Setting Intentions for the New Year

"Change is not something that we should fear. Rather is is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they are meant to be."

~ BKS Iyengar


I came across this quote by renowned yoga teacher and founder of Iyengar Yoga,  BKS Iyengar this weekend and it resonated. This is the season for reflection. As we turn inward and imagine our selves as we want to be, so we can turn outward and reflect that vision of ourselves into the future. It is the season of "Good Will Towards Men," when we examine our relationships with our loved ones, friends, enemies, and ourselves and find the compassion we need to let go of past hurts and move forward with fresh eyes and a loving heart. It is the season of the dark and cold, the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice, when we light candles and hold celebrations, letting our inner light shine.

In my Radiant Child Yoga class we have been telling a story about the Winter Solstice. How as the world became darker and colder, the people and animals became afraid. A Warrior volunteered to journey to the Sun and find out how to bring the Sun back to warm the Earth. The Warrior finds the Sun, but his rays are diminished and his strength wanes. The Sun tells the Warrior that everyone on Earth must come together with intention, holding a space for the rebirth of the Sun. Remembering with gratitude all the reasons they need and want the Sun to return. They must come together to celebrate the return of the Sun. Sharing gifts and food, but most importantly sharing the lights of their candles and the brilliance of their inner light. In our class this week the story continues with the Warrior returning to her people and gathering all the people and animals together in celebration. We will be the animals and we will be the candles and we will laugh together and let our light shine.

We have also begun exploring Intention in my Morning Yoga class. Setting an intention is a very personal process. On Tuesday, I invited everyone to create a breath based mantra inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh to stay present with their intention during class. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master who's key teaching is that, through mindfulness, we can learn to live happily in the present moment—the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world. We do this by connecting the intention to the breath.

I breathe in: "I am present in my body."
I breathe out: "I am peaceful."

Whatever your intention, it is important to simplify it into a powerful, affirmative statement for the breath mantra. "I want to be more forgiving," becomes "I am forgiving." "I want to control my anger," becomes "I am peaceful." This is a practice of mindfulness.

Thich Nhat Hanh defines mindfulness as "the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing."

In yoga we use the breath as a tool to stay to connected to the present moment. A deep, conscious breath can take you out of an unconscious reaction and be the beginning of positive change. By linking the breath to an internal mantra, we link attention and intention and begin the process of harnessing our own inner power.

Setting Your New Years Intention

Over the next few weeks, as the old year wanes and the New Year approaches, I will continue to explore the ideas of intention and mindfulness in my classes. Incorporating these practices can offer powerful tools for changing unhelpful thought patterns. However, through intention and attention we can also begin changing unhelpful patterns in the body.

I invite you to join me in exploring your personal goals for your yoga practice. Some possible goals may include: improving posture, building strength, increasing flexibility or joint freedom, digestive health, reproductive health or managing stress. There are as many possibilities as there are individuals.

Each of us has learned to live with our own peculiarities. We get used to our aches and pains, accepting them as unavoidable parts of our lives. Our bodies adapt to repetitive movement patterns and old injuries unconsciously. Unconsciously, we mirror the postural habits of our parents and our societies. These unconscious postural habits and reactions to old injuries and daily stresses is what causes much of our daily discomforts. What we forget is that we have a mostly untapped capacity for transformation. We can change the underlying patterns that cause those aches and pains through attention and intention. The first step is developing an awareness of what those patterns are. Once we bring attention to our own physical habits, we can begin exploring the postural and alignment practices that can move the body towards balance. Yoga is moving the body and breath with intention. We can then take that awareness and practice of intention off the mat and into the daily routine.

If this resonates with you, take some time to think about what changes would bring you into a fuller, healthier, happier expression of who you are. Contact me to set up a half hour session, before or after class where we can explore your goals and postural habits. This will give me tools to provide more helpful, personalized instruction during our class times together and provide you with tools to turn your traditional New Years resolution into positive and intentional transformation.

I'm offering this service as a New Years special to my current students and to new students with the purchase of a punchcard. I am excited to continue growing and changing with you in this practice of life, as we all do the work of blossoming into the fullest expression of ourselves.

Love & Light!

Jessa