Yoga for Forgiveness

True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience”

– Oprah Winfrey

There are many different reasons we may find ourselves wanting to forgive someone in our life and the journey to forgiveness is unique and individual to each of us, but we all deserve to feel peace within.

The process of forgiveness is complex, it is strength and gentleness, a rainbow of emotions shining through the dark clouds. It takes courage, understanding and your own self-love to hold you steadfast on one of the most precious journeys to inner peace.

One of the biggest gifts Yoga can give to you is compassion, nurturing an ability to surrender up any negativity and anger, creating space within for empathy, positivity and freedom. This can be for yourself, or for someone who has wronged you or hurt you in some way.

The process of being able to ‘let go’ can be healing, as holding on to resentment gives power to feelings of inner negativity for yourself, or to the other person, and you remain painfully ‘stuck’.

It can be felt within as the Heart Chakra (Anahata) closes. You cannot move forward, practically, emotionally, or spiritually, and if we continue to hold onto this, we can show signs of physical stress and depression. Long term this can become bitterness.

Yoga can give you therapeutic tools to help with the release of painful feelings. With care and tenderness using pranayama techniques, meditation, journaling, and asanas that cultivate you to let vulnerability wash over you, whilst opening your heart and hips where we can physically store our emotions, is to let a glimmer of light in, to let the healing begin.

This may take time, and forgiveness is a process, some days can be harder than others.

A restorative Yoga practice can gently nourish and empower you. This gentle practice can soften your heart space with kindness, patience, and empathy, opening your Heart Chakra which replenishes a joy for life, relationships, and the path to forgiveness.

Forgiving does not mean condoning behaviour, but you will with time be able to move forward without pain or regret.

Helpful Yoga practices can be for example:

• Pranayama – breathing techniques that connect you to your emotional energy through the physical sensation of release

• Gratitude – an active gratitude practice can cultivate positivity, and perspective

• Actively send a forgiving thought to someone who has hurt you. Maybe they were doing their best, maybe they are in emotional pain

• Physical asanas can help release pent up emotions and nurture an open heart

• Set an intention for your practice, this could be flowing to forgive, to let go, or to let compassion in

• Dedicate your practice to someone who has hurt you

• Meditation – sitting with yourself can be intense at times, but it enables you to acknowledge thoughts and let them go. Looking inwards fosters compassion and acceptance for yourself. This can radiate beautifully to others around you

• Affirmations – positive affirmations can help you through a healing journey. Some to try for example:

  I practice understanding and compassion.

  I forgive everyone in my past for all perceived wrongs. I send them loving energy and wash it out of my aura.

  All is love.

• Journaling – especially therapeutic post meditation for any emotions that arise and for practicing gratitude

Remember, forgiveness is a personal experience, it can have many layers to it, forgive without expectation, and be kind to yourself along the way.

“Let go of the battle. Breathe quietly and let it be. Let your body relax and your heart soften. Open to whatever you experience without fighting.”

Jack Kornfield

Be kind and go with the flow.

Jo