I’ve often found this time of year to be especially powerful in enhancing my yoga practice. I do believe that yoga is always a powerful practice, however the gift of the new year brings deep reflection and introspection that can amplify processes of self-inquiry, expanding our spiritual awareness and commitment to yogic living.
The New Year is a time of transition, when we’re teetering on the verge of new opportunities and possibilities. Simultaneously, we’re experiencing the tail end of 365 days filled with defining, transformative moments, and the imprints of these experiences - be they gains, losses, successes, setbacks - can be most palpable when we reflect upon them this time of year. Luckily, our yoga practice can help us find our footing. Committing to our yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices can both ground us and open us up to the new possibilities, allowing this time of transition to also be a time of transformation.
In class, we commonly practice setting an intention by bringing our attention and awareness to a quality or virtue we wish to cultivate for our practice both on and off of our mat. Like a new year’s resolution, an intention names something we are seeking to attain for ourselves and/or others. But unlike resolutions, intention-setting focuses less on goals and more on the journey which leads to certain outcomes. Think of it this way: intentions focus more on internal power and long-term change, whereas resolutions focus more on external—and sometimes, short-lived—rewards.
Intentions seek to address samskaras - i.e. the accumulated residue of past thoughts and actions - from within in order to achieve change. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, it is suggested that samskaras can be eradicated over time by journeying inward and realizing the peace and joy that is our true nature.
Not only can intention setting bring about general self-improvement, but can also lead to increasedself-compassion and contentment all at the same time. So remember, if done right, an intention will not only lead us to achieving a check-list of external improvements, it will give us the self-led support we need to realize our true nature.
My intention as a teacher is to help each one of you to release tensions and to develop a relaxed state of mind, thus improving mental clarity, alertness and physical well-being.
The New Year is a time of transition, when we’re teetering on the verge of new opportunities and possibilities. Simultaneously, we’re experiencing the tail end of 365 days filled with defining, transformative moments, and the imprints of these experiences - be they gains, losses, successes, setbacks - can be most palpable when we reflect upon them this time of year. Luckily, our yoga practice can help us find our footing. Committing to our yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices can both ground us and open us up to the new possibilities, allowing this time of transition to also be a time of transformation.
In class, we commonly practice setting an intention by bringing our attention and awareness to a quality or virtue we wish to cultivate for our practice both on and off of our mat. Like a new year’s resolution, an intention names something we are seeking to attain for ourselves and/or others. But unlike resolutions, intention-setting focuses less on goals and more on the journey which leads to certain outcomes. Think of it this way: intentions focus more on internal power and long-term change, whereas resolutions focus more on external—and sometimes, short-lived—rewards.
Intentions seek to address samskaras - i.e. the accumulated residue of past thoughts and actions - from within in order to achieve change. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, it is suggested that samskaras can be eradicated over time by journeying inward and realizing the peace and joy that is our true nature.
Not only can intention setting bring about general self-improvement, but can also lead to increasedself-compassion and contentment all at the same time. So remember, if done right, an intention will not only lead us to achieving a check-list of external improvements, it will give us the self-led support we need to realize our true nature.
My intention as a teacher is to help each one of you to release tensions and to develop a relaxed state of mind, thus improving mental clarity, alertness and physical well-being.
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