Yoga for Grief
Yoga for Grief provides a quiet, supportive space where gentle movement and breath help hold the weight of loss with care and kindness
A Gentle Path through Loss
Grief touches us all—whether through the death of a loved one, a relationship ending, or life shifting in ways we didn’t expect. It can leave us feeling untethered, overwhelmed, or disconnected from ourselves and the world around us.
Yoga for Grief offers a compassionate space to simply be. It is not about fixing or moving on, but about creating room to breathe, feel, and slowly reconnect with your body, your heart, and your inner self.
How Yoga Supports Grief
In times of grief, a holistic yoga practice provides gentle tools of support:
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Movement helps release tension and create space in the body where grief is often held
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Breathwork and meditation calms the nervous system and softens feelings of overwhelm
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Stillness and rest invite us to listen inward and honour what we are feeling
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Presence reconnects us with ourselves, even when life feels uncertain or painful
There is no 'right' way to grieve. Everyone's journey is unique. Rather than asking you to push through, Yoga for Grief meets you exactly where you are—with kindness and care, attention and support.
How does Yoga for Grief differ from other Yoga classes?
While all classes at Om Yoga Shala are guided with care, compassion, and respect for individual experience, Yoga for Grief is a gentler offering, created especially for navigating grief and loss.
In these sessions you can expect:
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A slower more restorative pace with space to notice and gently process thoughts and feelings that may arise in the mind and body
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Gentle, soothing movement, based on Hatha and Yin Yoga asanas (postures), with an emphasis on support rather than challenge
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Long, restful periods of breathwork and meditation, which may include sound, mantra, and Yoga Nidra
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An emphasis on choice and personal pacing, with a trauma-sensitive approach —there is no expectation to push beyond what feels right ​​
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A shared space where grief is acknowledged and welcomed, held with understanding and without judgement
How is Yoga for Grief different from therapy?
Yoga for Grief is not psychotherapy and cannot 'fix' grief. There is in fact nothing to be fixed. Grief can only be held, acknowledged, and integrated with compassion and support for the body, mind and heart.
However, Yoga for Grief can complement therapy through body-based practices to help grief held physically, as well as support the nervous system through breathwork and meditative practices.
Please note that Yoga for Grief is therefore not a substitute for therapy, and many find combining Grief Counselling with Yoga for Grief practice particularly therapeutic.
A Gentle Place to Begin
It is completely understandable that stepping into a yoga class—especially when you are grieving—can feel daunting.
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At Om Yoga Shala, you are welcome to begin in the way that feels most comfortable for you. Some people choose to join a small group Yoga for Grief session, while others prefer to start with a private session before attending a class.
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If it would help you feel more at ease, you are also welcome to arrange a short visit to Om Yoga Shala outside of session times. This offers a chance to quietly see the space, ask any questions, and become familiar with the environment before attending.
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There is no rush, no expectation, and no right way to grieve. You are welcome to come exactly as you are.