Meet Monique Minahan | Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monique Minahan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monique, what matters most to you?
Integrity and authenticity are two things I won’t sacrifice in my work and on my path. They are values I look for in others who want to collaborate also. Keeping my interactions human and personal is more important than growth. I revisit why I’m doing this work often. It helps keep me honest!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I had no idea what The Grief Practice would become when I started down the path of creating it. At first it was a book idea and a few grief-specific yoga classes at a local hospice center. Now I’m training other yoga teachers on grief and trauma in the body so they can offer something similar in their area. The more I learned about the science of grief in the body, the more I appreciated the soul of hope in the body. I love reminding people that their bodies are their biggest allies, even when it doesn’t look like it from the outside. The organic growth of the project, especially in the beginning, often felt painfully slow. Now I appreciate that every little detour was part of the foundation for what I offer now. Without those slow-downs I wouldn’t have been able to integrate and embody what I was learning and experiencing in a way that allowed me to add on the next piece of the project with integrity. The current evolution of The Grief Practice is embodied grief support through psychoeducation, trauma-informed yoga and community so people can find their own unique way through.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love all the nooks and crannies of San Diego. I lived in La Jolla for 20 years before moving to North County, so we’d have to visit some of La Jolla’s secret beach spots, get coffee at the old Pannikin on Girard and stop in at Warwick’s book store. I’ve been in North County almost six years now and am just starting to stumble on some sweet warm-water lagoons. I love the cozy space at Eve Encinitas for live music and the big booths at Lotus Cafe for lunch.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friend Adam in New York is someone who helped me find the path I’m on now. Adam was a friend of my husband’s. They went to law school together. After my husband died we became pen pals. We had never met, yet he became a quasi-therapist for me. He smoked a lot of weed and would respond to my long emails with one or two validating lines and sign them, “Peace-Adam.” We exchanged emails for years. One day he wrote, “I think you’re ready for The Power of Now.” That put me on the path of mindfulness, yoga, and all that came next. We both have kids now and aren’t in touch very often, but when we do he still signs his emails, “Peace-Adam.”

Website: www.thegriefpractice.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegriefpractice
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegriefpractice
Other: www.vimeo.com/thegriefpractice

Image Credits
Stacey Winters Kelsie Carlson