I am laying on the floor with my eyes closed, listening to the sound of my own breathing. Though an indistinct melody envelops me, I continue to focus inward. My yoga teacher begins to give the class instruction to breathe in and out together, asking us to engage in audible exhales and encouraging us to move more deeply into a relaxed state of mind. As we breathe out, she also asks that we let go of any negative energy. She notes that we should make a conscious effort to release any energy that does not belong to us but that we inadvertently picked up from others. As I leave my everyday life and its challenges further behind, I realize I am already experiencing a greater sense of peace.
The principals of my yoga practice sometimes closely mirror the steps I have taken while learning to live with grief. One fundamental truth I have found in coping with grief has to do with how much it varies from person to person. Finding my own internal compass and listening to myself to better understand my needs has helped me give myself the necessary self-care to cope effectively. The act of turning inward allows me to both understand my needs but also provides me with the extra strength I have needed to address those of my daughters. Paying close attention to my inner voice has allowed me to find solace, and also seek out relationships with people who fill me up and help me feel whole. At the end of many yoga classes, before offering a traditional “namaste,” our teacher shares a plain but beautiful phrase: “Go in peace; share this peace with others.” As I seek to cultivate my own internal peace and share about my grief journey through my writing, my simple goal is to help others do the same.
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