Have you ever cried during your yoga practice?  I know I have!  I’ve had the tears silently streaming & the ugly cry 😊 The tears of happiness & joy, the tears of sadness, the tears of anger.  Why do we sometimes cry during practice?  Do you feel you shouldn’t?  If so, why do you think you feel this way?

Crying during yoga can be a result of a variety of emotional or physical factors.  It can bring about a deep emotional response.  It can serve as a tool for emotional release & self-exploration.  It can stir up past traumas.  It can hold you while you work through them.   One of the most common poses to experience tears in is Pigeon Pose.  Child’s Pose is also a big one for me (maybe because I’m all tucked up in a ball & no one can see me crying?)  Here are a few reasons you may experience tears during your practice:

1.       Emotional release: Some poses, especially those that are deep hip-opening poses, can activate & release stored emotions in the body.  Often, we hold emotions & tension in our hips and it just accumulates like crazy.  Holding the poses can release emotions that may have been suppressed or held in. This can lead to natural releases like tears.

2.       Vulnerability & surrender: Yoga encourages a state of surrender & letting go.  You open up physically, mentally & emotionally during your practice.  This can bring about feelings of vulnerability, creating space for emotions to surface.  Tears may be a result of that sense of surrender & release.

3.       Physical release: Holding poses, especially poses like pigeon, releasing physical tension & tightness in your muscles.  That release of tightness can cause a sudden emotional response.

4.       Body / mind connection: Yoga creates a strong body / mind connection.  You become more attuned to sensations & emotions that you may be feeling.  This heightened awareness can bring emotions to the surface. 

Please remember that your yoga practice is unique to you.  Just because others may have some kind of emotional release during their practice doesn’t mean you will.  It all varies from person to person.  Come to your mat with an open & non-judgmental state of mind, allowing your emotions to rise up.  If you need extra support, reach out to a therapist – don’t be ashamed or anything like that.  Be patient with yourself & treat yourself with loving kindness during your practice & life.  Working through emotions in your practice will help you find your true self by peeling back emotional layers.  I’m here to support you in any way that I can!