What is grief? Grief is the authentic response to the loss of something important in our lives. That something can be anything. Whatever you lost, the grief is normal and personal. It is yours…so own it. No two people grieve in the same way. There is no right or wrong way to feel your soul shatter. The only way to start healing is to give yourself the time and space to grieve.
My father passed away three years ago today. My heart still aches. I feel his presence in everything I do, but I miss his laughter and warmth next to me the most. Even now, I still have to allow myself the time and space to grieve. We can not let grief consume us, but we do need to experience it. Holding back, running away, or denying grief will only prolong it. You must allow it to be to heal from it. One way of doing this is to allow yourself a designated grief timetable…sounds strange…I know…do it anyway! For example, today, I will sit here and acknowledge and receive my pain and sorrow for 30 minutes.
My Grief Asanas
I grab my yoga mat and sit in Lotus (Easy) Pose, hands on my knees, palms facing up, eyes closed, and I breathe in deep. During stress, we tend to hold our breath unconsciously. So I make sure I fully release the exhale, giving my lungs and heart the chance to relax.
After sitting in a few slow deep breaths, I move to Locust Pose. My arms stretched out in front of me, head and chest extended up. I feel the stretch with the firmness of my body.
When I’m ready, I slowly flip over on my back and move into Bridge Pose. Reaching my hands to grab my ankles, I raise my pelvis toward the sky. Remembering to breathe, I give my body the time it wants in each pose. Stretching my legs out and lowering my pelvis back to the mat, I rotate into Reclined Spinal Twist Pose...first one side…then the other.
Next, I grab the boaster sitting next to me and allow myself some time in Restorative Twist Pose. Snuggled down, tears fall. I inhale the pain and exhale the sorrow. After a few minutes, I reposition into Seated Forward Bend Pose and completely surrender into the pillow.
I lay here and remember. I lay here and grieve. I lay here and miss him. With this, I give my heart, my mind, and my body the time and space it needs to heal.
I will always feel the loss of my father. He was a very important part of who I am and the decisions I make today, but I am alive, so I must do what I can to honor him by living my life to the fullest. My time for sorrow is up…now, I shower and begin my day.
Namaste
