As 2013 settles down for a long savasana, the end of another year brings reflections, resolutions and intentions aplenty. The dawn of a new year brings potential for fresh starts, new beginnings and the experience of the unknown. Oh my! But we don’t have to head into it all unprepared. It’s become a YogaDork tradition to share this special tool to keep us moving through the new year with a little bit of yoga, one day at a time.
WIN: We are delighted to continue the YogaDork tradition this year teaming up with Rodmell Press to give away THREE copies of A Year of Living Your Yoga: Daily Practices to Shape Your Life by Judith Hanson Lasater.
About A Year of Living Your Yoga:
Featuring one thought for each day of the year, along with a suggested practice, these brief, powerful insights reflect the author’s knowledge of classic yoga philosophy and years of experience. Humorous, inspiring, and surprisingly down-to-earth, they guide seekers both on and off the yoga mat. These aphorisms address love, asana, fear, trust, expectations, pranayama, suffering, laughter, presence, the Yoga Sutra, and much more. They emphasize the experience of being present to one’s self and to life’s ups and downs — day by day, breath by breath, moment by moment.
TO ENTER: Tis the season for intentions and resolutions. We invite you to share your own in the comments to make them official. Here’s wishing you all a happy, healthy, yogadorky new year!
Giveaway closes 11:59pm Saturday, January 4th. Three winners will be chosen at random and announced soon after. Good luck!
Check out Rodmell Press on facebook.
UPDATE: Congrats to Emily Cordes, Stacey Allaire and Anna Lisa! Thank you to all for sharing your intentions. It’s our intention that by doing so, it will help you stick to them, and they stick with you. Happy 2014!
More presence and balance, with lots of love and laughter!
I intend to make 2014 more full of mindfulness and balance. I want to slow down!
I would love this and feel I could really use it! My intention for this year is family. I like to leave it to one word intentions for the new year!
Being enough. Putting effort and focus to things that matter most to me and not spreading myself too thin.
Pursue my passion without getting bogged down in self doubt of my ability – I want to live my yoga on and off the mat!
My Intention for 2014 is to trust. Whether it is my family and friends or whether it is my ownself.
my intention for 2014 is to live authentically in service to others. and lots more dancing!
I’m only making one intention this year. Get on my mat every day.
My intention is to keep my ideas about yoga fluid. Stay curious amd open-minded and keep coming back to the question: “why do I teach yoga.”
More heart, less monkey mind
My intention for 2014 is to take better care of myself while continue to serve in the other roles that life has given me. Yoga helps me to do this.
I have no resolutions. But my intention is to “practice” with Judith Hanson Lasater daily via one of her books. She is one of my few “hero/ines” in life.
Fill each day with love, and laughter both on and off the mat!
Be real. Be authentic. Be me! 🙂
My 2014 resolution is to obtain my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training certification!
Practice, practice, practice – and when in doubt – practice!
My intention is to let go of fear.
To acknowledge my worth and accept that what I know has value. I am enough.
My intentions are Presence and Peace, all of the time.
My intention for 2014 is to make Newark better than when I came. I’m a grad student here and I’ll be graduating in May. Recently, the city has suffered about 5 homicides in the last three days and I volunteer in one of the most troubled wards where the crime is more prevalent. These past couple of days I’ve been searching within myself to wonder if I have the strength to keep volunteering in the community. I wish it was more of a clear cut answer- right now it’s very grey and fuzzy because of the fear. So I hope to let go of the fear and not prevent it from me from doing good. Yoga helps get my anxiety down and makes me realize to live in the moment, because it’s all we have.
Create a habitual a.m. ritual complete with tea, meditation, journaling, prayer and movement. Blessings to all in 2014!
This sounds wonderful! I second this! Blessings! 🙂
Less artificial light, more sunlight (whenever possible).
More respect for my need of relaxation, restoration, rest.
Healthy, wealthy and wise.
In 2014, I want to serve without any expectation of praise or recognition.
To stay connected to Source with daily asana, pranayama and meditation practice.
My goal for 2014 is to over-come my own inner critic. I hope to silence that voice inside my head that points out every flaw and mistake I make. As a yoga instructor it is a bit hypocritical to teach people to accept themselves for who they are if the person standing before them can’t show grace and love for herself.
I want to rekindle, rejuvenate, re-joice my daily practice…
My resolution for 2014 is to
Mindfully Breathe! I intend to put time aside everyday for meditation and breath control. I also hope to focus more on even breathing during difficult and stressful moments both on and off my yoga mat.
To spend a full year studying Bakasana.
