Setting your intention at the beginning of practice can be a great way to ensure you get the most out of your yoga practice. If you feel you have been lazy lately, encourage yourself to choose to apply effort in each pose. If you feel you have been pushing or feeling overwhelmed lately, you can decide to use your practice to stay with the breath or to try to maintain a sense of calm or ease during the practice.

Other types of intentions can be set. Here are some ideas from the yamas:

1. ahimsa (non-harming, non-injury)

2. satya (truthfulness)

3. asteya (non-stealing, non-coveting)

4. brahmacharya (celibacy, can also mean faithfulness or managing the senses appropriately)

5. aparigraha (non-grasping, non-clinging {perhaps to ideas of what you should be or have on the mat})

 

But how can you practically keep the ideas you set for yourself on the mat?

• Perhaps by using the intention as a sort of mantra. You could repeat the word or concept to yourself, in the mind, while you practice.
• You can also refrain from watching others during the practice, to allow yourself to remain inward in your attention. In this way, it may become easier to stay with your intention, or to return to it more quickly.
• Keep bringing the attention back to your intention. Know that it is normal for you to need to do this again and again. Be vigilant and easygoing about it.
• Make your intention something that actually matters to you, right now.
• Practice using your intention as a way to care for yourself. Give yourself attention through the use of intention.
• Be kind toward yourself at all times while you work with intention. There is no need to beat yourself up or use the intention to put yourself down. All your efforts should be loving and kind toward yourself. This is really a gift you give to yourself.
• Work with what is real and true at the moment you are on the mat.

This should be really fun and enjoyable. I hope you will have a great time with it! Have a great week!

Yoga Pose of the Week: Boat Pose – Navasana

Yogic Concept of the Week: Setting intention as I practice yoga, I can also keep this with me throughout the day or week.