Cultivating a Sankalpa is more than just creating an intention. It's honouring your truth.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Yoga is that it is all about the physical practice, when in actuality, Yoga is a way of life. The intention of this blog is not to dive deep into Yogic philosophy, but to explore the concept of Sankalpas as an overarching theme of Yoga both on and off the mat.
What is a Sankalpa?
A Sankalpa is commonly known as a short and personal phrase conveying a meaningful intention. When we translate Sankalpa from Sanskrit, we divide it into two words: San and Kalpa. San can be interpreted as "complete" or "resolve," whereas Kalpa means "vow." Together, San and Kalpa are interpreted as an intention with resolution. However, a Sankalpa is more than just this. In my first Yoga teacher training, one of the program's senior teachers explained that the purpose of a Sankalpa is to mirror a theme of a chapter in one's life; it's a reflection of who one is and where one is. It's about honouring one's truth through the intentions we set. So, anytime my Sankalpa evolves and changes, I think back to how a Sankalpa is not only an objective to reach but a theme reflecting my current circumstances; cultivating a Sankalpa is cultivating a sacred vow to oneself.
How can we create a Sankalpa, and how can it influence our practice?
A Sankalpa isn't intended to be a run-on sentence, nor is it meant to tell a story. It’s an opportunity to convey our inner thoughts and feelings by saying less but conveying more. Yoga, at its root, is a way of life—not just a practice on the mat, but how we live off the mat. Cultivating a Sankalpa is not just about setting a goal but about mirroring the truth within your life. Presently, I’m aiming to be more adventurous with life, so I’ve cultivated my Sankalpa to be, “I embrace the spirit of adventure and allow the journey to teach me.” It reflects my current circumstances of aiming to embrace adventure and it honours my highest truth of allowing the journey to teach me. I bring this with me on my mat to guide my practice with energy and inspiration, and I also allow it to inspire my life off the mat.
So now I ask you, what chapter of life do you find yourself in, and what Sankalpa would you cultivate for it?
Sincerely,
Erika Ileana, RYT & RPYT
Restore to Rest | restoretorest.ca | IG: @restoretorest
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