Sometimes I do set an intention in yoga asana class (in words) and sometimes I don’t. It really depends on how I feel and what has transpired before class throughout the day. Sometimes- it’s just too hard to choose- SO MANY THINGS come up that I have to take control and toss all that shit aside- because after all, I have like .05 seconds to set it and “sorting” is futile. Sometimes it’s just there and that is usually about health, well-being and right action. A lot of times, especially in times of turmoil- the intention is a feeling … to find comfort …stay in a pleasant mood… work with an injury (I will be mind full of my … blah blah blah- ok ok, not so blah- “I will be mindful of my Serratus anterior”) and quite commonly in the past 2 years “Please let me not cry too much tonight” or, BETTER yet “when I cry I will be able to see through the tears”.
But, most recently “to find magic in the transitions”. In San Francisco, as in a lot of cities- it is so darn easy to just walk around like you have a “Bobble Head”- from one place to another- bob bob bobbing along –> side note [This is one of the reasons I like ”Instagram” so much, I get to take many pauses, and with no fuss have a fun little pic to take with… now to just get off the 3G… anyways, find me there @faern]
I digress… setting an intention at the beginning of yoga class has always been interesting for me, and these “intentions” take many forms- I have both burst into tears and laughter (yes, sometimes at the same time) and I just accept that whatever that was had to come out in one way or another.
If the “setting your intention” thing still confuses you, or is too “woo woo” for you I have a very important secret to share with you- you do not actually have to set the intention. Yep, I said it, you don’t. WHY? Here’s the trick- just by showing up and participating in the class you have already set one. No way around it…
…. Let that go…. Try that out….
{image: Khristine Jones}
Over the past few weeks things have done this thing- a shift. Some unidentifiable exposure finding new comfort in old statements. Overturning criticism implanted, but in a way that has created a certain amount of gratitude. Sure, there is a sense of loss- but really it’s more like a sense of relief. It only takes a second for my mind to wander and then to fall into itself. But, I am not so allowing in that area anymore. But now, for example somehow I finally don’t have to always feel a sense of despair when I think about my mom. For so long I have had to sift through rampant emotions in order to just access any memory of her. Which I am grateful for – in a major way… but this isn’t supposed to be about that… I havn’t been able to ramble on my blog for a while. I have been busy working on conquering within myself- addressing personal concerns directly taking the time to really see.
Model: Abbie Dutterer
