Why Yin Yoga is Excellent for Grievers

When Dakota passed, I was in bed for a few months and could not get myself up except to eat and sit in the lounge. My body ached and I was in so much pain, no matter how many painkillers I took, the pain did not go away. Then I discovered Yin Yoga. This is a slow-paced, meditative style of yoga that involves holding passive stretches for an extended period of time. This practice is known for its ability to help relieve stress and promote relaxation, making it an excellent tool for those experiencing grief.

As grievers we hold tension and emotions in our bodies. Yin yoga can help to release this tension and promote physical and emotional healing by encouraging deep relaxation and a meditative state. By holding passive stretches for several minutes, Yin yoga helps to target the connective tissues in the body, including the fascia and ligaments, which can become tight and tense when we are experiencing stress and grief. Generally gravity does a lot of the work in Yin Yoga (to start). It is not all just plain sailing, some poses are uncomfortable, but our lives are uncomfortable now, and we learn to live with the discomfort, as we learn to live without our child(ren)/loved one.

Yin Yoga can help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our "rest and digest" response. When we activate this system, we are able to slow down our heart rate, reduce our blood pressure, and promote a sense of calm and relaxation in the body. It helps with insomnia, anxiety and muscle tension.

I have found the meditative practice of Yin yoga to be a powerful tool for relief from my emotional and physical pain of grief. I have put together 5 of my favorite poses in hopes that they help you too. Contact me here and I will send you your free download.