“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” – Khalil Gibran.
Winter can be particularly difficult for those who have loved and lost. Whether it be a relationship that has run its course, or the death of a lover or loved one, the waves of grief can feel like a storm this month. Exploring the mind-body connection can act as a refuge from the surges of grief. On the heels of new year resolutions, exploring the physical and mental connection can satisfy your movement goals in 2026 while mending any emotional cracks along the way.
“There is no denying of the connection between the body and mind,” states Dr. Ewa Adamek, a licensed psychologist and co-founder of Grounded Minds Psychology in Tarrytown. “Grief often keeps the body stuck in survival mode. It creates physical tension, overwhelms the system, and is physiologically exhausting. Grief naturally pulls people toward isolation and inactivity,” Dr. Adamek explains.
The good news, movement doesn’t have to be intense or lengthy to see the benefits mentally. “Even just a 20-minute walk three times a week is enough to release endorphins” says Dr. Barbara Kapetanakes, a licensed psychologist with a practice in Sleepy Hollow. “Movement outdoors exposes you to the sun and enables your body to make vitamin D, which naturally acts as an anti-depressant. We are fortunate to live in an area ripe with natural walking paths and trails that we should take advantage of,” suggests Dr. Kapetanakes.
We spoke to Tara Scheller, a registered yoga instructor and owner of Rivertowns SUP & Yoga in Tarrytown, who witnesses first-hand the transformation movement brings to client’s emotional moods. “Movement creates circulation both physically and emotionally. Through slow, intentional movement, grief is allowed to move through the body rather than remain locked inside of it,” Scheller explains. “After practice, many people describe a mental shift that feels subtle but grounding. They feel quieter inside and more rooted in the present moment. Some experience a more impactful shift that feels like an awakening and a release.”
Jennifer Ruggiero, studio owner and lead teacher at The Pilates Movement Tarrytown, echoes the experience of seeing the “shift” on the mat: “In my over two decades of teaching Pilates, I can usually sense when a client is going through something. It manifests as an emotional release — tears surfacing during a specific moment — or as a pause where someone needs to stop and reconnect with their breath,” Ruggiero explains. “Almost always, they express that they feel better after leaving the mat than they did when they arrived,” she reveals.
The advice Dr. Kapetanakes gives for getting started with a movement routine, “Know who you are. Take small steps and set realistic goals.” Dr. Adamek agrees, “Start simple if that’s all you’re ready for. Grief is complicated enough; healing can meet you where you are.”
If movement classes like yoga and Pilates are of interest, both Ruggiero and Scheller offer their medium’s advantages. “Pilates, in particular, allows for adaptability. There is always a way to move in relationship to how you feel in the present moment, whether that means moving gently, slowly, or with more support. Pilates apparatus offers a lot of support to the body” Ruggeiro boasts.
“Yoga teaches us the importance of the pause, giving the mind a break by anchoring attention in sensation and breath. This practice helps to quiet the noise in our mind (what yogis call the monkey mind), often creating a greater sense of calm and clarity both mentally and emotionally” states Scheller. Rivertowns SUP & Yoga also provides the opportunity to take your movement outside by offering SUP (stand-up paddle board) yoga practiced on the Hudson River. “The experience of being on the water heightens the yoga experience on so many levels, demanding much more of our focus and presence in the moment. The natural movement of water creates an environment where balance is constantly renegotiated,” explains Scheller. “Learning to trust yourself when feeling unstable is a primary element of SUP Yoga and a practice that can be carried into everyday moments, especially times of grief,” she concludes.
If the saying is true, that grief is just love with nowhere to go, then for better health and healing, let that love move through you.