To continue growing, learning and staying present
I intend to get back to my mat after having surgery and unable to practice these past 4 long months!
My intention is to find strength on the mat.
This year, I’d like to work on solidifying a daily practice and I think this book would be extremely helpful. Happy New Year everyone!
Get my paperwork sorted, practice 4 days a week, and run a new personal best 10k.
My intention is to meet myself every day with compassion. Less fear, more love.
I took Judith’s Relax and Renew training in September, and our homework was to write down 3 things that bring us peace (other than yoga and meditation). My 3 were: walking in nature, reading and cooking nutritious meals for my family. My intention for 2014 is to do each one daily. Ahhh…it’s in writing my friends! Happy New Year and Namaste!
Next year, I intend to grow spiritually, intellectually, and in my career path.
Being true to myself
As 2014 is my second yoga year I am looking forward to continue discovering all the amazing treasures yoga has to offer.
Be less guarded, more thoughtful, and laugh out loud every day.
To stand up for myself; to spend more time with friends and family; to read more; and to run in at least one half marathon and enter as many organized bike rides as possible.
My intention is … to … Be … Me. I will practice kindness and love to myself, all living beings and the planet.
2014 I will rediscover and introduce myself to my authentic self. I will begin to live my life with the intention to follow my heart and dismiss the clutter.
More tolerance toward myself and others
My intention is to appreciate what I have, because it is enough and I am blessed.
my resolution is to develop a better structure and focus in my day , to balance my various roles and responsibilities and complete a project i have been working on for what feels like a long time
in 2014, my motto will be “the sharper your knife, the less you cry”, which is the title of a book about learning to cook at Cordon Bleu, and i am using as shorthand for “the more you cut through the excuses and just do what you know you love, the less you are sad”
My intentions for 2014 is to be more of myself aka adult self instead of always referencing the past in front of my family.
My intention for 2014 is to be more of myself aka adult self instead of always referencing the past in front of my family.
To achieve balance in life.
I want to find out my unique gifts and offerings as a yoga teacher.
I am not entering the contest. I have this little book. I have found it to provide special meaning each day throughout the year. If you don’t win it, it is worth buying.
I will look at my family with soft eyes, and I will dance to more live music.
Gratitude, peace, and health of all sorts.
I want to be fully present in 2014 and continue to cultivate my yoga practice.
I felt very disconnected with myself, both mentally, and physically. So this year is to reconnect. I have scheduled a 40 day meditation to kick it off, with some nutrition and body connection.
To bring contentment to life and get on the mat.
My resolution is to open my mind and allow in the beauty and strength of the universe, helping me grow in my soul, my mind, my body, to form a peaceful and unified, perfectly balanced whole person. <3
More laughter!
Show more patience and less grouchiness.
This year is I am breaking down my bigger goal into 12 smaller ones, by doing monthly resolutions instead of a yearly one. For January, my smaller goal is to eat more cleanly by eliminating processed foods from my already vegan diet.
In 2014, I will practice living my yoga daily. That intention to practice consistently and wholeheartedly will result in greater joy. This I know for sure.
To do my best at my job, to be a great parent and wife.
In 2014 I will observe my mind with compassion, invite my spirit to play, and respect myself. Aho!
My intentions for the year ahead are to create, focus and find a good daily rhythm! Daily restorative yoga has been so wonderful, I’m hoping to add another 10 mins to my practice and deepen my meditation.
Thanks for this fabulous chance!
Listening to my body and not my mind
Just started yoga in 2013 — so here’s to more in 2014!!
Always be grateful
Yoga mindfulness & meditation
My intention for 2014 is to live and let live. I want to let go of judgment of others as well as myself.
I intend to do more yoga this upcoming year.
Patience with uncertainty.
Goals..more mindfulness ….more of “less is more”…… More of taking the long view…. With health, relationships, and walk with GOD
I have declared 2014 to be the Year of the Yogi.
My intention is to live that.
Love more, worry less, smile as if the whole world is watching!
Compassion and balance. Cultivating the wise and good while opening the heart to what is.
Use the internet less.
To ask on a daily basis:
Is my love enough?
Or can I love some more?
My intentions: to live with awareness and compassion
I hope to live it up in my yoga teacher training and learn a ton about yoga and myself!
I’m returning to yoga from a very long absence and my 2014 intentions will bring yoga, balance and peace back into my life.
Develop a home practice, yoga every day
Balance, focus, and breath.
Watch less tv
Get on my mat more often. The rest of life seems to fall into place when I get to my mat regularly.
