Processing Grief and Loss as a Woman: Healing Through EMDR, Somatic Therapies, and Yoga
- Toni Richter
- Feb 13
- 4 min read
Grief and loss are profound, life-altering experiences that touch the mind, body, and spirit. As women, societal pressures often urge us to mask our pain and "stay strong," making it difficult to fully process our emotions. Yet, unprocessed grief can manifest in the body as tension, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Holistic approaches such as EMDR, somatic therapies, and yoga can help release stored trauma and guide us toward healing.
Understanding Grief and Its Impact on the Body
Grief is more than sadness; it often carries physiological, emotional, and cognitive responses. Loss, especially traumatic loss, can become trapped in the body, resulting in symptoms like hypervigilance, numbness, or a persistent feeling of being stuck. These are trauma responses—signs that the nervous system is overwhelmed and unable to process what has happened. Recognizing grief as both an emotional and bodily experience is a vital first step toward healing.
How EMDR Supports Trauma Healing During Grief
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a research-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess painful memories. During EMDR, bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or tones) reduces the emotional intensity of distressing memories and allows the brain to resolve them. EMDR can help women process grief by:
Releasing Trapped Trauma: EMDR helps uncover and reprocess traumatic aspects of loss, such as sudden death or unresolved relationships.
Alleviating Emotional Triggers: EMDR reduces the intensity of painful reminders, such as anniversaries or places linked to loss.
Reframing Limiting Beliefs: It helps address feelings like guilt, shame, or helplessness often accompanying grief.
A Woman's Experience with EMDR in Grief
Many women find EMDR empowering because it moves beyond talk therapy. For example, a woman grieving the loss of her mother may experience recurring feelings of abandonment. Through EMDR, she can reprocess painful memories, reducing their emotional grip and making space for new, compassionate beliefs.
Somatic Therapies: Releasing Trauma Stored in the Body
Somatic therapies bridge the connection between body and emotion, helping women process trauma on a physical level. Trauma is stored in the nervous system, often showing up as muscle tension, shallow breathing, or dissociation. Somatic techniques can help women:
Identify and Release Tension: Simple practices like body scanning help women notice where grief is stored physically.
Restore Nervous System Balance: Grounding exercises and breathwork promote a sense of safety within the body.
Process Emotions Through Movement: Shaking, dancing, or mindful movement can release trauma without needing words.
Somatic Therapy in Practice
A woman experiencing chest tightness and insomnia due to grief may, through somatic therapy, discover that her body is holding unexpressed sorrow. Guided breathwork combined with slow, mindful movements can help her release this tension, resulting in better sleep and emotional clarity.
The Role of Yoga in Processing Grief
Yoga, especially trauma-informed yoga, combines breath, movement, and mindfulness, supporting the body's ability to process and release emotions. Yoga is a powerful self-regulation tool, especially for women navigating grief. The benefits of yoga for grief include:
Grounding the Nervous System: Slow, intentional poses activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing anxiety and calming the body.
Creating Space for Emotional Expression: Hip-opening poses, heart-openers, and child’s pose often release stored emotions.
Encouraging Self-Compassion: Yoga’s non-judgmental focus helps women meet their grief with kindness rather than avoidance.
A Woman's Experience of Grief Through Yoga
A woman navigating the loss of a pregnancy may find herself disconnected from her body. Through a regular trauma-informed yoga practice, she can reconnect with her body’s sensations, processing sorrow through mindful movement and self-compassion.
Integrating EMDR, Somatic Therapies, and Yoga for Holistic Healing
Combining these approaches creates a comprehensive healing pathway. Each practice complements the others:
Before EMDR: Somatic exercises can ground the body, preparing it for the emotional intensity of trauma processing.
After EMDR: Gentle yoga or body-based practices can help integrate new insights and regulate the nervous system.
Between Therapy Sessions: A consistent yoga practice provides ongoing support, helping to release any residual emotions and build self-compassion.
Honoring Your Unique Grief Journey
Every woman’s experience of grief is unique. Healing is not about “moving on” but about moving through loss with self-compassion. Trauma-informed therapists and yoga practitioners can support your healing process, providing a safe space to navigate the complexities of grief.
Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Healing Through Body and Mind
Grief is a deeply personal journey, but you are not alone. EMDR, somatic therapies, and yoga are powerful tools to process emotions, release stored trauma, and find peace. By integrating these practices into your healing journey, you create space for growth, self-awareness, and a renewed connection to yourself.
If you’re ready to process your grief with compassion, reach out to a trauma-informed therapist or yoga practitioner. Healing happens not by forgetting your loss but by honoring it—with your heart, body, and spirit.
If you are a mother or therapist in Missouri or Utah and you're ready to move through, release stored trauma, pain, anger, and you want to utilize body-based approaches for deep lasting change, visit my website to learn more about how I combine EMDR, somatic therapies, and trauma conscious yoga to support you on your healing journey to a more expansive life.
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