Holistic Grief Recovery: The Role of Breathwork in Mourning

Experiencing grief can feel like your entire world has come crashing down. Some people find it extremely hard to cope with the reality of losing a loved one and this can be very taxing on their physical and emotional well-being. The symptoms of grief differ for everyone, but one thing remains the same – everyone is looking for a little calm and control during this unpredictable time.

Grief affects every part of us, and this includes our breathing. When mourning, people often feel their breathing becomes shallow, quick, or erratic. A person may begin gasping for breath and some may start holding their breath for several minutes without realizing it. 

This results in a disrupted oxygen supply within the body which may cause hyperventilation, nausea, and even fainting. If these stressful periods become prolonged, serious problems such as migraine headaches, digestive ailments, and sleep disturbances could also arise.

While some people resort to medicinal therapy to fill the void created by the loss and manage their symptoms, mindful and meditation exercises such as breathwork are an alternative way to achieve the inner peace people so desperately need during their healing journey. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the positive impact breathwork can have during the grieving process. 

What is Breathwork?

The human body and mind work in mysterious ways. Simply by breathing consciously, you can connect with your inner feelings, quieten your mind, and release all your stresses and sorrows. That’s exactly what breathwork is!

Breathwork conceptualizes that breathing carries oxygen into the body for us to thrive. During periods of physical and emotional stress, our breathing patterns are adversely affected. Hence, breathwork can help reduce this stress and restore balance to your body.

How Does Breathwork Work?

The basic idea behind breathwork is that these breathing exercises help nourish the mind and body as you breathe in and release stress, toxins, and negative energy as you breathe out. 

In addition, breathwork can have positive effects on the central immune system. Since stress affects our breathing and limits the amount of oxygen entering our blood, the brain signals to the body that there is a potential threat, which activates our ‘fight or flight’ response. 

By practicing mindful breathing, we purposefully let go of our stress and breathe in and out deeply. This activity signals the brain that the body is safe to relax, decreasing the fight and flight response and resuming normal functioning. 

Breathwork as a Means of Coping with Grief

According to many breathwork coaches, breathwork is an amazing way to help people navigate and release their pent-up emotions as they go through the stages of grief. Breathwork exercises can offer various ways to process pain and guide individuals toward healing. They offer the opportunity to become more mindful of one’s feelings and thoughts and provide a sense of stability and control as one mourns their loss.

What makes breathwork a unique way to cope with grief is its capability to calm the core of our being without the use of words or touch. These conscious breathing exercises can help create a safe space to reveal and release one’s deepest emotions while cherishing the love and memories they carry for their lost loved ones.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by your sorrow, try this easy breathwork technique to regain control of your emotions:

• Find a quiet place and sit in a position that you are most comfortable in. You can lay a pillow or a cushion under your seat to make the experience more relaxing and pleasurable. 
• If you think it will help you focus better, close your eyes. If not, you can just focus on the floor in front of you.
• Simply follow this easy yet brilliant breathing pattern: inhale deeply by drawing air in through your nose, expanding the belly, and then exhale strongly through the mouth. Believe that the exhaled air has released all your stress, anxiety, guilt, and sorrow.

Adhere to this routine at a pace that you find relaxing and that can be easily maintained. Furthermore, you can discontinue and recontinue this exercise whenever you feel like it.

Final Thoughts

Breathwork is a great way to untangle pent-up feelings, mitigate our physical and emotional symptoms, and allow us to feel at ease during the grieving process. It provides the opportunity to feel, analyze, and release. We hope that practicing breathwork will help you navigate your grief journey and achieve inner peace. Remember to be patient and trust the process – take it one breath at a time.