A guest article by Anna Wulf
This is what lies behind the “wish” practice from Yoga Nidra
You may have heard the word Sankalpa before - especially in connection with your yoga practice. But what does it mean? The term has several meanings: the most common translations are "wish", "will", "intention", "desire", "resolution" and "decision".
Even though Sankalpa is now often used as a guiding principle in a wide variety of yoga classes, the practice of anchoring one's own resolutions is mainly used in Yoga Nidra (yoga healing sleep - a guided meditation technique). There, Sankalpa is compared to a seed that is placed in good, fertile soil. The internal repetition of the Sankalpa is like watering the seed and caring for the plant so that it can grow and thrive.
Why do you focus on a sankalpa in Yoga Nidra?
In the practice of Yoga Nidra we can experience a state in which we are connected to our innermost essence. These are moments of peace and quiet in which the subconscious is particularly receptive and receptive to autosuggestion. Sankalpa is an autosuggestion that we imprint on ourselves. It is a self-formulated resolution that shows the mind a direction in which it can develop. In order for it to work, this resolution must authentically resonate with our inner and outer being. That is why the search for a Sankalpa is a process that can take weeks and sometimes even months.
Finding your individual Sankalpa: A long process
Finding the Sankalpa often takes place in secret and is aimed more at inner growth than at the fulfillment of material desires. Ideas about the "desired state" can help us in the search: a sick person wishes to be healthy, a stressed person longs for more peace, someone who has a lot to struggle with in everyday life wants more ease,... The list goes on and on.
A sankalpa is essentially the answer to the question "What is really important to me in life?" or "What do I want to achieve in life?" The answer to this question varies from person to person - that is why a sankalpa is something very personal; a path that only you follow. If you are looking for your sankalpa, you should not put yourself under pressure. Take your time to sort out your answers. At the beginning there may be so many wishes that want to be fulfilled - all equally important - that you first have to "sift" them.
You may find that you have a life theme on the one hand and a smaller project for which you need a boost in development on the other. This is how a distinction is made between a life sankalpa and a small sankalpa.
A life sankalpa contains a major life theme that never loses its relevance: you hold on to it throughout your life.
You can use a small sankalpa for ongoing projects: What kind of support do I need right now to make progress? What quality could help me with project XY? It is important that your sankalpa is in line with your inner and outer life - then the mind is willing to realize your sankalpa.
How do I formulate a sankalpa?
Step 1:
Consider whether you are looking for a life sankalpa or need support for a smaller project (e.g. starting your own business, developing a new product, changing jobs, moving house, etc.)
Step 2:
Ask yourself where you want to go and why. What is particularly important to you? Give yourself enough time to find answers to these questions. Try to integrate meditation, yoga nidra and journaling into your life - all practices that make inner knowledge transparent.
Step 3:
Formulate your resolution in a short, positive sentence that begins with "I am." Then describe your desired state - as if your wish had already come true. Three examples: "I am healthy." "I am full of joy." "I am enough." Try to find words that inspire you, feel intuitively good and give you courage.
Step 4:
Now it's time to practice so that your Sankalpa can take effect. The best moments for anchoring your intention are those of deep contemplation. This state can be achieved through meditation or Yoga Nidra.
Step 5:
If you have found a sankalpa, stick with it for a few months to let it take effect and observe what changes in your life. After just three to four weeks of practice, the effect of the sankalpa should become noticeable in your everyday life and bear fruit.
Step 6:
It may be that a Sankalpa that has already been chosen needs to be changed. That is why it is extremely important to sharpen your awareness of how the plan is developing in your life. Does it still make sense? Did it happen the way you wanted it to? Do you feel rushed or stressed by your resolution? Then it is time to think about a different Sankalpa.
A note:
You always keep a sankalpa to yourself. If you need help with the wording, you can talk to a teacher you trust.
Do I really need a sankalpa to move forward in my life?
No, definitely not.
In some traditions of Yoga Nidra, working with intentions is an integral part of the practice. You can try it out and let it work for you. That's what I did. After a few months, however, I noticed that my intention was stressing me out rather than giving me the support I had hoped for. I felt restless in my daily life and had difficulty enjoying my free time. So I skipped my sankalpa.
As I continued to work on the topic as part of my teaching and during my recent Yoga Nidra training, my feeling about Sankalpa was confirmed once again: I no longer integrate it into my practice. Because the thought of a Sankalpa restricts me. And I cannot reconcile this feeling with the idea of inner freedom that yoga practice in all its forms means to me. This is my personal feeling and experience that I have had over the years. By sharing this experience with you, I would like to encourage you to keep asking yourself whether working with a Sankalpa enriches your practice. Yoga Nidra unfolds its effect even without intentions and wishes.
Anna Wulf
Anna always knew that yoga was her home. After studying philology in Hamburg, she completed a yoga teacher training and has been teaching yoga and meditation since 2006. Her focus is on exploring being and harmonizing all aspects of the personality. To do this, she uses not only yoga techniques in the classical sense, but also other methods and accompanies her students through yoga nidra, breathwork, sound, reiki and ayurvedic massages. Anna's next yoga nidra training begins in September 2023.
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