Have you ever found yourself yawning, laughing, crying, shivering, or even burping after a deep yoga class or a healing energy or bodywork session? Maybe you’ve had dreams that seemed too vivid, a wave of nausea, or a sudden urgency to use the restroom. Though they may seem odd or even embarrassing, these experiences are often signs of an energetic purge—your body’s natural way of releasing stored-up energy and creating room for healing, clarity, and growth.
What Are Energetic Purges?
An energetic purge is a physical, emotional, or mental release of pent-up or stagnant energy. Stress, unresolved emotions, and past traumas can become “trapped” within the body, showing up as tension, discomfort, or even emotional numbness. Through purging, the body releases these blocks, helping you return to balance and feel more open, aligned, and alive.
Here are a few ways these purges can manifest:
Yawning or Sighing: In practices like yoga or meditation, yawning or sighing may seem like simple relaxation, but they actually signify a release of tension and an increase in oxygen flow.
Crying: Spontaneous tears often arise during emotional release, whether it's grief, sadness, or relief, allowing deeply held emotions to find their way out.
Laughing: Uncontrollable laughter is a powerful energetic release, breaking down emotional walls, clearing tension, and increasing endorphins to create a feeling of freedom and joy.
Shivering or Shaking: Often after intense emotional or physical work, the body may shake as a way to discharge excess energy, similar to how animals shake after stress.
Burping: Burping may sound unusual, but it’s another way the body lets go of tension or stored energy, especially during breathwork or other forms of release. It’s just another sign that the body is processing and purging energy.
Digestive Purges: Nausea, vomiting, or sudden bowel movements can feel uncomfortable but are sometimes necessary for detoxing deep physical or emotional toxins.
Dreaming: Vivid dreams, especially after healing sessions or plant medicine work, provide a way for the subconscious to work through unresolved memories and emotions during sleep.
How Yoga, Bodywork, and Plant Medicine Can Stimulate Release
Healing modalities like yoga, bodywork, and plant medicine activate and move energy through the body, often prompting release. Each practice supports energetic purging in its own unique way:
Yoga: Physical postures, breathwork, and meditation open up energy channels, moving stagnant energy and encouraging release. This is why spontaneous yawns, laughs, or even tears often arise during a deep practice.
Bodywork and Massage: Deep tissue massage, acupressure, and other bodywork techniques reach into areas where tension and emotions are stored. Releases like burping, sighing, or crying are common as these energies move out of the tissues.
Plant Medicine: Plant medicine ceremonies often involve intense purging—both physically and emotionally. These practices help confront and release buried memories, allowing us to experience emotional and physical cleansing through crying, laughing, or even digestive purges.
The Benefits of Purging: Physical, Emotional, and Energetic Cleansing
Though purges can feel uncomfortable, they serve a valuable purpose for overall wellness. They allow us to:
Release Deeply Held Emotions and Toxins: Whether it’s through crying, laughter, or digestive release, purging clears away energy and emotions that have been held too long.
Shift Patterns and Heal Traumas: Letting go of old memories or patterns creates space for new perspectives, freedom, and growth.
Renew Balance and Alignment: After purging, people often feel “lighter” or more open, reflecting the body’s rebalancing toward a more natural state of well-being.
When You Think You’re Sick, You Might Be Transforming
It’s natural to feel concerned or confused by symptoms of purging, but they may be signs of transformation. The body is recalibrating, clearing out old patterns and energy, and making space for a higher level of health.
To support yourself during purges, try:
Hydrating: Water, herbal teas, or coconut water help your body flush out toxins and stay nourished.
Resting: Give yourself time to relax and integrate the changes your body is processing.
Grounding Practices: Walk barefoot on the earth, spend time in nature, or try breathing exercises to calm and center yourself.
Be Responsible and Seek Assistance When Needed
While these purges are often natural signs of healing, it’s important to be mindful of your health. If you feel unwell or have symptoms that worry you, don’t hesitate to seek medical assistance. Healing practices can support profound transformations, but it’s always wise to take a balanced and responsible approach. Trust your intuition, and when in doubt, consult a healthcare professional.
In Closing: Embrace the Beauty of Release
Energetic purges can be intense, but they are profound signs of release and renewal. Embracing these experiences with compassion allows you to let go of what no longer serves, creating a deeper sense of peace, alignment, and vitality. Each yawn, tear, laugh, shiver, or burp is a reminder of your body’s wisdom and resilience, guiding you toward greater freedom and well-being on your journey of self-discovery.