During relaxation while teaching my first ever proper yoga class I noticed that one of my students was silently crying. I quietly offered her a tissue and tried to convey sympathy with my eyes without disturbing the rest of the class. Now that I’ve been teaching for a while I’ve learned that it is not unusual for students to shed a few tears at some point during a yoga class. Heck, I’ve done it myself! I once heard someone say (I can’t remember who now) that if you’ve never sat in meditation and cried, you’re not doing it right.

What is it about yoga and meditation that triggers this reaction? Maybe it’s the first time in while that we’ve sat quietly and been alone with our thoughts. All those things we’ve been trying not to think about swim back up to the surface. Maybe something the teacher has said, or a mental image brings back an emotional memory. Some yoga teachers talk about releasing emotion that is stored in the hips or the shoulders. What I’m really saying is that I don’t know exactly why it happens, but I do know it is completely normal.

Yoga helps us get in touch with ourselves. Some days that means getting in touch with our physical body, other days it means getting in touch with our emotions. So, if you do find yourself welling up on the yoga mat, know that you are not alone and there is no need to feel ashamed. Sadly the weeping student never came back to class – if you are out there feeling embarrassed, please don’t be! You might have been my first tearful student, but I know you won’t be my last.

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash