Finding Hope Through Breathwork

Grief is a universal experience, yet it is deeply personal. It touches every corner of our lives, reshaping our identities, relationships, and even our understanding of the world. For some, it comes like a tidal wave, sudden and overpowering. For others, it settles in slowly, like a fog that doesn’t lift. No matter how grief manifests, it often brings questions we don’t know how to answer: How do I move forward? Can I ever feel whole again?

As someone who has walked this path, I’ve learned that grief doesn’t just affect the heart or mind—it takes up residence in the body. My sister, Stacy, was only 18 when she died in a car accident. I was 16. After two decades after her death, I did what many grieving people do: I tried therapy, stayed busy, and kept my feelings to myself. Each approach offered temporary relief, but none addressed the toll that grief has on the body.

Somatic breathwork is a practice that changed the way I approached my own grief and inspired me to support others. Somatic breathwork acknowledges what many of us intuitively know but often struggle to articulate: grief isn’t just an emotional burden—it’s a physical one, too.

Grief’s Compounding Layers

Grief is rarely experienced in isolation. For many of us, it is compounded by other aspects of our identity and life circumstances. As a queer person of color, I’ve felt the weight of societal expectations, cultural taboos, and the pressure to appear “strong” in the face of adversity. Growing up in a world that often marginalizes certain identities, grief took on an additional layer of invisibility. Where could I find support that wouldn’t require me to explain or justify my feelings?

For others, the compounded nature of grief may stem from different sources: unresolved childhood trauma, financial stress, or the pressure to return to “normal” in a world that doesn’t pause for loss. Grief doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and these overlapping challenges can make it even harder to process and heal.

The Body as a Safe Space for Healing

One of the most profound realizations I’ve had is that grief doesn’t always need to be talked about to be healed. In fact, many people don’t want to talk about their grief at all. Sometimes, words fail. Sometimes, recounting painful memories feels like reopening wounds. This is where somatic breathwork becomes a powerful tool.

Somatic breathwork offers a way to process grief without verbalizing it. Through intentional breathing techniques, we invite the body to release the tension and emotions it has been holding onto. The practice is both simple and profound. As the breath flows, so does the grief, allowing for a sense of relief that words alone often can’t provide.

For me, guiding others through somatic breathwork isn’t just about helping them heal; it’s about creating a space where they feel seen and understood. Whether someone is grieving a loved one, a dream that didn’t come true, or the loss of a sense of self, the breath provides a path forward—a way to move through the pain without having to explain it.

Finding Connection in Shared Stories

One of the things I cherish most about my work is the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life. Grief may be a solitary experience, but it also has the power to unite us. When we share our stories, we remind each other that we’re not alone. As a grieving sibling, I’ve often felt that particular ache of missing someone who was supposed to walk through life with me until we were grey and old. But I’ve also found healing in hearing from others who have faced similar losses.

For those who don’t feel ready to share their grief with words, I encourage you to explore other avenues of expression. Whether it’s breathwork, art, movement, or simply sitting in stillness, there is no “right” way to grieve. What matters is that we find ways to honor our pain and move through it, piece by piece, in our own time.

A Community of Hope

Grief can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. By acknowledging the physical, emotional, and social dimensions of loss, we can create spaces for healing that are as multifaceted as grief itself. My hope is that my story and my work inspire you to explore new ways of finding relief and connection, whether that’s through somatic practices, community support, or simply giving yourself permission to feel.

To those navigating the layers of grief, know this: you are not alone. Your pain is valid, and your journey matters. And when you’re ready, the breath is here for you—steady, patient, and full of the hope that healing is possible.

Reach Stephen Stott through his website: Somatic Breathwork for Grief, Trauma, and Emotional Pain (embracethedarkness.org)

Check out Stephen’s appearance on Open to Hope Radio.