A break-up.

Most of us have been here at some point in our lives and it hurts. It can leave one with a lot of self-doubt, anxiety and, of course, stress.

But what if there was a sacred place you could visit to help heal that broken heart?

The answer could be as simple as your yoga mat.

Whether you’ve been with your partner for one month or one year, a break-up is a tumultuous time and feelings can be raw. Dealing with the unsettling situation can be difficult as your mind tries to make sense of it; so much so, you may even find yourself making excuses to help answer that massive “why?”

“I’m not pretty/handsome enough,” or “I’m not thin enough,” or “I’m not successful enough.”

These are all forms of self-judgment and can be released in a yoga class. Often, we judge ourselves more harshly than anyone else—this is self-sabotage.

In yoga, we begin to notice our thoughts. These thoughts become words, words become behaviors, behaviors become habits and habits become values. In yoga, we choose to appreciate non-judgment. The first tenant of yoga is to do no harm.

Passing judgment is harmful because that energy of criticism lives in you and affects you.

Another important lesson we can learn from yoga after a break-up is how to let go, offering freedom instead of pain. Often, people can’t move toward letting go because they believe that their power is in question—that if they let go, they will be seen as weak and powerless.

It’s quite the opposite, actually. Letting go brings the power back to your court, which is extremely valuable to help mend a broken heart. You can choose to react from balance and the present moment, rather than from reactivity and the past.

The most magnificent thing you will find is that it is far easier to let go than it is to hold on to the need for control.

Why not use this energy toward other things like having fun and moving forward?

Suffering a broken heart is never easy, but you must remember the heart is exponential. Yoga is a practice that can help you through a change by bringing attention to the growth as opposed to the contraction of the soul.

Heart and soul walk hand-in-hand, always.

Plus, a sense of community—joining like-minded and positive people—may just be the answer you need to help you heal.

Help the heart mend old wounds and heal with this simple meditation:

1. Sit in easy cross-legged position, spine tall.

2. Bring your hands to lotus mudra in front of the heart center. In lotus mudra the base of the palms, pinkies and thumbs touch. The remaining fingers spread open, like a lotus flower.

3. Bring focus to the tip of the nose or to the center space between your hands.

4. You could play a healing mantra while you meditate. One of my favorites is Gurunam Singh’s Guru Ram Das from his album Crimson Sadhana.

Sisters: Aida, Vyda, Zara and Siga, are committed to transforming their own lives and the lives of others through yoga and Health Yoga Life Coaching every day. The sisters own and operate the Health Yoga Life studio in Boston. However, they work with clients from all over the world who they coach, and train to become coaches, in their coaching methodology. Together they created the Emotional Responsibility Method™ to help people shift from reactivity to action. They believe that empowerment and happiness are an achievable aim for everyone they meet. Their offerings include Yoga Teacher Trainings (200 hour and 500 hour), Health Yoga Life Coach Trainings and Workshops/Retreats and Consulting. Learn more at healthyogalife.com and independentyogi.com and connect with them on Facebook.

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Asst. Ed: Amy Cushing/Kate Bartolotta