Despite the many cancelled classes at the beginning of January, here is the list of real yoga students’ 2014 resolutions from my class at Hampshire Regional YMCA in Northampton and my mother’s (Linda Hill) yoga classes at CNY Healing Arts in Albany, NY. These student share their goals and resolutions for what they want from their practice in 2014. Thank you to everyone for sharing and thank you for reading and holding their intentions. If you find this post interesting and inspiring please read yesterday’s post about these same students’ accomplishments in 2013.
- find my more serene side
- increase strength
- work on calming/breathing
- more spiritual practice
- need to relax more/smoother breathing
- consistency
- morning sun salutations
- calming
- I hope to increase flexibility
- I want to use yoga and breathing as a technique to keep calm
- I hope to become stronger
- increase strength
- improve my breathing
- practice more
- breathe into postures
- relax mind
- accomplish more through practice
- attend more classes
- more stretching regularly
- no cheating on postures
- maybe losing my blocks
- stop thinking about business during class
- live in the moment
- develop daily practice at home
- continue to strive for strong, deep poses
- meditation/focus
- revisit yoga during the day
- meet in class 8x each session
- learn more Ayurveda
- become strong and adventuresome and balanced (I want to stand comfortably on either leg!)
- bring my leg between my hands (stepping forward from Down Dog) without stopping
- to expand emotionally; spiritually; physically; mentally
- meditation
- home practice/add
- use daily positive affirmations
- more generosity
- I want my practice to help me to be gentler with myself which in turn allows me to be gentler with others
- learn to love my body and its imperfections
- stay focused on the moment
- just remember to breathe
- release stress
- remain calm
- become a better person
- continuing to strive for more yoga health
- prepare my mind and body for the arrival of my baby
- continue to find peace and relaxation in my daily life
- calm my reactions down
- sleep better
- let things go–don’t hold on to things that make me angry or stressed
- become even more flexible with old and new postures
- continue to make class regularly
- calm, peaceful
- get stronger with practice
- start better practice at home
- I would like to learn more inner peace and calm in my daily life
- reduce stress
- I would like to learn and practice new yoga postures
- do more inversions at home
- practice yoga while watching tv
- improve balance
- more upper body strength
- I want to push myself to do more challenging yoga postures
- hopefully be more consistent doing yoga outside of class
- yoga practice offers consistency in my life
- yoga offers a peaceful moment
- to not judge myself in my yoga practice and out in the world
- to not judge others
- to cultivate a sense of equanimity
- strength
- flexibility
- commitment
- motivation
- peace
- release from pain
- desire to learn more
- deepening of practice
- softening of judgment
- increased confidence in all areas of life
- opening
- ease in my body
- softening
- improve balance
- relieve stress
- to get in good shape
- improve stamina
- graceful aging
- less physical tension
- less emotional stress
- quiet
- softer neck
- a feeling of peace
- unity between mind and body
- my gift to me—time to practice
- health
- relaxation
- openness
- less reactive, more accepting
- joy
- health
- body awareness
- forgetting the world/problems
- peacefulness
- commit to a regular yoga practice, for me, now that is 2 yoga classes per week
- mindfulness at home
- peace—I recently left a 9-year relationship that had become abusive, my greatest goal is to achieve some peace in body and mind and heal the psychic damage to my soul and rid my body of the memory of abuse
- to understand nonviolence
- compassion
- patience
- flexibility in heart and body
- renewal
- peace of mind, peace in world
- Savasana more for rest and less for reliving the difficult parts
- more self compassion, less ego
- feeling ease in a few new poses
- more compassion for late-comers
- headstand?
- my journey is at the point of learning to befriend myself. To truly know my strengths and weaknesses, to grow to forgive myself for past mistakes, and find growth. I am able to find a friend in myself in this class.
- deeper acceptance of myself
- time of restfulness
- ability to comfort myself
- have more energy
- be kind to myself
- less back pain
- quiet my mind
- feel relaxed
- mental discipline
- to support my daily sitting practice in a complimentary way
- to have more commitment to consistent physical/movement xercise
- to discover courage in taking steps to improve with yoga, especially downward dog
- to cultivate openness physically and emotionally to my inner and outer world
- flexibility and feeling in left leg specifically
- connection
- achieving Camel Pose
- live in the present
- build core strength
- challenge myself
- feel good about myself
- more work on core strength
- continued blending of gentle movement with increase strength
- bring equanimity into regular life
- better health, less physical pain
- create/set aside time for self
- practice discipline and set aside time regularly for self and practice
- flexibility of body and temperament
- practice being present for discomfort and challenge of doing Intermediate/Advanced Yoga
- strengthen my upper body
- improve my posture-correct slouch of shoulders
- build strength to hold postures
- maintain my ability to be active increasing and protecting muscles
- stress reduction
- connect more with body
- clarity of thought
Copyright: antoniodiaz / 123RF Stock Photo