Last week, we began MerryBody Summer School with an inspiring first call dedicated to the concept of Sankalpa. Our Summer School is for our Yoga Teacher Trainees and Graduates, it’s a 10 week deep dive into Yoga Philosophy. If you’d like to learn more about our 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, read more here.
A Sankalpa is not about achieving external goals. It’s an internal vow, a declaration of your deepest truth, rooted in self-awareness and aligned with universal flow. Unlike traditional goal-setting, which often focuses on future outcomes, a Sankalpa exists in the present moment, the now. It’s about embodying a quality or intention that reflects who you are at your core.
What is a Sankalpa?
- Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning “intention,” “resolve,” or “will.”
- SAN: to become one with, together, complete or fully.
- KALPA: vow
A Sankalpa is a heartfelt intention aligned with your inner wisdom and universal truth. It’s not about what you do but about who you become. While traditional goals might focus on external achievements like “I will run a half-marathon in 4 months,” or I will practice Yoga 2-3 times a week this year” a Sankalpa goes deeper, such as “I honour and care for my body.” Within your Sankalpa, those example goals we just mentioned could fit (we’d go with the Yoga option hah).
How to Create Your Sankalpa
Creating a Sankalpa is a deeply personal and reflective process. During our group session, we guided participants through the following steps:
1. Pause and Connect
Begin by finding stillness, whether through meditation, breathwork or simply sitting in silence. Allow your mind to settle, creating space to listen to your inner wisdom.
During our session, Carla led us through a beautiful meditation. There’s something special about these moments, we gather from all corners of the world, and despite many of us never having met in person, there’s an undeniable sense of connection.
2. Ask Yourself the Right Questions
To uncover your Sankalpa, reflect on these:
- What do I long for most in my life right now?
- If I could embody one quality fully, what would it be?
- What does my heart truly desire, not just in this moment, but as a guiding force in my life?
Carla mentioned these questions in the guided meditation.
3. Let It Emerge
Your Sankalpa might come to you as a single word, a phrase, or even a feeling. Trust whatever arises. If nothing feels clear, allow yourself time to reflect further. You can start with a simple affirmation like:
- I live my truth and trust in my journey.
- I choose to live with love and compassion, for myself and those around me.
- I am courageous in everything I do.
Although our initial thoughts might be on the right track, sometimes further refinement is needed. In our call Carla shared some journal prompts to ensure that we each created a Sankalpa we were truly connected to.
4. Anchor It
Revisit your Sankalpa daily, repeating it silently during meditation or as a mantra in your Yoga practice. Let it guide your actions, thoughts, and interactions, both on and off the mat.
More Examples of Sankalpas
- I am calm in all that I do.
- I nurture joy and creativity in my life.
- I am resilient, grounded and open to change.
- I trust the journey and embrace the flow of life.
Yoga Beyond Asana
In creating your Sankalpa, you’re tapping into the deeper philosophy of Yoga, a practice that extends far beyond the physical poses you experience on the mat. While asana (the postures and flows) is an important part of Yoga, it’s just one limb of this ancient practice. Yoga encompasses ethics (Yamas and Niyamas), breathwork (Pranayama), meditation (Dhyana), and more. Yoga is about the union of body, mind, and spirit. It’s about creating harmony within ourselves and the world around us.
If you found this interesting, here’s some further reading for you:
- What Is Santosha Yoga? A Guide on Contentment and Acceptance. Read the whole article here.
- The 5 levels of the mind. Listen to the podcast episode here.
- Guide to Sun Salutations. Get your free guide here.
If you have any questions, get in touch! You can find us on Facebook over here and Instagram here. Send us a message and we will get back to you!
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla
Ps here’s a little bit more information about our MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training.
Our 200 Hour MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training is more than just a certification program, it’s a cliche to say it but it’s life life-changing journey designed to deepen your connection to Yoga, yourself and your purpose. Rooted in the philosophy of Yoga and enhanced by our unique MerryBody approach, this training equips you with the tools to teach with confidence, authenticity and joy.
Whether you dream of guiding others on the mat or want to deepen your personal practice, the training offers a blend of ancient wisdom and modern teaching techniques.
Be sure to read more here and hop on the waitlist.
