If you take a yoga class in a studio or use many yoga DVDs, you may have heard the instructor start with a reminder to set an intention for your practice. Whether your instructor verbally reminds you or not, setting your intention is a good way to start your practice.
Setting your intention is basically dedicating your practice. The practice can be dedicated to anything or anyone. Your intention is not a goal and shouldn’t be based on your plans, to do list, or a future goal in your career or life. Setting your intention is more about being than doing. It is how you want to be in this moment, not wanting to be something in the future.
Your intention is personal, chosen by you, and completely private. To set your intention, in the first minute or two of your practice, you sit quietly, listen to your thoughts and focus on your breath and your body. When setting your intention, don’t get nervous or panic, as this makes it more difficult to set the intention. Breathe slowly and evenly, relax and let your thoughts flow freely, as you calm your body and mind with the breath.
As you sit quietly and breathe, turn the focus inward and let go. Your intention doesn’t need to be lofty or philosophically meaningful. A simple intention can have the most meaning, if it is meaningful to you. Your intention can be as simple as the intention to live in the moment, an intention toward self acceptance or to let go of stress and relax.
The intention can extend beyond the mat. For example, you can set the intention to live your life like yoga class, or take the feeling you have during your yoga class out of the studio with you. This intention can be a great reminder to live in the moment, accept yourself or let go of stress throughout your day, not just in class. This type of intention can be not only meaningful, but life changing, as you begin to care for yourself in every moment.