Hiraeth...

This week, I discovered the Welsh word hiraeth.

I was describing to Garden Room Counselling the deep sense of longing I felt after visiting the place where I grew up. I said I came back feeling homesick for somewhere that no longer exists.

Jonathan smiled his kind smile and said, “The Welsh have a word for it—hiraeth.”

Hiraeth describes a profound sense of nostalgia and emotional yearning for a lost way of life, a place, or a person.

It felt like a lightbulb moment—finally having a word for something I’ve felt most of my life for various reasons.

So many of us long for places, people, and ways of life that are no longer ours.

So how does this relate to yoga?

Yoga teaches us acceptance. Savasana—the stillness at the end of class—gives us time and space for the body and mind to settle. Arguably, it’s the hardest posture of all, because being still can feel so unfamiliar in our busy lives.

Savasana has a special lesson, especially when we’re yearning for what’s out of reach.

Your body is your home.

We will love people and places, and we will miss them when they are gone. But your home is never lost.

Savasana is not just about relaxation—it’s an opportunity to reconnect with your body, your anchor, your home.

A yoga mat isn’t just for postures. It’s a space to return to yourself, to notice your feelings, to practise acceptance, and to reconnect with your one true home.

Yoga won’t take away your longing—but it might help you learn to hold it.

With love and kindness,

Steph x

If you are looking for compassionate, professional talking therapy I highly, wholeheartedly recommend Garden Room Counselling.