संकल्प Sankalpa

It’s coming.

You feel it?

The end of one year, and the heralding of another new one. And here comes a commonly practiced tradition of New Years Resolutions that go hand in hand with turning the page.

Especially working in health and wellness, I witness and welcome a new flock of studentship that have decided that this is the year to finally try this yoga thing or to warmly welcome back familiar faces that fell out of practice for a multitude of reasons (finances, moved, school, job, just because). It’s a super charged time of year from January until the early parts of April.

And maybe you’ve been privy to this wave that crashes into studios, clubs, and gyms. This is not limited to spaces of movement but also other spaces like that involve creativity, new skill sets, education, or hobbies. Perhaps, you’ve been a part of this wave, or you yourself have welcomed new and familiar faces into your micro-communities.

I’ll say it plainly that I don’t think there is anything wrong with setting New Year’s resolutions.

Nope. Not at all.

But I will stand by my stance that a much more potent practice is that of Sankalpa. Especially when you combine it with your NY resolutions.

Okay… so what is Sankalpa?!

It is a solemn promise that you make with your soul.

And there are so many methodologies, techniques, and schools of thought on clarifying and declaring your Sankalpa to yourself.

If I were to say that in the new year, I’d like to lift weights at least 3 times a week. My Sankalpa could sound like, I promise to put myself first even when it is inconvenient. If I wanted to eat more cleanly in the new year, the Sankalpa is still putting myself first.

Sometimes, the vow you make with your soul might stay the same over several years or even a lifetime.

Sometimes, it evolves and adapts to new lessons and new situations that you have experienced.

And sometimes, it just needs to change because it just needs to change.

Either way…

It’s an underlying current that gets stronger every time that we reinforce it in our heart, our mind, and our bodies.

The current gets so strong that eventually, when we feel ‘stuck’, the current is enough to unstick where you feel helplessly planted. The current helps move us, helps us to navigate, helps us move forward.

So this year, like the last few years, I’ll be reflecting on my solemn vow to my soul.

Because I’m worth living up to my own promises.