In this thoughtful and deeply grounded episode, I sit down with Gyani Richards, MA—a grief counselor, Certified Grief Educator, and lifelong student of meditation and wisdom traditions—to explore what it truly means to live with grief over a lifetime.

Gyani's path into grief work began early, following the death of his father when he was just 13 years old. That loss set him on a lifelong journey of inquiry—one that led him into meditation, Eastern and Western wisdom traditions, martial arts, and ultimately the field of grief counseling. With over 40 years of personal practice and professional experience, Gyani brings a calm, compassionate, and deeply human presence to conversations about loss.

In this episode, we talk about grief not as something to "get over," but as an experience that unfolds, evolves, and teaches us over time. Gyani shares how meditation, embodied awareness, and spiritual inquiry can support grievers without bypassing pain or forcing healing. Drawing from his background in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology, Aikido, and grief education, he offers insights into how grief lives in the body, how presence can soften suffering, and why meaning-making is a deeply personal process.

Together, we explore themes such as:

Early loss and its lifelong impact
Grief as a teacher rather than a problem to solve
Meditation and mindfulness in grief support
The role of embodiment and movement in healing
Integrating wisdom traditions with modern grief counseling
Learning to meet grief with curiosity, compassion, and patience

This conversation is especially meaningful for those seeking a quieter, more contemplative approach to grief—one that honors sorrow while gently opening space for growth, insight, and resilience.

Whether you're newly grieving or decades into your loss, this episode offers reassurance that grief does not mean you are broken—and that wisdom, presence, and healing can emerge when we learn to walk alongside it.

Episode Highlights

grief counselor interview
living with grief
grief and mindfulness
grief and meditation
navigating grief and loss
embodied grief healing
grief as a lifelong journey
grief support podcast

Know Gyani Richards

Website at www.ourgriefpath.com

YouTube at https://youtu.be/3Y0F5IPcWO4

Substack at https://gyanirichards.substack.com/p/grief-and-aikido-relaxing-under-pressure

Did you enjoy today's episode?

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Finding your soul's purpose through grief