An Open Letter to People in Mourning…

	Yoga & Meditation for Grief Modalities Private Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy 8 Week Grief Support Group Guided Relaxation Articles on Yoga & Grief Yoga Therapy for Grief and Hospice Care Interview with Molly Kenny The Longest Goodbye (Phil Catalfo; Yoga Journal) Good Grief (Chris McGonigle; Yoga Journal) Books on Mindful Grieving Grieving Mindfully: A Compassionate And Spiritual Guide To Coping With Loss (Sameet Kumar) Unattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart (Stephen Levine) Yoga for Grief (Lorna Bell) Web sites for Survivors American Association of Suicidology (AAS)- suicide survivor resources Survivors of Suicide (SOS) - suicide survivor resources Association of Death Educators & Counselors (ADEC) - find a grief counselor (thanatologist)

Grief is a natural reaction to losing someone you love; a deep pain that none of us are inoculated against. More than likely you are reading this because you (or someone you care about) are suffering, and are in need of support. You may have conflicting feelings about taking this step. There may be a part of you that is ready to begin to relinquish the pain of your loss, while another part may fear that this work is too painful, requires energy you don’t have, or that you will be asked to “get over” or “forget” the person you are missing.

It is important for you to know that receiving support does not mean that you will be asked to let go of the memory of the person that you cared for, deny that you are in pain, or that your grief is unhealthy.

I know that this is not a journey that you have chosen to embark upon, and I trust that each person will come to this work only if he or she is ready to move towards “a realization of [your] own stability and courage that [you] never thought possible prior to the death” (Saunders, 1989, p. 99).

You may feel like this realization of stability and courage is 10,000 miles away, and you are traveling barefoot over broken glass. My mission is to help you take the first step on the path and melt the painful shards by providing you with emotional, physical and spiritual support. This is your own journey -  and every person has a right to express grief in their own individual way. Some people express their grief openly, while others do not. Neither way is right, or wrong, and you will not be pushed or pulled in any particular direction.

There are many ways that a one-on-one Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy session may help. Physically, many bereaved persons experience somatic symptoms that may be tempered by periods of relaxation. Your body is undergoing extreme stress, and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy may help your body move back towards health and homeostasis. You will also be able to speak and be heard, and the non-judgmental, compassionate presence of your practitioner will help you connect with your own inner wisdom, rather that conform to a set of “shoulds” or follow an imaginary “grief timeline.”

This is not a yoga class or talk therapy, but a specialized body-mind modality that uses non-directive dialogue, breathing and gentle stretching at your own pace to help you experience present moment awareness, growth and healing. I invite you to call 240-446-3030 or email heatheryoga@gmail.com to schedule a session or for a free consultation.

I wish you well on your path to healing.

Jai, Heather

Visit www.MarylandYogaTherapy.com for a complete listing of events and services.