Yoga and healthy crying - the importance of emotional release on our healing journey
Have you ever had a moment in your yoga practice when you just stopped and felt pea-sized tears rolling down your cheeks and you didn't know why?
You inexplicably got into asana and suddenly had to sit down on the floor or hide in child's pose and just let it go?
Yes, it's a very common reaction when your body releases an emotion - a long-ripened pain or joy that wants to break through the particular stimulation in the pose to the surface.
That's okay - in turn, you can think of it as a significant personal achievement and shift in your yoga practice.
In today's hectic world, we often find ourselves juggling many responsibilities, battling stress, and trying to keep our emotions in check.
However, holding back emotions can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health. Yoga, with its holistic approach to well-being, can be a powerful tool to help us release and manage our emotions in a healthy way.
I'd like to take this opportunity to explain the connection between yoga and healthy crying, and explain why it is actually necessary to release our emotions...
The physiology of emotions
Emotions are an integral part of the human experience and play a vital role in our lives. They can be triggered by various events such as stress, sadness, anger or joy.
When we experience intense emotions, our bodies respond through a complex interplay of physiological processes, including the release of hormones and neurotransmitters.
In some cases, our bodies respond to the emotional side by storing tension, leading to physical and psychological discomfort.
Yoga provides a safe and effective way to release these stored emotions, promoting balance and calm.
Yoga as a pathway to emotional release
Yoga is a comprehensive system that includes physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation and mindfulness to promote health and harmony in the mind and body.
When it comes to releasing emotions, it offers several benefits:
1.Awareness
Yoga encourages us to become more aware of our bodies and minds. This heightened self-awareness allows us to recognize when we are holding back emotional tension and encourages us to address it.
2. Breath control
Pranayama, or breath control, is a fundamental aspect of yoga. Deep, mindful breathing can help calm the nervous system, reduce stress and release tension.
3. Asana practice
The physical postures in yoga help release physical tension and open the energy channels (chakras) of the body. This can help release pent-up emotions stored in our muscles and connective tissues.
4. Meditation and mindfulness
Yoga includes practices such as regular meditation and mindfulness practice, which can help us process and release emotions in a healthy way.
Healthy crying in yoga
Yoga promotes the concept of healthy crying, which involves being able to express your emotions without judgment or suppression. Crying can be a natural and effective way to release pain.
In the practice of yoga, this can occur during a significant stretch when emotions stored in the body are released.
The release usually occurs in the form of tears. This is an indication that we are letting the accumulated emotions go and letting them flow out naturally. They provide a sense of relief and lightness.
And why is it necessary to release our emotions?
1.Stress reduction
Emotions such as stress, anxiety or sadness can create physical tension to significant pain in the body.
Emotional release through practices such as yoga and crying greatly helps reduce stress levels and promotes relaxation.
2. Emotional balance
Suppressing emotions can also cause emotional imbalance and even mood disorders. If we allow ourselves to experience and release our emotions, it helps maintain emotional balance and long-term stability.
3. Improved relationships
Unresolved emotions can affect our interactions with others. Emotional release can lead to better communication and healthier relationships.
4. Physical well-being
Holding on to emotions can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension and digestive problems. Yoga can alleviate these physical discomforts.
These phenomena happen and need to be surrendered to.
Don't be ashamed to express yourself and trust that no one will judge you and there is certainly no risk of ridicule.
On the contrary, most people will be more relieved that they are not alone in experiencing this and will be very sympathetic to you.
I can confirm from my own experience that I have witnessed several such episodes and I myself have been in them in front of my clients, who in turn have been even more supportive, we have smiled together and I have felt an even greater connection with them - a bond and understanding that has grown with each lesson together. I then consider it an achievement and a fulfillment of my goal that I was able to make that crucial step.
(To give you a better idea, I describe my first experience with emotions in my article How Yoga Changed My Life)
In the pursuit of a healthier and more balanced life, embracing our emotions through yoga can be a transformative step towards overall healing.
Have you ever had this incident in intensive practice? How did you handle it?
I would be glad for your comments...
