Intentions

Yoga has really got my mind working wonders. For one, it's a relaxer. It takes away any uneasiness I may have and it makes my mind focus on the present moment rather than useless bits of nonsense that will cause me to worry. Each class we are told to set an intention, and usually I set my intention for the health and well-being of others close to me, though including myself sometimes, too. I felt it was selfish to set an intention for only me, and therefore felt uncomfortable doing it, despite the fact that I would be the only one who actually knew what my intentions were. To go along with this mini happiness project, however, I decided to set intentions for the things that I need to work on. Spending an hour and 15 minutes of my day breathing and practicing this intention will indeed keep it active and ever-present in my mind. Though my 10 commandments are still under construction, I know what a few of them are without a doubt. Today I set my yoga meditation intention to "practice patience" which was a wise way to start my day.

I have been taking yoga (on and off) for about a year and a half now and am really becoming obsessed with it. I find myself focusing harder in class and desiring to learn more about the poses, the history, and the language. With 20 days until work starts and not much to do, I've been lucky enough to go every day to a beautiful yoga studio close by. I have always taken yoga in the evening which is a fabulous way to unwind and stop thinking about work or homework for a little while after a busy day, but this week I went twice in the morning to a more gentle class that awakens the body and stretches out the muscles. I feel as though it also stretches out my mind and by setting an intention in the morning it was much easier to focus on it throughout the day. Even on my way home immediately after yoga, when I would normally want to drive fast or lose my temper momentarily behind a slow driver, I just whispered, "practice patience" and was instantly satisfied at the speed I was going and the notion that I was in no rush; I would get where I needed to be when I got there. When I was rushing from one place to the next today and getting ready as fast as I could, I reminded myself to, "practice patience" and took a breath to refresh myself. And yet again, when my phone started vibrating and a name appeared that I didn't wish to see, I thought to myself, "practice patience" and pleasantly answered the phone. It was a pattern that I very much enjoyed. It was the self-control that I very much liked displaying and felt confident about once I had done the right thing and calmed myself down while gaining patience.

Yoga is something that can be done at home, at a studio, alone, or with friends. Yoga is also a part of meditation and the two can take place separately or can combine for the mind-body-spirit connection. Setting intentions with my own health, well-being, and happiness came full circle today and I liked who I was and the difference that I saw in myself. But as for now, I better be getting to bed, I have to wake up early tomorrow to get to yoga.