Yoga Therapy: A Guide Through Grief

A ROOT Awakening #2: Yoga Therapy: A Guide Through Grief

By: Jasmine Rausch

Today, I got a question from one of our readers asking if yoga therapy can help with grief. This reader just lost one of her childhood friends to drugs; a heartbreaking story I hear all too often.

After experiencing the loss of my father at 18, I quickly learned that grief was one of the most complicated emotions. Until recently, grief was looked at from a psychological perspective and recognized solely as a psychological experience. But the reality is, there is a complicated relationship going on between the body and mind throughout the grieving process. Just as much as we may mentally experience loss with denial, anger, and even depression, the body can show heartbreak through symptoms of fatigue, stomach pain, loss of appetite, or headaches (just to name a few). So, what’s really going on?

It isn’t a myth that loss can have a serious impact on our physical body. Studies have shown that when we experience loss:

• Pleasure hormones dopamine and oxytocin (the “feel good” vibes) plummet.
• Stress hormones adrenaline, cortisol, and epinephrine (the “not-so-good” vibes) flood in with their buddies anxiety and sadness.
• We’re at risk for damaging our memory, perception, and heart and digestive regulation

As a result, our nervous system catapults into fight-flight mode, which impacts our bodies just as much as our minds.  And watch out, the more we dwell on negative thoughts and our “not-so-good” vibes beat out our “feel good” vibes, the more developed these brain pathways become and the harder it is to bounce back.

How can we heal ourselves from heartbreak?

Set an Intention:  An intension plays a strong role in maintaining hope and possibility. It acts as a vehicle to make healing a part of your life and not just something you are trying to fight through. By setting an intention, you are making a conscious decision to stay present and committed to your journey on and off the mat.

Move your energy and open your heart: As we mentioned earlier, pain is held in the body. Moving is important to release tension, physical guarding and restore energy. Encouraging yourself to be active will ensure that your healing process remains active.

Tip: Combat fatigue with chest opening lunges or back bends and cleanse the body from negativity with twists.

If emotions or sensations come up as you move through the practice, notice them and label them. This promotes presence and healing. Shutting down or running away from your grief will only lead to continued heartache.

Restore your nervous system: Using your breath as a tool to anchor you into the present moment is a great way to get grounded and counteract feelings of anxiety. Focused breathing helps calm your nervous system to relieve stress, tension and pain.

• Find yourself in a comfortable position either seated or lying down (I prefer lying down).
• Place your hands on your belly and observe the rise and fall of your belly with each passing breath.
• Do your best to breathe solely in and out of your nose.
• Gradually shift to a slower breathing pattern allowing the exhale to extend beyond the inhale.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that pain fades with time, and so does grief. Give yourself time. This is not your final destination.