Svadhyaya - through self-study and introspection, explore and embrace the Koshas to move through the physical, mental & spiritual symptoms of grief as a path towards a new identity, one closer to true Self, after a significant loss.

Client to practice gentle asana 5 days/week, a ritual to embrace the physical nature of her grief connecting breath w/ movement & the present moment for connection/release of grief.
Journaling, a daily practice to check-in / reflect upon her essence & true nature - ‘Know Thyself’. Qs include Who am I? Am I the body? Who am I w/o this relationship?

57-y-o female - avid cyclist and fitness buff. Overall excellent health. Seasonal allergies sole health condition. No Rxs. Client experienced painful breakup back in January - ongoing grief, regret and sense of being lost. Experiencing several grief-related somatic symptoms. Resisting tears. Wanting to learn, grow and heal to fullest extent as she lets go of former partner and creates a new life for herself.

I planned to open our session by giving space for client to share about her experience and the support she’s received thus far.

We’d start with Pranayama for calming and grounding – Dirgha Svasam and Ujjayi with hands on heart and belly. We’d then discuss the various ways the body responds to grief, its natural inclinations. I’d then invite her to share anything she’s been experiencing.

We’d start w/ some gentle Asanas w/ long holds, including Balasana and supported Paschimotanasana followed by Savasana w/ a blanket over the upper torso for a sense of protection while opening the heart area.

Based upon her experience, we’d formulate a simple, daily asana practice followed by a daily journaling practice based upon Julia Cameron’s ‘Morning Pages’. I’d suggest a 3-page or 15-minute max morning writing, a free-flow of any thoughts or feelings she was experiencing upon awakening.

Niyama – Svadyaya and Asana – through journaling and asanas, client could open to her inner experience and grief process in the Annamaya, Pranayama and Manomaya Koshas. By cultivating a relationship with these Koshas, she would understand suffering manifests in each. All intended to support her in working through the grief and move toward her true self.

Asanas were offered as another entry point for healing. By connecting with her bodily-felt sense of grief, breathing into movements and holds she could consciously connect with any emotions that arose as a means of healing and release.

I was honored to work with this client as she moves through this significant loss. We moved through the session slowly allowing space for tears and sharing. I resisted offering advice. I did share that her tears were for healing and completion – invited her to welcome them.
I encouraged her to let the emotions move through her body as they came up during her practices.

I encouraged client to seek a grief counselor – provided a referral for starters. She’s worked with therapists in the past, didn’t feel her last therapist would offer much. I also suggested that, in time, we might want to explore chanting, as a means of self-soothing.

I did apply my intended plan with the client. While I didn’t share my outline, thinking / teachings behind my proposed plan, i.e., a brief tutorial on the Koshas, I instead minimized my speaking so that the Asanas could do the talking.

I didn’t adapt any elements of the plan. I did slow down – realized I was ‘too ambitious’ with time available. Going forward, I need to prioritize what I sense is necessary to accomplish and what can wait for future sessions, so that I don’t get flustered and frustrated. I can easily see that might somehow trigger the client and their sense of value or takeaway from the session.

Going forward, I would use the same elements of this plan. I might adjust the core practices if I’m aware that a client has a preferred established practice, such as meditation or mantra. I’d consider how to adapt their preferred practices to support their grief process.

During our time together, I think that staying open and holding a lot of space for feelings / emotions to show up and move was the right approach. With caring and attentive listening, I could tell she appreciated my attention and compassion.

All in all, I feel this is a good foundational plan for a client to work through their grief process. I felt the practices called for the right amount of effort - not a quick-fix or one more thing to do - as she moves through this difficult time.