Working with Grief

Holidays can be a difficult time of year for people dealing with a loss of a loved one. This week we work on ideas to make this time an opportunity to forgive those we have lost, forgive ourselves, and feel well.

One idea comes from a dear friend of mine who lost her younger sister this year. For Christmas, her family put up a stocking for the sister who had died in a hospice. They filled the stocking with gifts for the hospice and after the holiday, they donated these items in the sister's name.

Anything that you can do to honor and celebrate the life of a loved one can be beneficial. Ignoring the loss is the worst thing you could do.

We used backbends to open our hearts and uplift our spirits, such as a variation on Camel pose (Ustrasana).

The affirmation we used during meditation was based on Louise Hay's suggestions for dealing with almost any emotion tied to relationships:

"I forgive you. I forgive myself. All is well."

Happy Holidays,

Kris Kramer
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
http://www.TotalHealthYoga.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!