Your 2022 intention

yoga etc. #76

Jan 03, 2022

Be who you are and you will be who you need.

― Iain S. Thomas

Happy new year, friend. We made it. Here we are, the third day of a new year. I hope you got to spend some time in the last few days of 2021 resting, laughing, and tending to yourself. I also hope that you and yours are healthy and safe.

Yesterday, I facilitated a wonderful new year and new moon yoga practice of movement, journaling, intention setting, and yoga nidra, and I offered a couple writing prompts that I'd like to share with you. (If you'd like to do the practice in its entirety, you can find it here.)

As we set out into this new year, I invite you to forego the new year resolutions and craft a 2022 intention. In Sanskrit, this is our sankalpa, a purpose or intention that you can create for yourself during each practice. You can also with the same one over time.

"If you know what you wish to achieve in your life, sankalpa can be the creator of your destiny," writes Swami Satyananda Saraswati in his book Yoga Nidra. "First you must have a direction."

Today, I offer you an intention-setting ritual to provide direction. All you'll need are 20 minutes, a comfortable spot for your body, something to write with, and a blank page.

Take a breath in through the nose. Let an audible sigh out and let go of something. Now, follow the prompt below.

This ritual is inspired by Suleika Jouad's The Five Lists. I invite you to write five lists, spending about three or four minutes with each one before moving to the next. Don't be afraid to let the words flow out of you. Nobody's watching. Enjoy.

First, write a list of all the things that went well this year. Celebrate your wins. These can be big wins or small wins. Wins that you've shared with others and wins that no one else knows about.

Then, write a list of all the things that challenged you this year. It's been a long year. Acknowledge your struggle and hold your hurt, so that you can love it and process it.

Next, write a list of the lessons you learned this year. Sometimes, we forget how far we've come when we're always looking ahead. Have a look in the rear-view mirror and remember that you’ve grown. These lessons can come from the good and the challenging.

After that, write a list of the things you’re still yearning for that didn’t happen this year—and know that it's okay. There's no rush, you have time to get to them.

Lastly, write a list of all of your biggest, wildest dreams and ideas. Nothing is off-limits. Add the dreams you've been thinking about for years as well as the ones that are brand new!

Now, pause. Take stock of all that you wrote. Spend some time reading through your lists. What jumps out to you? What feels important? Feel free to circle, star, highlight, and underline what feels most important to you. You're welcome to close your eyes and spend a few moments thinking of these lists.

And now, with these lists in mind, start to think of a vision for yourself for 2022. Let it be an intention rather than a goal. How do you want to feel this year? Who is around you and where are you? Let your intention be a state of being or feeling rather than doing, and bring it into the present. Think of "I am…" statements instead of "I wish…" or "I want…"

"The purpose of sankalpa is not to fulfill desires but to create strength and structure of the mind," writes Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

You're creating this intention for yourself not so that you can reach a goal, cross things off a bucket list, or achieve something. The purpose of this practice is to influence and transform how you go about your life. Then, the rest will happen.

Instead of a resolution this year, try out an intention. Take your time; you don't need to rush to find one. Once you've come up with the right words—the words that feel true and honest to you and just you—hold them close. Repeat them, post them up on your mirror or on the back of your front door so you see them every morning. And let them remind you of your goodness.

Happy new year, friend. I hope 2022 brings you clarity, strength, and joy. ✨

✨ yoga etc. is my newsletter on yoga, social justice, collective wellbeing, and collective healing. Every week, I share a piece of me—a weekly dose of mindfulness—hoping it resonates. The best way to support my work is by sharing this newsletter with those you think might find a piece of them. ✨

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Yoga of movement ✨

My class schedule for this week is below. On Sunday, I am hosting a new year class integrating some of the concepts and practices I've been learning over the last six months in my 300-hour yoga teacher training program. I would love for you to join.

Tuesday 4th January ✨ Rejuvenate ✨ a dynamic flow with options for all levels to ignite creativity, fire, and confidence (book)
Sunday 9th January ✨ no class ✨ I'll be in yoga teacher training so there is no class this weekend

Please try to sign up at least 3 hours before the start of class, and if you can't make it in real-time, you'll get access to the recording.

And lastly, a few recordings for you to try out on your own time:

I'm also available for private and corporate classes, and I offer complimentary private classes to nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations. Reply to this email if you're interested!

Yoga of action ✨

I'm tithing 10% of my income from my online yoga classes to organizations that fight against white supremacy. Every month, I'll pick a new organization and highlight it below. If these organizations call to you, please consider contributing (no matter how small).

My December donation will go to Survival International, a global nonprofit and movement decolonizing conservation and supporting tribal peoples’ rights.

80% of Earth’s biodiversity is in tribal territories. When indigenous peoples have secure rights over their land, they protect the land at a fraction of the cost of conventional conservation programs, but governments and NGOs are stealing vast parts of land from indigenous communities under the claim that this is necessary for conservation.

Survival works in partnership with tribes to amplify their voices on the global stage, stop human rights abuses committed in the name of conservation, and put indigenous peoples in control of wildlife protection.

Have a suggested organization? Leave a comment to share.

Yoga of words ✨

Grab a pen, grab your journal. Have a seat somewhere comfortable. Close your eyes, take a breath in, and let it go. Your weekly writing prompt is below.

In what ways are you magnetic? (10 minutes)

Feel free to share what you've written by clicking the link below. But, of course, you’re also welcome to keep this practice as just yours.

Other musings ✨

I'm not self-made (Instagram)
2022 wellness trends (Well + Good)
99 good stories from 2021 (Future Crunch)
The case against the trauma plot (The New Yorker)
Truth doesn’t need your participation (The Nap Ministry)
Things that influence your health more than a positive mindset (Instagram)
On repeat: GROWING UP IS ____ by Ruel (Spotify)

I'm here for you—for class, advice, or anything you need or would like to share. Always a phone call/text/DM/reply button away.

LBC ✨

P.S. If you like this newsletter, please share it with your friends! And if someone sent you this newsletter, you can subscribe below!