Set an Intention

We’re continuing to explore “Rules of Yoga, Rules for Life.” We’re now on the fourth “rule,” so be sure to go back through the posts to remind yourself of rules one through three. Setting an intention is a common suggestion in a yoga class, but what does this actually mean?

The Sanskrit word for “intention” is sankalpa. It comes from two roots: kalpa means “vow” or “the rule to be followed above all other rules” and san which means “connection with the highest truth.” Sankalpa is a vow or commitment we make to support our highest truth. A sankalpa practice arises from the radical notion that you don’t have to fix anything within yourself; you already have everything you need to fulfill your life’s purpose. The challenge for most of us, however, is recognizing and claiming our sankalpa.

In a yoga class, our intention can be quite simple, such as “be present today,” “move in my pain-free range of motion,” “give in to relaxation and rest,” or “have fun” (please see rule #1). An intention can also be linked to big-picture living, such as “recognize when I am not listening to my body and gently bring myself back” or “live more fully in the present moment now and every day.”

My favorite time to work with intention is during the transitions in class. After I finish some writing and I sit down on my yoga mat, I pause in the transition between activities to set an intention for my practice. When I rise from savasana at the end of the class, I pause again to set my intention for how I want to show up for the rest of the day.

If you’re alert, you’ll notice that your day is full of transitions. As you move from one activity to the next, take a moment to pause and honor the transition between activities. If you set a simple intention at each transition, each activity becomes an expression of your vow and your whole life begins to support your highest truth.