What is an intention?

As I begin writing my thoughts on setting an intention the sun is setting and I can see this straight through my bedroom window. I think about the day just gone and go back to how I started this morning. During my meditation this morning I felt strongly connected to my feet. I felt them positively heavy and steady. So my intention was to stay with that grounded feeling during the day.  Did I manage? Most of the time yes, but sometimes my thoughts were a little unstable. But as I end this day I am back to that solid grounded feeling as the sun sinks into the earth.

The definition of an intention is:

An intention is an idea that you plan (or intend) to carry out. If you mean something, it's an intention. Your goal, purpose, or aim is your intention. It's something you mean to do, whether you pull it off or not.

I try and enter every yoga practice, every meditation with an intention. To help me stay focused. I may or may not be able to hold onto this during every practice. But it for sure is an extremely helpful tool if I feel myself drift to shopping lists, the list of things to do, the thoughts I may have about my children or expectations, and judgments I have of myself.

Setting an intention for the day or for a practice can be quite simple and doesn’t require a lot of thinking. Sometimes I can find myself feeling too distracted with rushing around, to be everywhere on time. My intention might then perhaps be, just to take half an hour where I sit down to catch my breath. Also, sometimes when I start my yoga practice I can simply connect to my breath and to be aware of the breath in each movement.

An intention is a gathering of energy towards a personal goal, or it’s the drawing of a map of where you wish to go. Intentions give you a good framework in where you can build. Yet you have to let go of the expectations of how you will get there. It’s not to be confused with a goal, it something that you align yourself with. You should feel like you can proudly commit to this.

 It always takes place in the present moment. Let it always come from your heart. When it truly comes from your heart it allows you to connect to it smoothly. Authentic connections cannot be forced, they just seamlessly flow and they are always positive.

The image of an arrow leaving its bow has been used by other yoga teachers and it is a powerful vision. The arrow might not always land where you want it to. As there are always winds, rain, or other obstacles that can cross the arrow’s path. But it’s the aiming, it’s the journey that keeps us in the present moment, and from those present moments, we can only grow. The growth is the magical part.

“Intentions compressed into words enfold magical power.”
~Deepak Chopra

Writing Yoga - Guest post by Mel Parks

One cold, grey day in February, when I couldn’t get warm in my own house, I walked into Yard Yoga and immediately started stripping off my layers. It felt so comfortable, welcoming and nurturing. I wanted to spend more time there, so I approached Sarah and Daphne about becoming their writer in residence at part of my MA in Creative Writing.

It was also partly a ruse to trick my body into exercising. If I turned exercise into a writing project, I told myself, I would stick with it. So far, it’s worked. After years at my desk spending hours reading and writing and ignoring my body, the strain I felt in my shoulders and neck was crying out for attention. I needed to do something, so alongside the writer in residence project, I signed up for Yard Yoga’s £30 for 30 days offer. 

Another thought that attracted my writer self was that yoga is about so much more than exercise; it would help me write by giving me stillness, focus and calm. It would also engage my interest in story and mythology as yoga is rich in ancient history.

I have done yoga before, but not for about 15 years and not since having children. Yoga at age 45 is different to yoga at 30, I would have to be kind to myself! My first class of the 30-day offer was with Amber Scott on a Thursday morning. It felt decadent, taking time during the day when I should be working, but this was part of a writing project, after all. And if it helped my energy and focus afterwards, it would be worth it. I told her I was new and she reassured me, telling me to take it easy, rest if I needed to. I unrolled my brand new sticky mat and copying everyone else, lay down on my back. I did not expect to feel so uncomfortable just lying down. It was like lying on a twisted rope tied between my shoulder blades.

My arms and shoulders hurt during downward-facing dog. My hamstrings felt so tight they could pop any minute and they murmured to me for days. And the hardest part was the exhaustion after the first few classes. I fell asleep for two hours one Sunday afternoon. I needed more energy, not less. But, slowly I realised that if I drank lots of water after a class, and ate what I needed to keep going until bedtime, I would sleep deeply and feel refreshed the next day. 

Now, just a few weeks after starting yoga, I notice my breath more, the way my body sits at my desk and where I’m holding tension. I am not so tired after a class and when I walk out of there, I feel a little bit taller. I can also lie down on the floor without my shoulders feeling lumpy! 

Next, I’d like to integrate my writing and yoga. These two practices go so well together - yoga opens the body and creates space for writing, and writing can record feelings, thoughts and moments from yoga, deepening reflection. Both are good for mindfulness, staying calm and strong in our busy lives. 

Yard Yoga Writer in Residence Project

This project explores the connection between writing and yoga and brings the two practices and communities together. I will be making a poem from words given to me during two participatory sessions at the studio, as well as writing my own poetry inspired by yoga and the body. 

Books about writing and yoga

Writing the Fire! Yoga and the Art of Making Your Words Come Alive - Gail Sher

Journey From the Center To The Page: Yoga Philosophies and Practices as Muse for Authentic Writing - Jeff Davis

More about Mel Parks

Mel Parks, a professional writer for 20 years, now runs HoneyLeaf Writing [link to: www.honeyleafwriting.com] aimed at helping other people find ease with writing. She offers copywriting services, creative writing courses, workshops and coaching.  She is also studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Brighton University.