Example
One of my favorite things about yoga happens within the first 10 minutes of class when we take time to settle in and set a sankalpa or an intention. It's such a simple gesture but I've found it has a profound effect not only on my class, but also on the rest of my day. I love how one of my teachers explains how to set an intention to her new students - she asks them to think of a quality they'd like to cultivate in their lives. The idea being whatever you create on your mat follows you out into your daily life.
I just finished my first teacher training apprenticeship and it was during this time that I really noticed the effects of setting an intention. I was nervous that first Sunday and the first thing that came to mind was 'confidence' and the second 'open mind'. I decided both were good as I needed to be confident in my knowledge and open to new ideas and lessons so I went with both. I can't say that I noticed an immediate difference. It wasn't until the following Sunday when I failed to set an intention that I noticed myself stumbling more and simply not feeling as comfortable in my verbal and physical adjustments. After that class, I decided I'd stick with the intentions set during my first class and I honestly felt much more confident and comfortable in all of my remaining apprenticeships.
