional glue, the organizer, the default parent, the peacemaker, the steady one, the one who holds it all together. And then we act shocked when women hit their 30s (or 40s or 50s) and feel:
numb
resentful
exhausted
disconnected
like life is passing them by
like they’ve lost themselves somewhere along the way
like their own life is only about supporting others
A Women’s Circle helps because it solves the real issue for so many high-responsibility women:
You don’t need more tools.
You need space.
And you need someone to hold it for you.
The “Scrolling to Numb Out” Phase (And Why It Makes Sense)
A lot of women find my circle page when they’re in that specific kind of tired:
Not “I need a nap” tired.
More like:
“If one more person needs something from me today, I might actually lose my mind.”
So they scroll their phones or binge a show. Because they’re trying to get a tiny break from feeling like a human vending machine.
And when someone says, “Try meditation!” it sounds like:
Here’s one more responsibility to fail at.
That’s why Circle is so powerful for women like you:
You don’t have to go home and magically become a person with time, silence, and discipline.
You just have to get yourself there.
The Science of Why Gathering Helps (It’s Not Just “Nice”)
We tend to treat community like a bonus.
Like it’s cute. Optional. A luxury.
But research is very clear: social connection is protective for mental and physical health.
Connection is not just “nice.” It is protective.
When women feel consistently supported and connected, it shows up in their health, their mood, and even their longevity. Large research reviews have found that people with stronger social relationships tend to live longer than those who feel disconnected.
On the flip side, loneliness and social isolation are not just emotional. They are linked with a higher risk of earlier death over time.
And for women specifically, there is a reason gathering can feel so regulating. Researchers have described a common female stress pattern called “tend and befriend,” where our nervous systems settle through safe connection, nurturing, and being with trusted people. This response is associated with stress-buffering biology, including oxytocin.
Even women’s circle style group spaces have been studied as real psychosocial support in community settings, with research finding them extremely promising for wellbeing.
In plain language?
Being held by other women isn’t fluff. It’s nervous system support.
Why Women’s Circles Work When You “Don’t Have Time”
Here’s the sneaky truth:
Most women don’t need motivation.
They need permission.
And they need a space where:
no one is asking anything from them
no one is grading their healing
no one needs them to be pleasant
no one needs them to be “fine”
A Women’s Circle creates a container where you get to practice what you already know is good for you, without having to be the one who plans it, schedules it, pushes yourself, or keeps it going.
It’s the difference between:
“I should journal… but I won’t.”
and“I journaled… because it was built into the night and I felt safe enough to do it.”
“I’m Scared I’ll Cry” (Crying is Good! That’s a Sign Your Body Trusts the Space.)
This is one of the most common fears.
And honestly? Many women do cry.
Not because the circle is intense or dramatic.
But because it may be the first time in a long time they’ve been somewhere they didn’t have to perform.
Crying is often a release. A nervous system shift.
Many women tell me afterward that it felt like:
“I didn’t realize how much I was holding.”
“I feel lighter.”
“I feel calm for the first time in weeks.”
“That was better than therapy.”
(And to be clear: therapy is amazing! Circle just offers something different: peer resonance, shared humanity, and a feeling of being less alone.)
“I Don’t Know Anyone” (And You Don’t Have to.)
Another common fear: “What if it’s awkward?”
Here’s how it usually goes:
You arrive a little nervous.
You realize everyone else is also a little nervous.
You exhale.
At the end, there’s time for connection and chatting but it’s optional.
Some women leave at that point, especially their first time. And that’s okay!
Others chat with only myself, and others stay and slowly build new connections.
There is no pressure to be social.
No forced sharing.
No “Hi, introduce yourself and spill your trauma in one sentence” energy.
Just: come as you are.
What Makes My Circles Different
I’m not a “high-vibe only” facilitator.
I’m a:
yoga instructor
EFT practitioner
special education teacher (which basically means I live inside the world of regulation, co-regulation, sensory needs, overwhelm, and emotional safety)
a recovering people-pleaser myself
and someone who genuinely believes women don’t need to be fixed, they just need to be met
These circles are designed for real women with real lives.
Not women who have an hour every morning to meditate in a silent house.
If You’re in Ottawa: Come Be Held
If you’re local, this is your invitation to join an upcoming Ottawa Women’s Circle.
You don’t need to prepare.
You don’t need to be “good at” healing.
You don’t need to know what to say.
Just come.
Ready for the next step?
Join the mailing list so you can see upcoming circle dates and themes.
If you’re not in the Ottawa area, join the mailing list anyway and send me a quick note that you’d love something virtual.. because I’m actively building that as we speak :)
FAQ (Because Your Brain Will Ask These Anyway)
What if I don’t have time?
That’s usually the exact reason to come. This is time for you—held and protected.
What if I’m awkward or shy?
Perfect. You can be quiet the whole time. Truly.
Do I have to share?
No. Sharing is always optional.
What if I cry?
You’ll be in good company. And you’ll be safe.
Is this spiritual?
It’s human. Grounded. Nervous-system-friendly. You don’t have to believe anything.
