Grief Support Network

YOGA THERAPY PROGRAMS IN 2018, GSN HELD 5 AWAKENING THROUGH GRIEF YOGA THERAPY PROGRAM GROUPS AND 2 FROM GRIEF TO GRATITUDE 9 MONTH YOGA THERAPY PROGRAM GROUPS (51 PARTICIPANTS IN ALL). GSN PROVIDES THESE REWARDING YOGA THERAPY PROGRAMS FOR ALL STAGES OF GRIEF AND TYPES OF LOSS. BECAUSE GRIEF IS HELD IN THE BODY, YOGA THERAPY IS A POWERFUL TOOL IN THE GRIEVING PROCESS. THROUGH YOGA, MEDITATION, JOURNALING, GROUP SHARING AND MENTORSHIP, PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, SPIRIT AND PHYSICAL BODIES, CREATING A LEARNING COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEIR GRIEF SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR PERSONAL GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION. IN 2018, GSN'S IT TAKES A VILLAGE PROGRAM WAS TRANSFORMED INTO THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY PAIRED 30 GRIEVERS WITH MENTORS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. GSN SHARES THE BELIEF THAT ALL HUMANS HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM THEMSELVES THROUGH GRIEF, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS THEM. IN GRIEF, A PERSON WILL OFTEN FEEL ISOLATED AND ALONE. THIS IN TURN CAN CREATE INCREASED FEELINGS OF LONELINESS, ISOLATION, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. HUMAN CONNECTION IS ESSENTIAL TO ONE'S HEALING PROCESS AFTER EXPERIENCING LOSS. PAIRING A MENTOR (A SCREENED AND TRAINED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER) WITH A GRIEVER CREATES A POWERFUL ENVIRONMENT OF CONNECTION AND SUPPORT. IN 2018, GSN PILOTED A YOGA THERAPY TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH CERTIFIES TEACHERS TO FACILITATE GSN'S SIGNATURE YOGA THERAPY PROGRAMS. THE PILOT CLASS HAD 6 STUDENTS. THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP EXPAND THE REACH OF GSN'S WORK AND INCREASE THE IMPACT ON THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY. TEACHERS FROM ACROSS COLORADO, NEBRASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA PARTICIPATED IN THE COURSE AND ARE ACTIVELY TEACHING THE WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2018, GSN'S PROVIDER NETWORK CONSISTED OF 20 PROVIDERS WHO OFFER A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALING AND SUPPORT WITH A SPECIAL AFFINITY TO GRIEF AND LOSS. IT IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY NETWORK OF HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, THERAPISTS, BUSINESS RESOURCES AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS. THROUGH OUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC, MORE THAN 2,500 PEOPLE ACCESSED THIS NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2018, GSN HELD 4 GRIEF RITUALS (67 PARTICIPANTS IN ALL). THESE RITUALS INVITE PARTICIPANTS TO GRIEVE IN COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE TOOLS TO HELP MOVE THROUGH GRIEF IN A CONSCIOUS, SUPPORTED WAY. RITUALS GIVE PURPOSE TO ACTION AND ALWAYS SERVE TO CONNECT US TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN OUR OWN SOLITARY SELVES. THIS MOVING EXPERIENCE INCLUDES DRUMMING, SINGING, SHARING AND CREATING A VILLAGE TOGETHER THAT HAS THE POWER TO HONOR AND TRANSFORM GRIEF INTO THE NEXT STAGE OF ITS JOURNEY.