How Yoga Helped Me Grieve

Signing up for the 200hr TTC is not a decision that I took lightly. I went back and forth for a long time about whether I should sign up or just wait for a bit longer when the time was right. Eventually after I had run out of excuses to put if off I finally took the plunge and signed up. As the start date got closer I became more excited and nervous.

A couple of weeks before the start of the course my whole world fell apart when I got a phone call with the news that my Dad had passed away. The grief was almost unbearable, it was not only emotionally exhausting but physically exhausting, all I wanted to do was climb into bed and bury myself under the covers until the whole horrible nightmare was over. I had no idea how I was going to make it through a six week course when just getting out of bed in the morning was a challenge. When the start date finally arrived I decided that I had to follow through, so I went and thankfully for me it was the best decision I could have made.

 

The daily asana and pranayama practice and even the yoga philosophy lessons have helped me be aware of my grief instead of being overwhelmed by it. My yoga practice has helped remind me that I need to take care of myself. I have learned that yoga is not just about burning calories or trying to get into all those advanced poses. It is a way of life. A powerful force that can help in so many ways. Now instead of climbing under the covers and hiding, I go to my mat. Every day my yoga practice is helping me heal and for that I am very grateful.

I could’ve waited and put off the course thinking that I need to find the right time but in the end right now turned out to be the perfect time for me.

Liz Kennedy

 

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