30
Jan
2026
Grief, Presence, and the Courage to Stay Human: A Conversation with J.S. Park
Grief is something every human being encounters, yet many of us feel unprepared when it arrives. We live in a culture that urges us to move on quickly, to stay productive, and to return to normal as soon as possible after loss. But grief rarely follows a neat timeline. It lingers, changes shape, and becomes part of the landscape of our lives.
In this episode of the Yoga Inspiration Podcast, Kino sits down with hospital chaplain, writer, and grief educator J.S. Park to explore grief not as a problem to solve, but as a deeply human experience to honor. Their conversation moves through personal loss, communal grief, spiritual practice, and the ways we can remain open and compassionate even when life feels overwhelming.
One of the central themes of the conversation is the idea that grief does not simply disappear. Instead, it evolves. When we lose someone, when a dream dissolves, or when our sense of stability changes, something inside us shifts permanently. Rather than trying to escape that pain, J.S. invites us to see grief as evidence of love. We grieve because something mattered. And when we allow ourselves to feel that fully, grief can deepen our compassion and expand our humanity.
The conversation also explores how spiritual practice can support us when words fail. Yoga, prayer, art, music, and ritual often reach places that logic and language cannot. When we sit on the mat or enter into quiet reflection, we create space for emotions that may otherwise remain suppressed. Instead of bypassing pain, practice teaches us how to remain present with it.
Kino and J.S. also discuss how faith and spirituality can be shaken by loss. Many practitioners experience moments when their spiritual foundation feels uncertain or broken. Rather than seeing this as failure, J.S. reminds us that faith often moves through seasons. Just as nature changes, our beliefs and understanding evolve as we encounter hardship, healing, and growth.
Another powerful thread throughout the episode is the reminder that spirituality cannot exist apart from our shared humanity. Practice is not only about personal peace or self improvement. It must also guide how we show up for one another, how we respond to suffering in the world, and how we cultivate compassion in community. Real practice asks us to stay human, even when fear or anger tempt us to shut down.
Ultimately, this conversation returns to a simple but profound truth. Life is fragile and uncertain, and we do not have unlimited time to repair relationships or express love. Instead of waiting for the right moment, we can choose tenderness now. We can reach out, forgive, soften, and reconnect while we still have the chance.
Grief changes shape, but love remains. And when we learn to carry both sorrow and gratitude together, we discover a deeper capacity to live fully.
Listen to the full conversation on the Yoga Inspiration Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
If this resonated with you, continue your journey of practice, study, and community with us on Omstars. Inside the Omstars platform, you’ll find daily live classes, an extensive on demand library, courses, workshops, and teachings designed to support you both on and off the mat.
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