Yesterday I co-led a goal-setting workshop with life coach Kristina Vitale of I Won’t Not, a community that encourages its members to get out of their comfort zones through monthly events and weekly challenges. The theme of the day was “intentions” so we talked about how we can be more intentional in the steps we take. I guided a slow flow yoga class, then she led a vision boarding exercise to identify goals related to health, wealth, love and laughter. It was awesome!
Intention-setting is a common component of western yoga classes. At a certain point in the beginning of a class, a teacher may pause and ask you to set your intention. When a yoga teacher asks you to set an intention for your practice, it is an invitation to change the lens in which you view the class, and it’s an opportunity to take control of your own experience, no matter what happens.
Yogi master Joel Kramer wrote, “Yoga is a tool to open the mind and body to bring transformation. It opens the physical and mental binds that block your potential, limiting your life. The essence of yoga is not attainments but how awarely you work with your limits – whatever they might be. The important thing is not how far you get in any given pose but how you approach the yogic process, how your mind views yoga. Most of the real limits that you confront in yoga live in the mind, not in the body.”
Setting an intention for your yoga practice hones in on why you are there and what exactly you need. It gives you a personal goal to focus on such as “being present”. However obvious that goal might sound, articulating an intention gives you a clear word to come back to when the physical aspects of a class become challenging or when your mind wanders off. Essentially, your intention is your mantra for the class.
It was interesting to hear each person reveal the intention they chose for their yoga practice yesterday. Though we flowed side-by-side and looked almost identical in our physical movements, each of us had a unique experience on the inside. By creating individual intentions, a room full of people can simultaneously move in unison while meeting different goals. This happens in the yoga studio, and it happens every single day as we move side-by-side in our lives.
Applying a personal intention to any activity can greatly modify your perception of it and allow you to learn something new every time, no matter how routine it may seem. Try setting an intention for something routine in your life, and see if intention-setting can give more meaning to those recurring events. Where else could you practice “being present” especially during moments of challenge and distraction?
