#20: How to Process Grief Through Yoga and Meditation

Grief is such a profound subject that impacts so many of us. Yet it is still one of the hardest emotions to talk about, even with our closest friends. This episode of The Yoga Inspiration is very important because Cynthia, a new yoga student, is opening up to me about her own journey through grief, pain, and healing by practicing yoga.  Who do you turn to when you're grieving? Being vulnerable and opening up to someone is one of the only ways to truly allow yourself to heal. Vulnerability breeds generosity, love, and acceptance, and yoga allows you to open yourself up to these emotions without fear. Part of what yoga teaches us is that, through our pain and vulnerability, we are able to find that human connection. When Cynthia's father was diagnosed with cancer, she looked for an opportunity to get healthier herself. She didn't want her daughter to go through what she went through, and she decided that yoga class was a great way to get fit and strengthen her immune system. But what Cynthia wasn't expecting was how yoga would strengthen her soul.  The story Cynthia shares on this podcast is one she hasn't really told anyone else yet. It takes a long time to process grief and finding the words to talk about these emotions doesn't come easily. Yoga gives Cynthia a different way to heal. Yoga practice is less of a physical practice for her and more an exercise of her soul and of her mind.  Your own yoga journey might inspire some emotions you aren't expecting. For Cynthia, her journey helped her find peace. Everyone manages their grief differently, and finding peace with it is a long and hard process for many of us. People say grieving gets better with time, but you'll hear on this episode that we don't necessarily believe that. We may get stronger, and we get better at withstanding the waves of grief, but it never really leaves us.  In order to process her grief, Cynthia learned not to judge herself for the sometimes ugly emotions she would feel. Once upon a time, a yoga teacher told Cynthia, "Don't judge the pose." In that same vein, Cynthia knows that she can't judge her own grief. Yoga teaches us that we must accept it and be at peace with it.  There is a kindness and a softness that comes through when you practice yoga. When you step on your yoga mat today, remind yourself that life is precious. It's sweet, and it's beautiful, but it is temporary. These moments we have are valuable, and they too shall pass. Cynthia's vulnerability on this episode is proof of that, and I hope that it inspires you to see the beauty in your life's tiniest moments.  If you're a practicing yoga student, please share a bit of your yoga journey with me! Send me an email at [email protected] and tell me - what does yoga mean to you? You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast with Kino MacGregor! Stay connected: @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial View my teaching schedule, blogs, etc on Kinoyoga.com Get your free 30 day membership on Omstars.com& use code: PODCAST