When faced with a great loss our body, mind and spirit may feel broken. Yoga can bring us back together, one piece at a time. The word yoga means union, or “to yoke.”  You don’t need to do any difficult postures, be flexible or athletic.

This practice is about mindfulness and self-compassion, so let those be your touchstones rather than trying to achieve some erroneous ideal. Pay attention to your senses, sensations, thoughts, and insights. Although this practice is gentle, it is still powerful.

The four tracks below are designed to do in order, however you can also use them as stand alone practices. Stream on this page or download them to a shared folder. Each file is numbered so that your media player can play them sequentially. The complete practice is about 1 hour.

Preparation: Find a quiet space in your home that is warm and free of clutter. Turn off the phone, and tell anyone in the house that you need to be undisturbed during your practice. You may also invite them to join you. Traditionally this style of yoga is offered without music so as not to influence your mood, however this is your practice! Feel free to play calming music or nature sounds if that will enhance your practice.

Precautions: The first principle of yoga is ahimsa: nonviolence. Practice nonviolence to yourself by not causing your body any physical pain during your practice. If you are under medical supervision, check in with your practitioner before embarking on a yoga practice.