Apologies: I realize I've completely neglected yoga lately, despite my claims that it really helped me deal with my own grief.
I have to admit that at first, this wasn't the case. I tried to go to a yoga class a month after Bill died and I just couldn't. I couldn't imagine being trapped in my head for an hour on the mat. But as the initial shock wore off, yoga allowed me to become more grounded and to released my attachment from the outside world.
I talked about balasana on here before, which is child's pose. That's an amazing one for those early days when we're still feeling so raw and vulnerable. But today, I'd like to shift the focus beyond vulnerability towards empowerment.
I have always loved the various warrior poses. I actually love most standing poses that involve balance - settling into tree pose is one of my favorite things to do during a class. But the warriors have always felt so empowering and I found them to be even more so as I was working with my grief to build my strength back up.
For me, the key is just mindset. We need to focus on strength and alignment, but it's also expansive. We're stretched open, but not in a way that feels like the heart can be shattered again. (Like... sorry, but camel pose and I do not get along for that reason...) Warrior II allows us to stand tall and feel our own strength and power.
And when we're ready for it, that's precisely what we need.
What physical movement do you find empowering? Comment below!
Comments