Lyn Prashant talks with Dr. Gloria Horsley at the 2015 Association for Death Education and Counseling conference. She lost her husband, and knows exactly how grief symptoms can show up in the body. Grieving is an emotional and physical process, she explains. If you care for your body as a barometer of truth, it can be a great tool to address what you’re dealing with. Listen to the body, and this way you can attend to your needs which are unique to who you are and your loss.

One of the most common body messages is to have it contract. The heart both metaphorically and in some cases literally breaks. Healed hearts are stronger because scar tissue is thicker. However, what you need to do is to really listen. Every body is different. Integrative health can be a fantastic tool, but you need to go at your own pace. Working with breath is a good way to reclaim your well being, such as working with nostril breath instead of mouth breathing.

Body-Mind Connection

Breathing practice or pranayama is common in yoga practice, too. It’s kind of like alternate nostril breathing which you may have experienced in yoga, but even simpler. Each nostril has different purposes, and if you follow a guided practice you can help relax yourself. Pranayama can help you control your body, making it healthier and calmer.

Congestion is common due to crying and grief, which makes breath even more important. Taking deep breaths, or four-part breaths (in, hold, out, hold) are tools you can discreetly use at any time. When caring for your grief, don’t forget about the importance of addressing physical symptoms. Learn more tips at Prashant’s website today.