Exploring the Emotional Depths of Yoga: Insights from Our Teachers
You’ve followed them on Facebook, and you might even attend their classes in person if they visit your city. But how well do you know our YogaGlo teachers? We’ve created a new series, “Ask a Yogi,” so you can learn more about them by asking the questions you’ve always wanted to ask.
From favorite poses and tips for beginners to deeper questions about how their practice has changed their worldview, our teachers will collectively answer a new question each week. If you have a question that you’d like to “Ask a Yogi,” let us know in the comments below or email us at hello@yogaglo.com, and we’ll add your question to the list.
Today’s Ask a Yogi question is:
Why do students often experience strong emotions after yoga practice?
Elena Brower: For me, almost every time I practice in a class setting, you’ll find tears streaming down my face. I love learning, being present in my body, and how the practice always yields a feeling of strength and connection to myself and my family. Many people comment on experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to melancholy, but they all come away sensing some form of healing.
Kathryn Budig: The yoga mat is our personal island where any emotions we feel—joy, dread, exhilaration, or despair—can surface safely without judgment. A good yoga practice taps directly into our core and the reality of our lives, leading to emotional release depending on what we’ve been denying or holding in. It’s a place for sweet release and surrender, which leads to healing.
Jason Crandell: Practicing yoga reveals what is happening inside us. Sometimes, we have more turbulence within than we realize. The practice simply uncovers what we are already feeling, whether pleasant or painful, or both. It’s normal to feel whatever you feel—and it’s also normal not to feel overwhelmed with emotions after your practice.
Tiffany Cruikshank: Yoga challenges us to confront parts of ourselves we’d rather ignore. Whether it’s chronic pain from daily life or long-held emotional pain, yoga invites us to face these aspects bravely. The practice can leave us feeling either uplifted or vulnerable, but both outcomes teach us more about ourselves, helping us live as our brightest selves.
Steven Espinosa: During my first year of practicing yoga, I would often be in Savasana with tears streaming down my face. Reflecting on it now, I believe it was a significant release of pent-up energy and emotion. I had been struggling for years to hold it all together, and yoga allowed that energy to flood out, bringing both sadness and joy. It felt like coming home to my heart.
Marc Holzman: Emotional responses during yoga can signal a breakthrough, indicating that the student has gone deep. Sometimes, it’s a release of stored emotions or a response to an intense moment in life. After deep practice, our protective armor softens, allowing emotions to surface. This heightened sensitivity can also make us more prone to irritation when transitioning back to daily life.
Amy Ippoliti: Tears at the end of practice are natural. Touching into the miraculous nature of our own embodiment is a rare occurrence, and when it happens, it can be overwhelming. This heightened awareness of our essence is both astonishing and precious. Imagine living fully awake and present, from this expanded understanding.
Tara Judelle: Yoga works to transmute stored energy in the body/mind into a state of balance. This process can release emotions, whether recent or old, as we open up the muscles and fascia that store memories and energy. It’s a natural process of restoring balance and clarity.
Kia Miller: Yoga penetrates the deeper dimensions of who we are, bringing unconscious elements into the light. This process often releases strong emotions, as past traumas and unprocessed feelings stored in our bodies are uncovered. Embrace these emotions as they signify that you’re doing the work necessary to reveal your inner light.
Christina Sell: Emotional release during yoga can occur for various reasons. Busy lives often lead us to ignore our emotions, but yoga provides a space to tune into what’s beneath the surface. This practice clears away distractions, revealing feelings that were already present. Posture and breath are also closely linked to our emotions, and yoga helps release stuck energy. Embrace emotional release as a natural part of practice and transformation.
Jo Tastula: Yoga addresses physical, emotional, and mental stress. As you consciously work on releasing tension, it affects all levels of your being. Typically, tears come at the end of class when you’ve fully surrendered. Allow the tears to flow if they come—let the release happen.
Felicia Tomasko: In our daily lives, we often neglect to notice our feelings or thoughts. Yoga provides an opportunity to pause and let what’s beneath the surface emerge. Emotions aren’t confined to our minds but are felt throughout our bodies. Yoga helps unlock these stored feelings, and simply breathing and allowing emotions to move through you can be one of the greatest benefits of practice.
Harshada Wagner: Tears during sessions are common for many reasons. Yoga can unfreeze or release pent-up emotions and energy, leading to deeper spiritual and emotional experiences. There are numerous answers to this phenomenon, reflecting the diverse ways yoga impacts us.
