Q – I have recently lost someone close to me, and I feel heavy,distracted, and emotionally drained. Can yoga help me deal with my grief?

– T. Shah, Oldbury

A: Grief is a deeply personal journey, and it’s natural to feel a wide range of emotions—sadness, anger, confusion, or numbness. Yoga cannot take away loss, but it offers tools to hold space for your feelings, support emotional processing, and gently restore balance. Gentle, grounding poses like Virasana (Hero Pose), Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), and supported forward folds can calm the nervous system and provide a sense of safety. Heart-opening postures such as Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) or v (Bridge Pose) encourage gentle emotional release, while mindful breathing—like Ujjayi or Sama Vritti (Equal Breath)—helps regulate the mind and create steadiness. Try to create a safe, quiet space for practice, even if it’s only 5–10 minutes. Allow yourself to rest. Yoga Nidra or restorative poses support the nervous system and help release accumulated tension. Be patient with yourself. Small, consistent practices—gentle stretches, mindful breath, or moments of silence—provide gradual support and grounding. In my experience, students often find that yoga is about holding themselves with kindness and awareness. Each breath, each posture, each mindful pause is an act of care—a reminder that even in deep sorrow, your body and mind can find gentle support and space to heal.