Sankalpa

The lead photo was snapped on Dublin’s Sandymount strand on New Years morning 2020 - a morning many of us woke with intentions, hopes and aspirations for the years ahead. I have written about my dislike of the word ‘resolutions' many times, for many reasons, but most especially because resolutions rarely work and generally leave us feeling even more like failures than before we started them. Also, they are primarily focused on something outside of us, be it food (or eating less), exercise, work etc - so they are not coming from the heart.

Sankalpa

For 2020 let’s switch this mindset by working with sankalpa - a Sanskrit word meaning intention or vow that is created from the heart. In the Satyananda yoga tradition, tuning into the heart’s desire to uncover the true sankalpa is achieved mostly through the practise of yoga nidra or yogic sleep, a form of deep relaxation practised either on its own or at the end of a yoga class. But you dont need to be lying on your mat.

When I think of sankalpa, it is in a soft, heart-centered way. We are always too hard on ourselves, always beating ourselves up about not being enough - not doing enough - not earning enough etc. How many times in your life have you heard the message of your heart but ignored it, later realising that it was right all along? We know intuitively the power of the heart, so lets listen to it and let it be our anchor.

Eddie Stern

Eddie Stern whom I have written about previously (here) talks about setting attainable, bite-sized goals. “Failed resolutions outnumber successful ones, but there are simple ways around that,” he says. For those having a hard time bringing yoga into their lives for example, Stern suggests doing five sun salutations, five days per week. “If some days you do more, that's great. But set a minimum bar, not a maximum, and stick to the minimum. Who knows, over time, your minimum might expand naturally.”

Meditation

I have long struggled with maintaining a meditation practice. Those thoughts just keep coming and my busy mind is pulled in even more directions every time I try to sit still. I know I’m not alone, but I don’t beat myself up about it either. Stern suggests focusing on brief moments of concentration that when added together equal meditation: “Each time you bring your mind to concentrate on one breath, or one mantra, it equals one moment of concentration,” he explains. “So, if you are looking to start or keep up with a meditation practice, you could start by trying to do 25 moments of concentration on either each breath, or on a mantra. It takes several minutes to do so and if you do it in a relaxed manner, pausing slightly between each moment of concentration, your mind can stay relatively thought free during that practice. he suggests the So’ham mantra, inhaling the sound “so” and exhaling the sound “ham”. This is a contraction of “sah” and “aham,” which means, in Sanskrit, “I am That.”

Zephyr Wildman

Always on my list of trusted teachers, London-based Zephyr Wildman continues to inspire me to live from my heart. [Read my recent review of her yoga retreat at Tresanton in Cornwall here.] Zephyr’s new year podcast is all about sankalpa [Listen here]

“The start of the year is a great time to create a sacred pause, to be still enough to listen and to move forward with intention,” she says. “Far too often we set goals that are not based on our real truths as we continue to seek approval outside of ourselves. Why not look internally by saying ‘I am enough’ and begin with an intention of self love and self worth.” intention should not be a goal or something to achieve per say, but something to anchor and bring us home. These moments of pause through the day will help you reconnect with yourself and realise what matters most and what brings you joy. Let these form your sankalpa.

Setting an intention at the beginning of a yoga class or practice, be it something you need to let go off or what do you need more of, and reinforcing this intention through your practice by saying the words ‘be with me’ or ‘I am enough’ can help mould this vow or dedication. With the neuroplasticity of our brain, these sankalpa when practised daily slowly become automatic and an integral part of you going forward.

Silentium

The following extract from the poem Silentium by Russian Poet Fyodor Tyutchev will hopefully help you on your 2020 journey. Keep these words close, be still and listen to your heart.

‘Be silent, hide away and let your thoughts and longings rise and set

in the deep places of your heart.

Let dreams move silently as stars, in wonder more than you can tell.

Let them fulfil you – and be still.

Live in yourself. There is a whole deep world of being in your soul,

burdened with mystery and thought.

The noise outside will snuff it out. Day’s clear light can break the spell.

Hear your own singing – and be still.’

*The divine Love Eye Pillow (pictured) is one of a range available from the fab on-line toga and lifestyle Yogaclicks - tell Lucy I sent you!