Yoga for Grief and Loss - Dallas
Yoga for Grief and Loss
Fall Retreat
November 2, 2024
9:30am-4:00pm
Springhill Retreat Center
3991 E Renner Rd, Richardson, TX 75082
Yoga for Grief and Loss offers grieving individuals the opportunity to learn about the ancient wisdom of Yoga and how it might transform their current grief experience. While the grief-illiterate world at large sends many subtle (and not-so-subtle)
negative messages about your very legitimate grief journey, Yoga for Grief instead offers an invitation to sit with, embrace, and grow through grief.
Whether your grief is new or many years old, you will find solace and comfort at our retreat.
What to expect
- Our yoga retreat will start with some breathing, a few “ground rules,” and a brief time of introducing ourselves and our losses. EVERYTHING we do on the retreat will be an invitation, to which you are free to say, “No, thank you” - or nothing at all.
- We’ll get moving - some gentle asana (the postures) to warm up and relax our tense or aching muscles.
- We’ll round out the morning with some discussion and processing activities.
- Lunch will be delivered, and we’ll eat onsite.
- After lunch, you will create a craft/memento that will honor your lost loved one(s). As our retreat is happening on the “Day of the Dead,” our craft will feature some traditional elements of that holiday.
- We will walk a labyrinth holding our creations.
- Upon our return from the labyrinth, we’ll close with more asana and a relaxing meditation.
Grief, like yoga, is non-comparative and non-competitive. Your feelings are yours alone and will not be judged. Likewise, you will be expected to respect the grief journeys of other retreat participants.
Your hosts
Nancy
Nancy Watson experienced a traumatic loss in 2019, and the only thing that made her feel even a tiny bit less awful was continuing to come to her yoga mat. When she completed the rigorous 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program in 2022, it was as though the universe was impelling her to focus her energy on Yoga for Grief.
Nancy met Suzanne and Dawn, two of the other retreat leaders, at a week-long Compassionate Bereavement Care Yoga training outside Sedona, Arizona in October 2023, and she began facilitating her 6-week Yoga for Grief sessions in January 2024.
She is the only certified Compassionate Bereavement Care Yoga Teacher in the North Texas area, a certified Grief Educator, and the founder and owner of Yoga for Grief Dallas.
Suzanne Oliwa began practicing yoga in 1986. She has had formal teacher training in classical hatha yoga (2003) and prenatal yoga (2004), and has also completed a more recent 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Circle Yoga in Washington, DC (2023).
Suzanne completed Compassionate Bereavement Yoga Teacher Training, alongside Nancy and Dawn, in October 2023. In addition, Suzanne is also trained as a SoulCollage® and Visual Journal facilitator. Suzanne offers collage classes, in hybrid format, to individuals and groups in her studio in Maryland, and on Zoom. She is deeply honored to be a part of this teaching team.
Suzanne
Dawn
As a survivor of PTSD (a 9/11 survivor), Dawn Walter was inspired by the teachings of her yoga instructors in the New York Metropolitan area. Following years of suffering from the symptoms of PTSD, Dawn moved to Arizona and completed numerous courses and certifications in Trauma Conscious Yoga, Compassionate Bereavement Care Yoga, meditation, breath work, Crystal Bowl Sound Therapy, and Yin Yoga.
Currently, Dawn is enrolled in a two-year program through InBody Academy to complete her RYT-500 and become a Certified Yoga Therapist. Dawn’s goal is to teach yoga in all its forms (including meditation, breath work, journaling, and sound) with inspiring music, quotes, humor, and compassion.
Jennifer Dickerson met Nancy during yoga practice at their home studio, The Mat. Jennifer is a licensed therapist and has been providing a safe and compassionate setting for clients since 2007. She works with a variety of issues including grief, trauma, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
Through Jennifer’s own grief experiences, combined with her clients’
struggles with grief, she has been inspired to attend the Compassionate Bereavement Care Certification program at the MISS Foundation in
September 2024. As yoga has also been an integral part of Jennifer’s life, she will complete Yoga Teacher Training in 2025. She is honored to be a part of this retreat.
Jennifer
Past retreat participants say...
“This was my first grief group of any sort. It confirmed my thoughts that I need to have a group to go to for my grief processing. It was wonderful.”
“Thanks for the beautiful retreat today and the opportunity to be with our grief.”
“Nancy creates a safe space to express grief and learn some practical coping strategies to process feelings. I’m glad I took the chance because this
experience helped me move through
some old emotional wounds with
Nancy’s gentle guidance.”
“I liked the gentle way you opened with your own story of grief and loss.
You made it possible for us to feel comfortable sharing
our own feelings of loss. You led us through yoga poses,
discussions of our grief, and creating a
tangible remembrance of our loved one to carry with us.
This memento of [my loved one] has become
a treasured piece. I loved walking the labyrinth
holding my memento over my heart.”
“Today’s retreat was truly lovely and so good for my soul. Thank you for your warmth and compassion and for creating such a meaningful day for all of us.”
Yoga for Grief and Loss - Dallas
Your $159 investment includes lunch, craft supplies, and abundant TLC.
Payment methods:
- Zelle (yogaforgriefdallas@gmail.com)
- Venmo (@nancy-watson-29)
- Mail a check to Nancy Watson, 7312 Maplecrest Dr., Dallas TX 75254
Still have questions? Contact Nancy:
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∞ All services offered with love and in remembrance of my dear child, who came in to the world as Emily and left the world as Adam, and who will be forever missed. ∞