The greiving pose

In eastern thought one of the central teachings is the recognition that life is suffering.  Whether we accept the wisdom of that tradition or not it is undeniable and inevitable that we will all suffer and experience grief at some point, or many points, in our life.  It may be the transitory but still debilitating and heart-wrenching grief that comes with a broken heart, or the devastation and sometimes lasting depression that can come with the loss of home and country, or, of course, the inconsolable grief that accompanies the death of a loved one – regardless of what it is that causes our grief and suffering it will happen to us all and it will be absolutely and totally awful.  The way we deal with our grief will be highly individual but there are some timeless tools and strategies that yoga can provide to help us into and beyond the process.

Yoga, as it is practiced outside of the Hindu tradition, is a physical art that encompasses breath work, meditation, relaxation and mindfulness.  All of these different aspects of yoga can be useful when trying to deal with grief.  Breath work and relaxation techniques are perhaps the simplest and most useful tools.  At the worst of our grief, when it is typical to be robbed of all energy, a few simple yoga breathing techniques can help to harness energy and to cleanse, calm and control the emotions if only for moments at a time.  Relaxation can help with rest if not sleep and the mindfulness practices of yoga can help us to examine and release ourselves from the obsessive thinking patterns that often accompany grief.   

In yoga we believe that grief resides in certain areas of the body.  It causes us to sob, become restless, apathetic, and experience changes in sleep, mood, appetite, posture, and mental focus.  As energy starts to return it is possible to practice some basic yoga poses that open the throat and heart areas, and "unstick" clogged nerve centers.  This can help with the bodily reactions and ready us for healing in a non-conscious ways.  If we release these grief centers through such poses as backbends and twists then the body can be a source of strength as we try to deal with our emotional injuries.  If we don’t it will carry the scars and we will age before our time.     

Nothing can make the grief go away, least of all yoga which if anything emphasizes really experiencing it before we let it go and move on.  Still the tools that yoga provides can help us as we struggle for emotional stability, acceptance and the courage to go on. If you or a friend or family member is grieving I recommend that you seek out friends, family, community and professionals – but remember that yoga can also help to bring relief and that it can start with a few deep breaths.