“Follow the urge to transition from one phase of your life to the next. Whether this is inside or outside work, it’s time for intentional transformation to take place.” ― Robin S. Baker

Sharing Intentions

I want to share something I wrote during my first day of yoga teacher training a few years ago. We were asked to reflect on why we were pursuing the training and write down our primary intention for committing to two years of study. This was my considered statement:

“To deepen my yoga practice and become qualified to teach in a safe and informed manner.”

It may seem dull, but it was honest. I’d never considered an intention before - I only knew I wanted to explore yoga more fully. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to teach.

Towards the end of the training, after many hours of study and self-reflection, we were asked to revisit our original intention. Here’s what I wrote:

“To embody the principles of yoga in daily life, whether through teaching, practising, or simply living.”

My goodness, what a shift! They say that yoga teacher training is transformational (it is) - now here’s the proof in writing, folks 😂

These morphing intentions over time got me thinking about this practice, which adapts to whatever we need it to be in the changing flow of our lives.

Fresh Intentions

My core intention for my yoga practice remains the same, but the specifics vary depending on the class, practice, and season. Each time I step on my mat, I find a new or more pressing intention relevant to my age, stressors and the state of my body and mind.

Here are some of the intentions that came up for me this past week:

“Let this hour be a break from my thinking mind.”

“To open up my chest so I can breathe better today.”

“Boy, do I need to let go - let me find multiple moments to practise this.”

“To feel held by my teacher and not have to think about what to do.”

“I want to feel inspired for my teaching in September.”

September Spine

September is my favourite time of year. It’s a natural season for fresh intentions to flow. Although I adore the summer sun, I welcome the autumn with open arms. The subtle change in weather brings with it an attitudinal shift that involves resetting, openness and learning, starting a new school year and beginning anew. As the external light begins to fade, an internal ember flickers, waiting to be stoked and encouraged.

With September here, my mind is turning to basics. Like opening page 1 again of a well-read textbook, I’m feeling the pull of core principles. Concepts always worth revisiting and remembering since they lie at the heart of the foundational aspects of Asana practice. Principles of stability and expansion, periphery and core, and, of course, the spine.

May I share my intention for tomorrow’s Asana class on September 2nd? Here it is:

“We will focus on returning to the fundamentals - the core principle of Awareness in all its capacity (body, breath, mind). Additionally, we will work on length in axial extension while experiencing full spinal movement in twists.”

Well-Intended

When I think of intentions, I think about positive and negative interactions. Perhaps you've experienced situations where someone said all the right things, but you know they weren’t sincere... “We care about you as a valued customer” - Hmmm, really?

On the other hand, you may have received some brutal news or honest feedback, but you couldn’t resent it because the intention behind the delivery was genuine and kind. This is why I love this quote by Paramahansa Yogananda so much, which I often cite as one of my favourites, “In the state of love, no matter what you do, it’s going to be good”. It shows how powerful intentions can be in real life, affecting the energy, direction and impact of our words and actions.

Try Intentional

Whatever intentions I hold for myself and you when we share our practice, I can’t know yours, for they will be unique and ever-changing. Each of us will get something different from our time on the mat.

So, since an intention can impact the energy, direction and power of your experience, I encourage you to approach your practice with an intention, whether every time or occasionally. Consider setting one for your few minutes on the mat or more widely for the stage in your life. Can you prepare your heart and mind to receive your intention when you begin?

What happens when a teacher asks you to make an intention at the beginning of a class? Does a word or phrase come quickly to mind? Calm, grounded, strong, relaxed? Sometimes, nothing comes - it feels a little like being put on the spot - it does for me anyway. So here, I offer some suggestions I’ve used myself to get you thinking more about your own:

“To give myself some time that I deserve.”

“To be as focused as I can for the hour ahead.”

“To stretch out my back and feel less stiff.”

“To be held and guided and enjoy moving.”

“To be patient and kind to myself.”

“To be courageous and sit with uncomfortable sensations, thoughts or emotions.”

“To surrender fully in Savasana.”

How do they sound?

Let’s practise.