7 Grief Strength & Mindful Movements to Cope with Loss
“Oh, you are so strong. I don’t know if I could do the same if my son died”.
How many times did I hear that, when in fact strength was not a word I would have used to describe how I was feeling, especially early on in my grief. What people didn’t realize was that I was able to go through the motions of living and then would collapse under the weight of grief whenever I could.
Grief can be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. It can sap your strength where all you want to do is sleep. And guess what – listening to the body is so important. If you are craving sleep or rest, go lie down! You don’t need any one’s permission to grieve the way you need to. However, at some point during this journey you will find the desire to, maybe even a need to, build physical, emotional, spiritual and mental strength during the grieving process.
Boost Strength During Grief
Grief pain lives in the body and you need to release these trapped emotions and create space for self-love, inner peace, and power. Grief can sap your strength. But as you begin to move those grief emotions out of the body, you may discover that there is strength inside you that you didn’t realize.
Tap into this inner strength by first acknowledging it. You may not believe it at first, but by practicing these 3 affirmations daily, you will recognize the strength you hold deep inside of you.
3 Daily Affirmations To Nurture Your Inner Strength
Sit in a comfortable position, feet on the floor, hands resting in the lap. Close your eyes or rest your gaze on the floor. Relax, taking a few moments to breathe, inhale through the nose, and exhale through the nose. Repeat each affirmation 3 times, taking a breath between each repetition
I Have the Courage to Move Forward in My Grief
I Give Myself Time and Space to Feel All My Feelings
A River of Compassion washes away my anger and replaces it with love
3 Yoga Poses To Help You Navigate the Grieving Process
Grief can sap your strength. You may feel like caving in, or maybe that you have lost control over your own life. But as you begin to move those grief emotions out of the body, you may discover that there is strength inside you that you didn’t realize. Draw from this well of strength from within to find the courage to move forward in your life.
The following yoga poses can help you breathe fully, open up to possibility and discover the power within.
Mountain Pose is a grounding posture that helps improve your posture. This pose may help fight fatigue and boost your energy. Once in the pose, you can turn your attention inward, notice how you are feeling and become more aware of what’s happening within.
Woodchopper Pose helps open the chest creating space to release anger, tension, and pent up rage. You will feel energized after doing this pose and should take time to relax and breathe before moving to another pose.
Warrior II Pose reminds us to look to the warrior within. Trust, feel and observe your warrior energy, finding courage in the midst of your grief. With steadiness and ease, draw strength from within, transforming your grief into empowerment.
3 Yoga Poses for Grief to Help Find Strength After Loss
1 Mindful Movement Practice for Grief
Focusing on a sense of grounding, feeling connected to the earth, and connected to our inner selves is one way to free yourself from grief emotions like anger, rage, anxiety and stress. The following practice helps to open our heart space so we can fill it with self compassion, love, and maybe even joy. The sequence is done seated in a chair or a mat and starts with a meditation focused on a lotus flower, that when observed closely arises from the depths of mud. You can envision how when you rise from the pain of your grief, you too can open into a beautiful flower of love, of self-compassion, of gratitude. From the meditation, we practice slow, mindful movements designed to release grief emotions, freeing up space for self-love.
Want more resources to help you navigate grief and loss? Download the Free Tips for Grief Relief Guide