Grieving process
A sense of loss + how we process grief
We often think of grieving when a loved one pass on. Death.
But we also grieve friendships that have changed. A work situation that is no more. How things used to be. We grieve when we move from a place we loved or let go of treasured possessions. Changes in our health or our body.
The past few years there have been so much change. Change in work and how we socialise. Change in how we view health. Even in friendships as opinions have become very divisive.
Grieving is challenging. It’s always changing. And has so many nuances.
Grief in the body
It is not just in our emotional state whether we experience sadness, anxiety or depression. It is felt in the body. The tight chest, feeling as if we cannot breathe. The knot in the belly. The lump in the throat.
Feeling feelings is helpful. Rather than ignoring them. Delving into feeling and becoming obsessed or depressed and not functioning isn’t.
Grief in ayurveda
In ayurveda both change and grief activate Vata dosa. The element of changeable lightness of air and space.
Vata is also about movement and mobility. How are we moving with the changes? How is our breath moving in our body?
Often when we are sad, upset, depressed, anxious and grieving our breath feels constricted. Vata and prana are not flowing with ease.
Breath awareness to support grieving
We can focus on our breath. We can notice where it feels stuck and if we can find ease and openness there again. Maybe with intention. But also we movement.
How can we move our body so we can experience more freedom in our breathing? How does our body want to move?
Our minds may not want to move at all. But our body may. Or perhaps we have to convince our minds that just a little movement would be beneficial.
yoga for grief
This is what we learn when we practise yoga. Not just physical poses or flow. But when we explore the many layers of yoga - and ayurveda. And when we become intimate and friendly with our body and energy. The movement and poses don’t need to be a “yoga class” it is just the intuitive stretches, undulations, swaying, rocking, shaking or perhaps sounding our breath. It’s the body moving us. And allowing the breath to move the body. All moving together…
Experiencing the layers of grief or sadness is part of the human experience. It’s part of the journey. We don’t have to be happy, joyful and resourceful all the time. We ebb and flow. Spiralling and circling. And we literally breathe and move with all the feelings. We move them. And they change - or perhaps we experience them differently.
So keep moving, flowing and breathing on this never-ending journey called Life
You can join me for yoga on demand on the Monthly Membership or join our live zoom classes
And have a look HERE for events and in person classes.