Sankalpa is a specific intention or goal, a one-pointed resolve as explained by Master Paalu. A sankalpa speaks to the larger arc of our lives, our dharma—our overriding purpose for being here. This topic got me thinking about my purpose in life – what I want to do, what my sankalpa is, no matter how small or big, to get to where I want to get to.

To live our soul’s mission, we need to reach milestones. Setting specific goals can help to connect our conscious choices with our unconscious. To do this, we can ask ourselves what things need to happen for us to progress on our path. Once we have realized this, we can then form a personal Sankalpa that describes what we need to do and inform our subconscious where we need to direct our energy to make progress on our goals.

Over time, our actions will start to align with our intentions, moving towards our goal or purpose. By formulating our Sankalpa and focusing on bringing it to fruition, one step at a time, we can reach our true Dharma, and realize our true potential.

What if we do not absolutely know what our true purpose is right now? I would think it does not really matter, because life is a base, and there is a lot of potential. It could go anywhere, but it could only go if the energy flows. The energy cannot be stuck in the mind and be stagnant; it must flow. We should simply start where we are – even a desire that might be interpreted as simple or shallow can lead us to the heart’s desire. It might arise out of conditioning, but if we trust the practice and keep following the heart’s desire, it will take us to the essence of our being.

The best thing to me about Sankalpa is that we can live it day by day – and we only ever get to live one moment at a time, NOW! Sankalpa can be used before meditation, yoga, before and after a nights sleep, basically when we are in a deeply relaxed state. By repeating it daily, we also allow it to become a part of our being.

I find applying the technique of Sankalpa to my asana practice deeply satisfying, and I liken this to setting an intention before my practice. When we begin to understand what we are seeking from our practice, we can see how to direct energies and actions in order to get there. It also allows us to stay focused during our practice. In acknowledgment of our blocks and weaknesses in certain asanas, recognizing that through every practice we are taking a small step forward towards a bigger goal, and remaining kind to ourselves in the process, we are propelled closer to our goal. Intentions and sankalpas aren’t uttered once and then forgotten about. In yoga, during challenging poses, we can call forth our intention and allow it to power us through the posture. Just like in yoga, a sankalpa can be applied to power you through the challenges of life.

Yoga is a way of life that seeks the union of mind and body, it is hence no wonder that it heals both the mind and body, an all encompassing that allows one to improve their physical body and mental health.

Yoga for the physical body. It’s no stranger that asanas helps one to train and strengthen their body. There are many ways that it does so.

Firstly, flexibility. Poses like the Padangusthasana lengthen and stretches out the hamstrings to enable a forward fold, the Kapotasana helps to stretch out your spine and open your chest, almost all asanas helps you stretch out one way or another. This helps you to keep your muscles strong, healthy so as to maintain your range of motion.

Next, strength, there are many ways asanas train your strength. Holding a downward dog for five breaths helps you improve your endurance, doing Chaturanga helps you to train your arm muscles, holding a Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana helps you train your stabilising muscles, there are endless ways yoga helps you to build up both your external and internal muscles.

In fact, not just the asanas are good for your physical health, other limbs of Yogi such as the Pranayamas help you to clean out your physical body as well. Breathing exercises such as Kapalabhati clear out your mucus and helps you feel refresh and ready to start the day, whereas Nadhi Shodhana helps to heat or cool your body down. Generally, benefits such as improved respiratory and cardiovascular systems are known to happen.

Yoga for the mental state. In addition to the physical changes that yoga brings about, there are also mental benefits that come with the Yogi.

In addition to helping to clear the body of toxins, Pranayamas also help to alert one’s mind, reduce stress and also focus better. By looking at the eight limbs of Yogi, it would allow one to undergo a mental revelation and helps to overhaul one’s state of mind. Even if disregarding the spiritual aspects of yoga, the Kriyas and Yoga Nidras help to refresh one’s mind!

There is no doubt that starting yoga would help you with both your physical and mental state, so what are you waiting for? Go join a class now!

The 8 limbs of Ashtanga yoga/Raja yoga  provide a holistic methodology to systematically release the mind & thus live more enlightened, purposeful lives! (isn’t that what most of us want?)

The name “8 Limbs” comes from the Sanskrit term Ashtanga and refers to the eight limbs of yoga: Yama (attitudes toward our environment), Niyama (attitudes toward ourselves), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (restraint or expansion of the breath), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (complete integration). 

The above can be applied to all areas of our lives including parenting!

All around us, we see that Childrens yoga classes are taking off.  My 2yr old & 3 year old each have their own mat and block & delight getting into mountain, warrior, tree, and downward facing dog poses. Getting children actively involved in yoga from young is great for their bodies, their minds, and breathing!

But do we have to wait until children are standing on their 2 legs to start thinking about how yoga applies to/affects them? 

If you only think of yoga (as the modernised world so often does) as in just the physical, (asanas/poses), then you may say that your baby already started doing yoga whilst in Utero in Pindasana. (Side note: how cute are babies as they progress from svasanasa to dhanurasana and then to happy baby poses?)

When you step away from the physical, and implore the 8 limbs of yoga, you will realise that the consistent practice of this holistic approach benefits not only the practitioner, but their future offspring as well. In one of our lectures, M.Paalu mentioned that consistent pranayama & meditation practiced by parents even before conception, has a tremendously positive outcome on the children they bring into this world – it’s postive effects pass through not just the DNA, but through the energy exuded as well! When both mother and Father are aligned and centred in self, such an environment creates a conducive, healthy space to raise children.

I started thinking of my own pregnancies and pleasantly recalled some of the spiritual & positive daily habits I performed. Unfortunately, once the babies arrived my world turned crazy like it usually does for most mums during the first few years of child-rearing: my swadhyaya (reading/self study), focus (dharana) and meditation (dhyana) practice deteriorated.

It is only now that my kids are in school for half the day, that I finally have some

time for myself and am reintroducing reading, studying, pranayam & meditation back to my life. Although I feel the rustiness of my 37 year old brain and body, I am Glad that I have made the start & have action plans to get myself polished again. The 4 weeks of intense introspection during YTT allowed me to shine the torch inwards on myself (Niyamas). I am grateful to have done this course at the beginning of the year so that i can take forward the very many lessons & techniques learnt, (specifically Sankalpha,  one-pointed resolve to focus both psychologically and philosophically on a specific goal), and build on it  & remember 2019 as the year that Kas returned to the world after being stuck in the ‘mummy cave’ during the last 3.5years! 

“There are 2 things we should give our children – one is roots and the other is wings” – Author unknown.

The 8 Limbs of Yoga provide a solid foundation that we can implement so that our children may experience and observe from our behaviours and actions. By introducing concentration games early on in childhood, we plant the seeds for them to focus and concentrate (Dharana) thereby creating their independence.

Life offers no greater responsibility, no greater privilege than the raising of the next generation” – C Everett Koop. We owe it to our children to be the best versions of ourselves; to live to our full potential; and to add (positively and purposefully) to this life that we have been given.