INTENTION Definition:  A thing intended; an aim or plan (from Latin Intentio(n) - stretching, purpose).  The end or object intended; purpose.  

When I began my yoga practice, I found myself confused by the instruction “set an intention for today’s practice”.  I guess I was never sure just what I should ‘intend’.  As a result (and because I have realized over the years that if I am confused, probably others are also), I have left that particular instruction out of my teaching.  

It is creeping back in.  The word, that is — not the instruction to ‘set an intention’.  

How so?  

I think that when I practice my poses with intention, I have purpose, I have a plan.  I am not just ‘willy-nilly’ stepping onto the mat and throwing down a few poses, then walking off saying to myself “there, I did it”.  

Intention creates mindfulness on my yoga mat.  

In Anusara Yoga, we have 5 principles that we follow in each pose (every pose, I should say).  They are:

1. Open to Grace

2. Muscular energy

3. Inner spiral

4. Outer spiral

5. Organic extension

Are you saying “Huh?” yet.  Well, let me explain it a bit further.

1. Open to Grace - we open to the practice, to our purpose, to our spirit,

2. Muscular Energy - we begin to engage the muscles,

3. Inner Spiral - drawing the inner thighs in, back and apart, we create space in the sacrum/pelvis (this also happens in the arms drawing support from the upper back and shoulders),

4. Outer Spiral - energize core and point the sacrum towards floor (towards a spot just behind the feet),

5. Organic Extension - the pose is set, now we grow it: pressing out through extremities - lengthening the spine - extending the crown of the head.

Sounds like a lot, but after you’ve practiced Anusara for a while, using these principles, it becomes like brushing your teeth — it becomes more intuitive on the mat. Or, should I say “more intentional”?

I have been reading a book titled “The Age of Overwhelm”.  In it the author offers us tools to avoid ‘overwhelm’ - one of those being to live with intention. Her words:  “Intention is like the banks of a river through which grace can flow.  Being intentional allows us to focus and move through this world without losing ourselves.”

If you celebrate Thanksgiving, may it be wonderful spending time with family and friends after the past long periods of isolation. Enjoy!