Sankalpa: A Heart-Centered Intention for Your Yoga Journey

Life gets better when we live it with intention. Sometimes, the world seems to be in a frantic swirl of activity, often sweeping us along with it. It can feel uncomfortable and even scary when our mind is not under our control. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this world of duality, we always have choice. A world of duality can be seen every day as it shows up as hot and cold, up and down, left and right, night and day, happy and sad, etc. These dual qualities will always be present. But how we view them and how we react to them determines the quality of our life. That is where intentions come into play.

The Power of Intention

Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote a book about intentionality called The Power of Intention. In many of his video presentations, he says if you “Change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” This means we have the choice to be happy, to be content, to live the life we desire. It all starts with our intention. Here’s an example from page 66 of The Power of Intention:

· Without Intention: “I can’t help feeling this way; it’s my nature. I’ve always been this way.”

· With Intention: “I’m a divine creation, capable of thinking like my Creator. I intend to substitute love and kindness for feelings of inadequacy. It’s my choice.”

Sankalpa

The Ancient Yogis had a Sanskrit word for intention: Sankalpa. Some define Sankalpa as a heartfelt intention, a solemn vow or even a resolve from within to guide your life’s purpose. The practice of Yoga invites us to pause before class begins, to soften our minds, to listen to our hearts. At the center of this listening is the beautiful practice of Sankalpa. It is a sacred intention born not from the mind, but from the heart. A Sankalpa is not about striving or fixing yourself. It is a gentle remembering of who you already are beneath the noise, beneath the doubt, beneath the busyness of life. It is a quiet promise to your soul.

Listening to the Heart

We often set goals from the pressure of “shoulds” - what we think we should do. A Sankalpa is different. It arises from love, not lack. It doesn’t push, rather it gently guides.

Instead of:

· “I need to be better.”

· “I should do more.”

· “I have to change.”

A heart-centered Sankalpa sounds like:

· “I am enough. I trust the timing of my life.”

· “I live with compassion.”

· “Peace flows through me.”

Planting the Seed

The most powerful time to set an intention is when the body is relaxed and the mind is calm. Perhaps this is when you come into presence at the beginning of a Yoga practice, during meditation, or while resting in stillness before falling asleep. In those sacred pauses, your heart speaks more clearly. Imagine your Sankalpa as a seed. Each time you repeat it, you water it. Each breath warms the soil. There is no forcing it to grow. It unfolds and blossoms in its own time.

How to Discover Your Sankalpa

My favorite intention is from page 65 of Louise Hay’s book entitled Meditations to Heal Your Life which is stated so simply and powerfully: I flow with life easily and effortlessly.

If you’re unsure what your intention is, place a hand over your heart and ask softly:

· What does my heart long for?

· What quality wants to awaken within me?

· What would bring more love into my life?

Then listen closely. Your Sankalpa should feel comforting. Steady. True for you. When you say it silently, your body may soften. You may feel a small sense of relief, like coming home. Keep it simple. Keep it in the present tense. Keep it loving.

Living from Your Intention

A heart-centered Sankalpa is not something you achieve. It is something you embody. When life feels overwhelming, return to it. When you feel uncertain, whisper it. When you forget your strength, breathe it in again. Over time, your thoughts will align with it. Your choices will reflect it and your energy will manifest it. And one day you may realize that you are living it.

Setting a Sankalpa is an act of devotion to yourself. It is a sacred moment of saying, My heart matters. My inner voice matters. I am willing to live from love.

My Sankalpa Is For Your Happiness

This is my intention for all living beings in the world: May you be blessed with divine intentions to guide you toward a peaceful mind.