Michal Tolk is a YWCA Health and Wellness Associate, and currently teaches yoga and meditation. Mercy Sosa is the Community Educator Coordinator at OurVOICE, and has been working with YWCA of Asheville since 2022. The YWCA of Asheville and OurVOICE have been in partnership since 2020, when a workshop series on Self-Defense was first taught at the YW.  

Together, Michal and Mercy teach the Empowered Self-Defense (ESD) workshop, combining a strong physical component with attention to emotional growth. ESD presents a more intentional, holistic approach to personal safety to combat the whole spectrum of violence, from verbal harassment to physical violence. Although one 6 session workshop cannot teach participants everything they need to know about self-defense, the workshop teaches important skills like breaking grips, how to fall, and some basic throws. Michal says there is also tremendous value in thinking about physical and emotional boundaries, and she gets excited to see what happens as participants begin to gain confidence in both their bodies and their intuition.

Participants learn how to express boundaries and practice eye contact. You learn ways to stand your ground and protect your space. You will also have a safe and supportive space to practice and implement these skills. And, Michal says, “It’s fun!” Over the course of the workshop, participants build community, become more comfortable in their bodies, and learn about resources within the community to prevent violence.  

Michal says she can see women embody strength and self-assurance as they start to “feel boundaries, say boundaries, and enforce boundaries.” The class can help women feel more powerful, and that is a very big win. Often participants in the workshop have experienced some form of trauma, and the instructors take care to be sensitive to where people are coming from. It’s a place, says Michal, to “come where you are,” wherever that might be. 

Mercy adds “We would love to accompany you during these six sessions to strengthen your physical, mental and emotional self-defense. You will learn that you can also intervene for others in many ways that you would never have thought of!” Participants receive a Certificate of Completion after attending all 6 sessions.

The Empowered Self Defense workshops are open to anyone from the community that identifies as a woman or non-binary of 13 years and up, and you do not have to be a member of the YWCA to take the workshop. Get registration information here.