2011, my first posting of the New Year, welcome 2011. I am so glad you are here. 2010 was filled with lots of changes for me, my journey on the yoga path being one of the biggest and most life changing. I am thrilled and excited to be facing 2011 in anticipation of continued growth and inner peace. This year instead of setting a New Year’s resolution (how many of us really keep them all year anyway?) I decided to set a sankalpa. Some texts describe a sankalpa as resolve others as an intention. . Whether you look at it as a resolve or an intention, a sankalpa practice starts from the premise that you already are who you need to be to fulfill your life’s dharma or purpose. All you need to do is be present to the voice of the inner self, following the voice of the highest truth.

A sankalpa comes out of listening, it’s not something you need to make up it is already present, but you have to be still and quiet to discover it. That’s where the physical yoga comes in. Through a regular practice of pranayama (breathing), along with asana (poses), practicing yogis have discovered a stillness within. Out of the stillness of listening your are able to hear the message of the deepest truth and heartfelt desire. Once you have heard the message the second state is turning to and welcoming in the message. When you hear the voice within speaking, you must be willing to be in its presence – sitting with it, feel it, and deeply reflect on it! Next you form your sankalpa as a statement of deeply held fact, and a vow that is true in the present moment. So I set a sankalpa for myself: With energy and perseverance, I bring the practice of yoga to those who need it, simple and in the present tense. This was true for me when I set it and it remains true to me today. (Doing a spiritual check in with yourself to assess whether you sankalpa is still a statement of truth in the present moment is a good practice.)
I woke up this morning with two things I resolved to do to support my New Year’s sankalpa, to do my home yoga practice and to run 7 miles, all part of my new path toward accountability. Initially I was hesitant, but I did a check in with myself asking for the energy and willingness to take these actions if they were meant for me to do today to support my sankalpa. As I went through some other tasks, the desire to practice came, followed by the desire to venture out into the cold to reach the YMCA (frigid temps did not seem to support my sankalpa, so why torture myself, the treadmill did very nicely). I noticed lightness in my running as I faced the window watching hurried, bundled patrons approaching the doors. This is how a sankalpa works. When you are connected to the truth within your own self a sense of purpose materializes.

I encourage you to do the work to set a sankalpa. Sit quietly, meditate, listen and then move forward in action toward being and becoming your true self, the self you’ve always been, the self you are meant to be.

For more information about sankalpa visit:
www.YogaInternational.com
www.yogamat.com