Finding Balance: How Yoga Helps Navigate Grief and Honor Loved Ones

When I think about someone who shaped who I am today, my Nana is the first person who comes to mind. In the picture above she is sitting by her beloved collection of nutcrackers. She was an extraordinary woman who gave me a childhood filled with joy, creativity, and unconditional love. Reflecting on her life and the lessons she passed down to me, I can’t help but see the connection to the teachings of yoga—the way she nurtured my imagination, supported my dreams, and encouraged me to see light in every situation.

Growing up, my life was split between my mom’s house and my grandparents’ home. With my mom in the military when I was young and often shouldering the challenges of single parenthood, my Nana and Papa played a huge role in raising me. My Nana ran an in-home daycare, but I always knew I was her favorite (don’t tell the others!). She made every moment magical, sparking my wild imagination in ways that continue to shape me.

Before bed, she would print out stories for us to read together before bed, and when I inevitably begged for another, she never hesitated. We made up songs, hand gestures, and silly rhymes. She encouraged me to dream big—whether it was sketching plans for an indoor slide my Papa would build just for me or engineering tin-can telephones to connect with my aunt down the street. She even orchestrated elaborate St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunts where I chased an elusive leprechaun, never quite catching him but always finding golden coins along the way.

Those moments taught me to believe in the impossible, to create a world where anything was within reach. My Nana gave me the courage to dream without limits and the confidence to chase those dreams, even when doubt crept in. She showed me the beauty of seeing the good in every situation, the way yoga teaches us to find balance and gratitude on and off the mat.

Her love and support weren’t just about helping me imagine—it was about helping me believe in myself. When I decided to become the owner of Emerald Yoga Studio, I carried her lessons with me. The spinning plant holder she gave me to celebrate that milestone sits in the studio, a daily reminder of her love and encouragement. It’s a symbol of continuity, much like the way yoga teaches us to flow with life’s changes while staying rooted in our values.

Yesterday marks three years since she passed, and while grief is still a part of my journey, I feel her presence in everything I do. Yoga teaches us that we can hold space for both joy and sorrow, for motion and stillness, for light and shadow. My Nana embodied this balance—she cheered me on when I needed it most, laughed with me when times were hard, and reminded me to always keep dreaming.

I hope to make her proud as I continue to shine my light and share the creativity she inspired in me. My imagination, my dreams, and even my yoga practice all trace back to her love. I owe it all to her. And as I guide others in their yoga journey, I hope to pass on even a fraction of the light she gave me.