The idea and theme of sankalpa is laced throughout yogic philosophy. In one popular Sanskrit tale, Shiva arrives at Bharavja\u2019s bedside and chides him for refusing to share all that he\u2019s learned after three lifetimes studying the Vedas. He scoops three handfuls of earth at the sages feet and says, \u201cCompared to the mountain of information, what you\u2019ve learned amounts to three handfuls of dirt. It is only through your dharma of teaching and sharing that this wisdom will truly come alive inside you.\u201d<\/p>\n
We all tip toe through periods in our lives where the landscape feels dull and uninspiring, we feel stuck or restless. Perhaps we reach a point where we are watching our life revolve around us, but no longer feeling as though we steering the ship. Deep down, in the inner recesses of our soul, there is a voice, a calling of such that awaits attention. There is a knowing or a longing, a place of clarity that when stumbled across, has an urgency and passion to it that is intoxifying and enlivening. When we have the courage and true commitment to honour this deep call within, the universe will reply and open up doors that ceased to exist a moment earlier.<\/p>\n
To open our palms to the universe is to acknowledge a willingness and a readiness. In yoga, we often talk of flow and of synchronicity. During each asana, we aim to find the place where our energy flows freely and the pose becomes in a way, effortless. Much like in asana, when we energetically open ourselves to the universe and say yes to embracing that inner calling, the world around us will respond and support us in ways previously unimagined. Fear, indecision, doubt and expectations fall away to a reveal a simple trust and a freedom that comes from riding the waves of grace.<\/p>\n
The system of yoga, the eight limbs invites us to gently wash the grit from our eyes. To set an intention, to align with the tradition of sankalpa, is to listen to your internal voice and know that if you move towards your true path with courage, compassion and determination, then the universe will conspire to support you.<\/p>\n
As the ancient sage Rumi states:<\/p>\n
\u201cWork. Keep digging your well.<\/i>
\nDon\u2019t think about getting off from work.<\/i>
\nWater is there somewhere.<\/i>
\nSubmit to a daily practice.\u00a0<\/i>
\nYour loyalty to that<\/i>\u00a0is a knock on the door.<\/i>
\nKeep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window <\/i>
\nand look out to see who\u2019s there.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
You can follow Noelle on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>. Or visit Noelle’s\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/live-wanderlust-fest.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/WLSC16_Bas_van-Est_@basvanest_0131.jpg\")
<\/a>Noelle Connolly is a trained yoga teacher, athlete, and Philadelphia native, now residing in Sydney, Australia. Taking her first yoga class in 2002, Noelle fell in love with the practice \u2013 mentally, physically and spiritually. She currently heads up the yoga program at Sydney\u2019s acclaimed BodyMindLife.<\/em><\/p>\n
By inviting ourselves into the moment, we can show deeper respect for what sits deep inside of our hearts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2395,"featured_media":73436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[778,1057],"tags":[2581,971,367,2451,2580],"class_list":["post-73428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-practice","category-wisdom","tag-bodymindlife","tag-intention","tag-noelle-connolly","tag-rumi","tag-sankalpa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n