“Emotions need motion” - Paul Denniston

Grief is an emotion that many of us try to avoid. But what happens when we don't let it out? In this episode, we explore how hidden grief can get stuck in the body, causing tight shoulders, stomach pain, and nonstop anxiety.

Paul Denniston, founder of Grief Yoga, joins Dr. Aimie to explain that grief doesn't simply disappear when ignored. Instead, it hides in our muscles and body, making them hurt or feel uncomfortable.This conversation sheds light on how movement and even laughter can let the feelings out of our bodies in a safe way.

We'll talk more about:

• How grief physically manifests in the body
• Why movement is essential for trauma healing
• How to recognize if what you're feeling is grief (even if it looks like anxiety or anger)
• The power in creating dedicated time and space for grief expression
• Learning how to sit with grief safely so it doesn't feel too overwhelming
• How laughter can be used to access deeper grief
• How practitioners can hold space for others' grief without becoming overwhelmed themselves
• The physical and emotional benefits of moving grief through the body 
• And more!

 

Whether you're a practitioner working with grief, someone supporting a loved one through loss, or navigating your own healing journey, this episode shares insights into transforming pain through movement practices that incorporate breath, sound, and embodied awareness.

 

Paul Denniston is the founder of Grief Yoga®, which uses yoga, movement, breath, and sound to release pain and suffering and connect to love. His intention with Grief Yoga is to combine many different forms of yoga in order to help heal grief.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

• The Essential Sequence - free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.
• Biology of Trauma book - How the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. At the time of this recording, you can join us in The Insider’s Circle Book Club and pre-orders will be going live soon. 
• Foundational Journey - If you want to be guided through The Essential Sequence laid out in the guide and the book, join me and my team for this 6 week journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices to lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely. These are the daily practices I have found that change one’s biology and health symptoms the fastest.

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 74: Why Stored Trauma Becomes Syndromes & Their Somatic Solutions
• Episode 114: Grief: The Science Behind Why We Can’t “Get Over” Loss and How to Grieve

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.