Mind~Body Connection
How to Mend a Broken Heart During a Time of Grief
On & Off the Mat with Meichelle
Our emotional state can be affected by an imbalance of the fourth chakra, Anahata, the air (heart) chakra. When this chakra is out of balance, we may experience a tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, a loss of meaning in life, difficulty relating to others or being overly emotional. To bring balance to the heart chakra, practice the Seated Cat Stretch as described above.
Shortly before this article was due for the magazine, I was informed by a former co-worker that a mutual friend had lost her only son over the weekend, suddenly, to a severe brain seizure. He was 28 years young.
At the viewing, the photos displayed a vibrant, jovial young man, full of a zest for laughter. He was tall, with dark brown hair and eyes that held deep secrets. His face, honest. His smile, genuine.
I stood in line amongst many who would give their left foot to spare this beautiful, kind and loving woman the pain of returning her son to God after such a short visit. When it was my turn to make a meager attempt to soothe her, she shared a brief story with me that he took care of her after her hip surgery the year before. He cooked her meals and got her addicted to the TV show “How I Met Your Mother.” We both chuckled and smiled at him as he rested peacefully next to us, listening I suppose on some spiritual level. I heard many similar stories of the son she adored while working together. Sadly, his viewing was my first opportunity to finally meet him. I cried with her as I mourned her loss and remembered the losses of my own loved ones throughout my life.
We all experience the loss of a friend or loved one at some point in our lives. Our hearts feel as though the next beat will shatter our entire insides from the ribs out. It's hard to breathe, think clearly or even to believe they're gone. We shake with frustration and anger at the loss of their future. We make deals with God that if we can wake up from the horrible nightmare, we'll be siting front and center for both services next Sunday. Promise. The weight of sadness wraps around the shoulders like a heavy blanket that offers little warmth. Thankfully, at some point, we realize there
by Meichelle Norwood