THE YOGA CONNECTION
The Practice of Sankalpa
Sankalpa Workshop: New Life's Resolution
By Atmadarshan
It has been my experience that New Year’s resolutions rarely bring the feelings of success, joy, peace and accomplishment that we hope for; instead, we are left frustrated, discouraged, and disappointed as we fail to live up to our goals. The practice of sankalpa offers a more effective alternative.
Sankalpa has been used in yogic traditions with great success because it is not an ordinary resolution. It is not a “should” -- something we are trying to impose on ourselves that is at odds with our lifestyle or situation. It is not something that comes from the external world -- looking outward and wanting the body, relationship, wealth, or situation that another has. Sankalpa is something that arises from within and is in harmony with our deepest being.
It was a great pleasure to facilitate the January 1st workshop on this powerful, transformative topic with a group of 23 attentive and engaged participants. The two hour session allowed us to fully explore a topic to which we can only allot two or three minutes in a regular class.
In this workshop, we first examined the meaning of sankalpa -- like every Sanskrit term, it has many subtle nuances -- settling on the simplified definition of “positive resolve.” Although we usually use sankalpa only in conjunction with Satyananda Yoga Nidra® in regular classes, we talked about different times one can use sankalpa, and why it is so important to be in a calm mental state associated with alpha brain wave patterns.
The focus then shifted to how to find a sankalpa and how to phrase it for maximum benefit. Since the most genuine sankalpa, according to Swami Sivananda, is our reason for incarnating as physical beings, we spent some time in a meditation to get in touch with our most basic desires, hopes, and dreams for this life.
Toward the end of the lecture, we discussed how sankalpa can benefit us at all levels -- improving willpower, transforming personality, and producing better physical and mental health. We finished with a Yoga Nidra incorporating the sankalpa in two different stages of the practice.
Sankalpa is an amazing yogic tool that can be utilized to bring about real change – change that unfolds from our deepest needs. If you did not have a chance to attend the workshop and would like to learn more about sankalpa, you can find further information in Swami Satyananda’s groundbreaking book Yoga Nidra or in Illuminating the Heart’s Desire, an audio recording by Dr. Swami Shankardevananda, both available at Atma Center.
Dianna Taylor. The entire workshop was very informative. I think the most valuable part for me was when Atmadarshan asked us a series of questions (during a meditation practice) that were intended to appeal to or trigger the various chakras. I believe she said that if considering one of these questions invoked a particularly strong reaction then we might think about our "big sankalpa" being related to that chakra. I didn't have a "big sankalpa" prior to the workshop, but that exercise affected me really strongly and, I believe, generated for me my "big sankalpa." So now when I do Yoga Nidra I am using this new sankalpa.
Susan Gundersen. I learned how sankalpa is learning how to direct yourself to positive aspects of self and others. I learned that by having a daily sankalpa one becomes able to go with whatever the day brings. This is happening to me since I have been doing the practice.
I also learned that the best time to say your sankalpa is in the AM soon after you wake up and before your mind gets in the busy beta state.
Sankalpa is your reason for being. By finding your purpose you will not have crisis. We learn not to worry and know that we have what we need for now. Sankalpa can help us access our inner wisdom. We will come to understand our habits and what underlies them.
I learned that picking a general one and not one just for stopping a bad habit, helps in all aspects of daily living. Everything begins to become balanced and things you wanted to change seem to happen naturally.
I kept the same sankalpa, but after this workshop I changed my wording from “I am” to “I am and will be.” It helps me realize that I am moving towards a goal. Through this practice we will learn to use our minds fully and productively and experience peace and good will for ourselves and others.
Lynn O’Brien. I have been struggling with making a sankalpa for a long time now because of the fear of making the "wrong" one. Mark and I secretly hoped AD would give us the missing information so we could magically leave the workshop with a sankalpa in hand. That didn't happen, so it has finally sunk in that a sankalpa is NOT something someone else can make for you. You have to create your own (as hard as that may seem).
I think making small sankalpas is the most useful information we learned for getting started. It may help the "thinking too much about it" problem that arises and just help a person choose one. Atmadarshan suggested being aware of any patterns that might lead to realizing your true sankalpa. An article we read in YOGA magazine after the workshop used the idea of making small sankalpas as stepping stones across a river, which is the true sankalpa.
Mark and I have been discussing this whole thing at length and have settled on trying something smaller, like working on something we want to achieve but haven't really committed ourselves fully to making it happen. You might call it self improvement.
Mark Willis. I learned a lot about sankalpa, but more importantly, I learned a lot about what it isn't. The workshop was so stimulating that we are still talking about it more than a week later. It also stimulated additional research to read more. One of the most important ideas and one that I didn't remember from earlier in class discussion at the Atma Center, was the idea that your sankalpa would probably be approached step-wise through increasingly "deeper" sankalpas. Finally, there is the whole idea that the sankalpa is an intuitive thing, and you will know it because it comes from within.
YOGA CONNECTION: From starting with an important but simple resolve to arriving at a “deep” or “big” sankalpa, students clearly were able to come away with ideas that encouraged and supported their practice. We appreciate your sharing your experience - - thank you!
Preparing for Birth with Yoga. Atmarupa will teach couples yogic techniques to assist with labor and delivery. Sunday 1/23, 1:30-3:30. $40 per couple by 1/18, $45 thereafter.
Ayurveda with James Bailey. February 9 – 11 private consultations and Feb. 11 – 13 four workshops. This is a rare opportunity to study and consult with a visiting teacher deeply rooted in the traditions and practices of yoga and Ayurveda. Significant discounts are available for early registration (by January 28). See flyer, website or staff for details. Reserve your appointment and workshop space -- sign up now!
Yoga and Cancer. Atma Center’s Carol Laursen (Karuna) leads this exploration of how yoga can help ease the impact of cancer. Saturday, 2/26 1-3pm. $30 by Feb20, $35 thereafter.
Details & registration: (216) 371-9760 www.atmacenter.com
This newsletter is provided to you by the Atma Center, 2319 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. [216-371-9760 www.atmacenter.com] The Atma Center is one of three places authorized worldwide to offer advanced training in Satyananda Yoga through Yogic Studies and Teacher Training courses.