Yoga Middlesbrough – How Yoga and Meditation can help with bereavement and grief….
Losing a loved one is never easy. My father recently passed away after a long fight with cancer. The emotions, shock and myriad of other emotions stirred up within us and family/friends are difficult to process. As well as having our own emotions to process and work through, we support others through this period of mourning too.
My Dad is, was and always will be very loved. He was a true family man and was a pillar of the local community, as well as a loved colleague by those he worked with. My brother, sister, mum and I were at his side when he passed.
I have never experienced heartbreak like it, seeing my family go through that same anguish is also heart-breaking.
I have found a lot of peace and solace in my practice, especially focusing on the breath and being still. It brings a lot of peace and clarity to the mind.
– Grief is natural –
Unfortunately, grief is something we all have to experience some time in life. Grief can be physical as well as emotional. Especially a really strong sense of tiredness and fatigue. This is how I have felt since my father passed.
Everyone experiences grief differently and there is no right or wrong way to process grief.
Symptoms of grief…
A few common symptoms people experience when processing a bereavement are:
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Longing and pining
- Headaches
- Appetite changes – loss or comfort eating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Difficulty doing day-to-day things
- Aches and pains
- Lack of focus
Although this list does not describe everyone’s experience and some may experience other symptoms when grieving.
People can also worry that they are becoming mentally unwell, or that they are starting to overcome the grief. However, often ‘grief intrusion’ can occur, where someone or something triggers a memory, where they feel like they have returned back to the beginning stages of grief. This is normal, as grief is not a linear process.
Grief intrusion can happen when shopping, or when practicing. Basically at anytime of the day. It can catch us off-guard, but this is a part of the grieving process.
How Yoga and Meditation can help us process grief and bereavements.
Grief can become very overwhelming. A regular Yoga and Meditation practice can help us work through and explore feelings that arise when grieving. From gentle movement and stretching in Asana practice, a focus on the breath and practicing stillness and a sense of community within the Yoga and Meditation world, we can start to work through our grief.
– Choosing to look after ourselves –
By practicing even for 15 minutes a day, you can free up some of your physical and emotional energy. This helps the body and mind relax and recuperate. Giving ourselves time to process grief is really important and the time we get in Yoga and Meditation sessions really has a positive impact. Also, when we dedicate time to our practice, we naturally start to slow down and this starts to reflect off the mat too.
– Creating space in our lives –
As well as time, we need space. I found that I needed to give myself space daily to process things and reflect. When I had too much planned, or had too much work on, I felt overwhelmed very easily. One of the main signs of grief that isn’t talked about much is exhaustion of the body and mind. Its something that can take months to pass, so it is so important to give ourselves this time. Even if it is doing something we enjoy, like a gentle walk with music, or reading a book. This time is essential.
– Gentle exercise and movement is good for the body and soul –
– More resilience –
Research shows that asana (posture) and gentle breathwork can improve our mood and soothe our nervous system. It helps us operate in the parasympathetic nervous system (a state of relaxation) , rather than the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight mode) . When we practice this regularly, it helps us happier and calmer, and therefore more resilient during a bereavement. It also helps us look after our physical well-being.
Sometimes, the gym or strenuous exercise can seem daunting at this time, but gentle yoga can help us stay mobile, active and help us improve our flexibility, whilst soothing the mind.
– Meditation helps us process grief –
It can be difficult to accept that a person has gone, but they wouldn’t want us to remain sad and upset and continue to suffer. They would want us to continue living life to the fullest and remember good times, happy memories and celebrate their life.
There can be a period where it seems we cannot move on, or find a resolution. Meditation allows us to sit with our feeling and emotions and process them. It allows us to practice forgiveness, send loving kindness to ourselves and others and to find peace and clarity with the situation. it gives us space and time to process grief.
Some good meditations to try…
I am a massive fan of Burgs and his work. He does a series of free meditations on his YouTube channel.
