Episode 8. Grieving Through our Bodies: Yoga and Somatic Practices with Dr. Beth Stroyde, Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher

In this episode, we are exploring the connection between grief and the body, and how physical symptoms like tension, shallow breathing, and even inflammation are often silent companions to emotional pain resulting from grief. If you’re a widow struggling with these physical manifestations of grief, this conversation with Dr. Beth Stroyde might resonate deeply with you.

Dr. Beth Stroyde and I discuss how practices like yoga and other somatic techniques can offer relief—not just for your body, but for your mind as well as soothe your heart. Yoga practised with the right intentions can help you bridge the gap between your emotions and the physical discomfort you’re feeling. We talk about how tuning into your body’s wisdom can help you navigate this difficult journey, offering more than just temporary relief, but a way to truly understand and process your grief.

You’ll hear about the powerful role of breathing, how something as simple as deepening your breath can unlock physical and emotional release, and how to give yourself permission to feel everything—from anger and guilt and joy—without judgment. We also touch on the societal expectations placed on widows and how yoga can help you break free from those constraints by building self-awareness and resilience.

If you’re finding that grief is affecting your physical health, this episode is full of insights and practical tools to help you reconnect with your body, process your emotions, and move toward healing.

Takeaways:

• Yoga and somatic practices offer powerful tools for managing grief by improving physical strength and flexibility while supporting emotional well-being. These practices can help you process loss more holistically.

• Listening to your body’s wisdom—such as noticing physical sensations—can enhance self-awareness and emotional resilience. This process, called interoception, helps you understand how grief is manifesting in your body and mind.

• Deep, mindful breathing can ease tension in your chest and relieve stress. Slow, intentional breaths can also improve oxygenation and organ function, providing relief from the physical strain of grief.

• Embracing all emotions—from sadness to anger and guilt—is vital for healing. Yoga and mindfulness can create a safe space to feel and process these emotions without judgment, helping you navigate the complexities of grief.

• Grief affects both your mental and physical health, and addressing both is key to healing. Physical care, like yoga and breathwork, combined with emotional processing, can support a more holistic recovery. Explore Yoga Nidra for deep relaxation and emotional integration.

Guest’s BIO:

Dr Bethany Stroyde is a clinical psychologist and therapeutic yoga teacher, supporting adults in navigating a range of challenges, from attachment wounds to chronic pain. With a special interest in mind-body approaches, she is passionate about helping people to heal on a deeper level from emotional and physical pain, so they can experience greater wellbeing and connection with themselves and others.

Connect with Beth via her website: https://heartmindbodypsychology.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartmindbodypsychology/profilecard/?igsh=MXFtM3c1YmU2aXBnOA==

Helpful links and resources:

- Take part in the Free Grief MOT to find out if you are stuck in a state of shock or whether your grief is progressing and does not require professional help.

- Book a free 15-consultation with me to discuss the results of your Grief MOT

- Find out about Grief Group Therapy that I offer

- Unsure whether to see a psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor or grief coach for grief support? Read this blog post to find out more.

- Find out more about grief support  

My BIO:

Dr Monika Wieliczko, Chartered Clinical Psychologist D.Clin.Psych, MSc, MA

Psychologist by profession, and a widow, in private.

Connect with me on social media:

Facebook, Instagram, Linked In

I have lost my life partner of 15 years to bowel cancer after a long and gruesome fight for his life. These experiences shaped and changed me forever affecting every aspect of my life personally and professionally. The three most challenging years of my life made me realise that our society has a profound problem with death and shaped my understanding of what life is really about.

I consciously bring both perspectives into my practice; incorporating 15 years’ worth of knowledge of how our minds work with a large dose of lived experience of grief and mourning.

I know the pain of loss but I also understand the burden of unaddressed grief.

The unresolved feelings surrounding your late partner can prolong your grief for years, stopping you from truly mourning your loss, affecting your entire life. By making a conscious effort to understand and work through your grief you give yourself permission to live your life again.

Apart from running a private practice, I am also a visiting lecturer at The Institute of Psychiatry in London delivering teaching for trainee clinical psychologists. My research interests involve the effects of profound trauma on grief response and the community-based approach to helping people with grief. I have worked within the NHS as well as private and charitable organisations in the UK since 2011. I have trained at various universities across the UK and Poland and I have completed my doctoral studies at the Canterbury Christ Church University.