How does the death of a parent redirect the course of one’s life? Judy Glassman joins Yuliana on today’s episode as she recounts the painful experience of losing her mother to brain cancer, the joy of finding yoga, and transitioning into a new career at a later age for a meaningful life.
Judy begins the conversation by describing the challenging event that reshaped her life - losing her mother to brain cancer rapidly and having to bear that weight solely. She goes on to discuss how she coped by compartmentalizing and finding time to remind herself to breathe, finding peace in yoga, and starting a career in yoga therapy even at a later age. As is the tradition on Phoenix Tales, our guest closes out this moving and inspirational episode by describing the song that most resonates with her life.
Episode Highlights:
- The challenging event that redirected the course of Judy’s life
- Bearing the weight of it all
- Coping by compartmentalizing
- The complicated process of grieving as the main caretaker
- How Judy’s independence helped her through her mom’s death
- Seeking healing in yoga
- What is yoga therapy?
- Starting a new career at a later age
- Planning for the future
- The one song that resonates with Judy’s life
Quotes:
“For 10 minutes every morning, I allowed myself to do nothing and stare out the window and breathe.”
“During that time, I simply was the caretaker with my own ball of emotions .”
“No matter how young or old you are, a parent's death follows you and gets more difficult as you get older rather than less difficult.”
“I was my mother's first priority. And that changed.”
“I ultimately, really, completely healed myself with yoga.”
“We get to focus on a person's challenges and not see them as anything negative, but just to be able to give them the power, and help heal them through these modalities.”
“I am careful about my own practice so that I don't overdo it.”
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Judy Glassman Yoga
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