Grief takes the wind out of our sails like nothing else. When my son passed away suddenly in July 2020, I knew I was at a fork in the road. I could either collapse into bitterness and unending suffering and lose myself completely OR I could find richness in the shadows. Guess which I chose?
I am piloting a course on moving through the various physical - emotional and somatic embodiments of grief and loss. This course is based on my own experience. I have had many losses in my life and have also worked with many people navigating loss and grief. It has been my daily yoga and embodiment practices that has given me resilience and helped me stay steady in the stillness that pervades all emotion.
Human beings go numb when pain, injury and emotional distress occur. This is especially true when we experience the shock of loss. That is okay at first. But if it lasts too long we disconnect from the only place we actually experience life - our bodies. I want to help you stay in your body even if you are feeling tremendous suffering. Right now you can feel both the suffering and the vitality of life.
Why this program?
The more we turn away from our body, the more difficulty we have in coming to terms with the reality of what life is. We can experience grief as movement while we remain anchored in the thing that is certain: In this moment we have this experienced, living body.
Loss, grief, and sadness can be experienced more fluidly when we use embodiment skills that respect and honor our natural neurobiology, support safety in our nervous systems and support an expanded presence of heart.
It's hard to be present to our grief and loss alone. Our bodies can show us how to navigate this frenetic terrain. But we need to find avenues into our embodiment that allow us access to our grief or loss without our emotions swallowing us up.
How it will help:
Embodiment for grief can:
- Slow down repetitive or overwhelming thinking
- Relieve emotional storms or emotional "ickiness"
- help distinguish between sadness and depression
- Help your body feel healthier and more resilient during difficult times.
- Subvert the need for overeating, taking in too much sugar, coffee or alcohol, shopping or over exercising.
- Keep your nervous system balanced so it regulates in the face of grief
- knowing when to meditate, when to be aerobic, when to be nourishing
- allowing grief and gratitude to coexist
I will also send out an evaluation and comment questionnaire at the course end that I would like you to respond to.
If you would like to join this pilot group please answer the questions below and anything else you want to share.
I look forward to spending time with you.
