How Yoga Therapy Helps with Grief: A Path to Healing

Grief is an inevitable part of life, yet when we are in its depths, it can feel like an unbearable weight. The loss of a loved one, a relationship, or even a sense of identity can leave us feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, and lost. While there is no single way to navigate grief, yoga therapy offers a compassionate and holistic approach to healing, and one that integrates the mind, body, and spirit.

My Personal Journey with Yoga and Grief

After my husband passed away, I fell into the darkest pits of grief, not knowing how to get through each day. I had lost not only him but also my sense of self. The weight of my grief was unbearable at times, manifesting as exhaustion, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of loss. It was through yoga that I found my way back to myself. Yoga became more than just movement, it became my sanctuary, a place where I could release the emotions I had been holding so tightly and find moments of peace in the storm of my sorrow.

The deep breaths, the grounding postures, and the gentle awareness that yoga cultivated allowed me to feel safe in my body again. It gave me permission to grieve without judgment and provided a way to process my pain beyond words. Now, I share this practice with others who are walking their own path through loss, offering them the same solace that yoga gave me.

Understanding Grief in the Body

Grief is not just an emotional experience, it is also deeply physical. It manifests in the body as tension, fatigue, digestive issues, and even chronic pain. The nervous system becomes dysregulated, shifting into fight, flight, or freeze mode. This can lead to shallow breathing, tightness in the chest, and an overall sense of unease.

Yoga therapy acknowledges these physical manifestations of grief and provides a space where the body can process and release stored emotions. Through mindful movement, breathwork, and stillness, yoga therapy helps to gently restore balance and a sense of safety within the body.

How Yoga Therapy Supports Grief Healing

1. Breathwork (Pranayama) to Regulate Emotions

One of the first things grief affects is our breath. It becomes shallow and constricted, mirroring the way we hold onto pain. In yoga therapy, breathwork is used to calm the nervous system, create space for emotions, and restore a sense of control.

2. Gentle Movement to Release Stored Tension

When we grieve, emotions can become trapped in the body, particularly in areas like the chest, hips, and shoulders. Gentle, heart-opening postures like Supported Fish Pose or Melting Heart Pose help release emotional tension, while grounding postures like Child’s Pose provide a sense of safety and surrender.

3. Meditation for Mindful Awareness

Grief often pulls us into the past or the uncertainty of the future. Meditation teaches us how to be present with our emotions without becoming overwhelmed. By sitting with our grief in a mindful way, we develop greater self-compassion and emotional resilience.

4. Connection Between Grief and the Heart Chakra

In yoga philosophy, grief is often associated with the heart chakra (Anahata). When we experience loss, we may physically feel a heaviness in the chest or a closing off of the heart space. Yoga therapy incorporates heart-opening postures and affirmations to encourage emotional release and healing.

5. Savasana and Deep Rest for Integration

Grief is exhausting - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The practice of deep relaxation, such as Savasana, allows the nervous system to reset and the body to fully rest. This deep rest is essential for healing and integration.

Embracing the Journey of Healing

Grief does not have a timeline, and healing is not about “moving on” but rather learning to carry our loss in a way that feels lighter. Yoga therapy offers a compassionate path to navigate this journey, providing tools that honour both the depth of sorrow and the possibility of renewal.

Through breath, movement, and stillness, yoga therapy invites us to find moments of peace within the storm of grief. It reminds us that even in our pain, we are not broken. We are still here, still breathing, and still capable of healing - one breath at a time.

If you're navigating grief and looking for a compassionate, supportive space to heal, I invite you to explore my Mindful Grieving Yoga Therapy Program. These sessions are designed to help you process emotions, find comfort in movement, and reconnect with yourself through the power of yoga.

You don’t have to go through this alone. Join me in a space of healing, breath, and gentle transformation. Learn more:

https://www.holisticgriefwellness.com.au/mindful-grieving-yoga-therapy-program