Loss is a complicated experience. With any loss, the underlying factor is grief. One day you feel fine. The next day you feel like you have an out-of-body experience. You may feel that your grief will never end. We aren't always going to have happy moments but going through this experience helps us appreciate life.
Yoga is a great way to guide you through this experience. Here are 5 ways having a Yoga practice can help you with grief:
1. Yoga helps you be in the present moment
During this process, we go through the motions of what happens but ignore what happens around you. Meditation and Mindfulness helps you get in tune with your body. You notice what is missing. Whether it is to rest when needed or bring about some self-care.
2. Yoga brings up emotions that you hold back
Yoga is not only a physical practice. It helps us navigate through these complex emotions. Whenever we feel like we need to numb or ignore your feelings, yoga reminds you that whatever you are feeling is okay. We will feel uncomfortable emotions no matter how hard we try to silence them. The only way we heal is by feeling these emotions. This is when meditation and mindfulness comes into practice.
3. Yoga teaches you that life is ever-changing
Does your asana practice look the same every day? Do you hold the same concentration during your meditation practices? Usually, you don't. This practice teaches us that life changes. Whatever you are experiencing right now is not permanent. One day you may be able to hit all the twists in your practice, and the next day you may need to modify. Your meditation practice will vary from day to day.
4. Yoga helps relieve physical blocks in your body
The emotions you experience can show up physically. When you are experiencing anger, you may clench your jaw. When you experience anxiety, you may feel your chest tighten up. Moving your body through an asana flow helps bring presence into how you are feeling. Additionally, this is a way you can bring awareness to the quality of your breath.
5. Yoga helps you self soothe through this challenging time
Go back to a time when you felt any intense emotion. Were you focusing on your breath? Or were you caught up in the circle of your intense emotions? Sometimes, when we have intense emotions, we go to our vices, eat more than we need, drink too much, etc. Yogic breath can help us self-soothe through these emotions.
Somedays, you may not be able to fit a 60-minute practice, and that's okay. Doing these practices throughout the day or even for a shorter period of time (10- 15 minutes) can help you create a sustainable practice. When starting a yoga practice for supporting grief, you need to be consistent to see results. It is okay to miss a couple of days, but missing weeks at a time will hinder your growth.
Comment below if you think these will help you while grieving.
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