This meditation is wonderful to do in bed or lying down, when feeling exhausted.
Cruse Bereavement are a wonderful charity to contact to seek support if you are having challenges processing grief.
https://www.cruse.org.uk/
I hope some of the advice here helps you to process grief and bereavement.
Do you have any advice for people? I’d love to hear from you.
About The author:
Aimee is a Yoga, Meditation and Chair Based Yoga and Exercise Teacher in located in Middlesbrough, England, UK.
To find out more, visit www.amalateesside.com
I have never thought of this for bereavement but can see it can help we all grieve in different ways and this is one way that could be beneficial
I wish I’d had known about yoga and meditation as it relates to grieving when I was young. I lost my best friend at 14, and this would have really helped me.
At first, I never got the hang of meditation and yoga. I just didn’t have the patience for it, or so I thought. Once I really understood the purpose of them and the benefits, I was able to do it consistently! Now, I love meditating and practicing yoga!
Yes, I can imagine that yoga and meditation is good for helping you process any negative emotion or state. Thanks, Mich x
So sorry to hear about your dad’s passing, I am sure it must be so hard for you. Glad that Yoga and Meditation is helping you to find peace
I am so sorry for your loss. Yoga and meditation sounds like a great way to help during the grieving process. Sending you love.
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad, but relaxing exercise to help clear your mind sounds like it would be good to help with peace x
Yoga and meditation really helps a lot to free your mind and find peace from the difficult situation that you experienced.
My mom’s baby was alive when she went into labour but by the time she gave birth he was already dead. My mom was broken for years and I couldn’t comfort her. I wish I knew about yoga and meditation, I’m pretty sure it could have helped. She has now healed by the way.
I hadn’t considered using yoga/meditation to help with grief. Thank you for this. I am still dealing with the death of my father almost one year ago. I will give this a try!
My mom’s baby was alive when she went into labour but by the time she gave birth he was already dead. My mom was broken for years and I couldn’t comfort her. I wish I knew about yoga and meditation, I’m pretty sure it could have helped. She has now healed by the way.
Fabulous post! I actually have something very similar launching in the next few weeks. If you’re ever looking for guest writers in regards to yoga and wellness, I’d love to help.
When I had a recent family death, this was the ONLY thing that helped me!
I exercise and do yoga on a regular basis and thanks a lot for sharing with us your experience – I would love to hear more about it as a way to heal and I think it will help a lot of people. Knycx Journeying
Bereavement is such a difficult time to get through and process. Yoga really can be a big help!
Yoga and meditation can help with many things! So, I am not surprised at all that they help with bereavement also.
I’m so sorry about your loss. That’s awesome you doing everything to help you while going through it.
I can see how mediating and yoga can assist with bereavement. This is great useful information.
I always told myslef I should be consistent in meditating, this really helps the inner self
Grief is never easy. Your thoughts are everywhere, and your exhausted at the same time. Meditation will really help you find your center.
People grieve in different ways and I’m truly amazed at yoga once again. I personally haven’t dealt with grief, but maybe i could recommend yoga to those who do.
Brereavement is a hard time to deal with. But it too shall pass,
I found myself meditation without knowing that I was meditating. After deep diving into my past I had to stop and take these breaks to just sit a process. I found clarity when sitting just thinking. No distractions just me feeling my feelings. It was very therapeutic.
Bereavement is tough and whatever ways to cope for this tough times is very helpful. Yoga is indeed a great help for many ways.
.Isn’t yoga amazing that it help bereavement. Grief and pain isn’t easy, especially after a loss, but yoga is so powerful to hep that.
I’m so so sorry to hear about your Dad. But it’s great you have found a means of therapy and release. I hadn’t considered mediation and yoga when it comes to grief, but it really makes sense.
Oh no, no advice from me, on this one! You’ve done an excellent job explaining everything there needs to be about how helpful yoga and meditation can be! Thank you for sharing.