Is yoga just about making shapes on a mat? Is it about lengthening tight hip flexors and building strength in plank pose?
The ultimate goal of asana, the physical practice of yoga, is to prepare the body for seated meditation. But what happens on the mat is much more than a physical preparation, strengthening, or lengthening.
If you’ve been to my class, you know that I give students the opportunity to set an intention or dedication at the beginning of their practice. A moment of pause at the beginning of class allows us to reflect upon how our yoga practice can support our life and goals. By setting an intention or dedication, our practice can become something larger than a personal sweat session or lengthening of tight muscles.
Intentions are personal and can be anything that speaks to you in the moment. You can choose a different intention each time you practice, or you might find yourself returning to a similar theme again and again. Below are a few examples:
- Dedicate your effort on the mat to someone specific who needs love sent their way. When I first began my yoga journey, my grandfather was battling cancer so I would often dedicate my practice to his healing.
- Set an intention to cultivate a specific quality within yourself. This could be something as simple as promising to meet yourself with compassion or to experience joy in your body throughout that practice. Side note: you’ll be amazed by how much this will transcend your yoga practice and effect other areas of your life.
- Dedicate your practice to a global cause or movement that is important to you. Think about the bigger picture and where you want to have influence. How can you make the world a better place? This could mean dedicating your practice to a social justice cause that is important to you or praying for peace during times of global conflict.
Whatever your intention or dedication, it can be a focal point and a source of strength through your practice. And if you end up asking yourself why you’re working so hard during a particularly difficult side plank hold, you have very clear reason why.
If you’ve been to my class, you’ll also know that at the end of practice I ask everyone to reconnect with their intention or dedication. Reaffirming our intention is critical so that we can carry it off our mat and into the rest of our day. The real work begins once we step off the mat and focus our efforts on bringing that intention to life by taking action.
Is it enough to simply dedicate our asana practice to the healing of all those who suffer? Is it enough to simply pray that a broken relationship be repaired? Is it enough to set an intention that all beings know freedom?
No, it isn’t enough. But it can be the beginning.
Mindfully setting an intention for our practice is our starting point. We then dedicate ourselves fully to our practice for the sake of that intention. The work that we do on the mat prepares us for the work we must do off the mat. Our asana practice strengthens our mind, body, and soul so that we can go out into the world and be of service to the people who need us and causes that are important to us.
Our practice helps us show up as the best versions of ourselves so that we can utilize our unique gifts and abilities to the benefit of others. So, the next time you’re on your mat, know that your practice can lift you and all those around you higher. Your practice has the power to not only to benefit you but the entire world.
Jessica is an RYT-200 who’s yoga journey began in 2008 when she went in search of relief from the physical demands of long-distance running. She quickly fell in love with the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of a regular yoga and meditation practice. She completed her RYT-200 in 2013 and considers it an honor to share the gift of yoga and to help others find freedom and joy in their bodies. Outside of yoga, Jessica is a writer, an avid traveler, and a long-distance runner. She loves reading, vegan cooking & baking, and spending time with her two corgis Finlee and Tucker.
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