My intention is to spend more time enjoying the present.
my intension is to bring FOCUS into everything that i do in 2014! http://extendyoga.com/
Yoga is such a blessing for me and teacher training enabled me to share it. In 2014 I want to increase my boundaries and offer yoga to those who haven’t/cannot attend studio classes; to those who may think “I could never do it, I’m too…,” and to anyone, of any age, who could be touched by the healing that it can bring through its rich, rewarding journey of discovery.
Be properly prepared for my IYT course at Yogaville in the fall.
My intention is to be more non-reactive and accepting of situations that I am presented with.
When I was 20 years old, my wish was to be a yoga teacher and travel to India, I wasn’t able to fulfill my dream because I let others tell me what to do. 5 years later , here I am, back at the start. I realized I wasn’t happy because Yoga was missing in my life, it was my essence. This year 2013 made me reflect and accept who I am and let it all flowww.
Happy Almost New Year!
This year my resolution is to keep practicing until I can master crow. Then moving on to shoulder stands, patiently while I honor my body.
My intention for this year is to enjoy:)
My intention for 2014 is to enjoy everything 🙂
2012- listen more than I talk
2013- compliment more than I criticize
2014- give more than I receive
Namaste 🙂
My intentions with the new year is to work on my inversions and find a new balance in my life.
To be generous, gracious, and happy.
Be more centered, balanced and have more positive energy.
I am committing to practicing yoga everyday. At least 15 minutes each day!
My intention is to live wholeheartedly and to be open to sadness, loss and pain so that I may also be fully open to true joy, happiness and love.
My intention is to always be mindful when teaching yoga in order to provide safety and progress.
I will try to meditate more often and finally finish that dissertation! Would love to win 🙂
2013 was my year in learning the art of letting go. In 2014 I need to learn how to not let myself be wound up by others’ aggressions.
This year I will strive to find my true self
My intentions for this next year is to do more with less, meaning to make great use of what I have, enjoy the present and not to focus on the future, it will all come in great time. This year in 2013 I ended up on a journey that found me when I started doing Yoga. It is like I have become awake inside and literally shedding layers that no longer serve me as well as discovering myself and what I want in life. I hope everyone gets a chance to try yoga and receive the benefits as I have. Happy New Year!!!
My intentions for this next year is to do more with less, meaning to make great use of what I have, enjoy the present and not to focus on the future, it will all come in great time. This year in 2013 I ended up on a journey that found me when I started doing Yoga. It is like I have become awake inside and literally shedding layers that no longer serve me as well as discovering myself and what I want in life. I hope everyone gets a chance to try yoga and receive the benefits as I have. Happy New Year 2014!!
I have been teaching Iyengar Yoga for many years and my practice, classes and students are the focus of my life. Four weeks ago I broke my arm and suddenly found myself in a whole new world where each daily practice is less a voyage of discovery over a huge ocean in a beautiful ship and more a tiny float in a little wooden boat on a small pond. I will spend 2014 exploring the boundaries again, just like one of my new students, and I am going to need some help!
My intention is to learn a new healthy recipe each month. It’s a small enough intention that it’s achievable and maybe possible to expand.
I’m looking forward to moving my practice further off the mat. Reaching new depths within, but not to the exclusion of the outside world and people. And drinking more water 😉
To share: yoga, smiles and food
I look forward to starting my teacher training, and deepening my practice!
In 2014, I’m going to clear the clutter and make space in my life for new possibilites.
I felt this pull in my life to change it to focus on my health and this book would help. I want to devote time to becoming a yoga instructor.
My primary resolution is to develop a home based practice. I’m new and totally hooked!
To be open to love, happiness and balance in every moment.
In 2014 I intend to live with less fear and more love. I resolve to bring a smile to 3 other people each day in 2014.
Live, Love and Laugh.. Do what makes me happy.
To find meaning and a blessing in each new moment in 2014 ~
2014 is going to bring a lot of changes for me. New baby, new city, new job, new house, etc. Hoping to stay present so I can weather the changes without anxiety about the future. Will try to remember that the future has a way of taking care of itself
An intention to appreciate in the moment.
2014 is my year of saying “yes,” making my own opportunities, and making every day count.
I resolve to not let fear of failure win.
To let go and grow from within
Here’s to a new year full of ease, health, happiness and joy.
My intention is to finally make the commitment to teach yoga and try and involve my family. I’ve been practicing a long time and I would love to start teaching at my AFB to my friends, some of whom suffer from PTSD.
I spent most of 2013 working on becoming a teacher, so this year I’m getting back to being a student. I plan to put energy into learning more about all 8 limbs and living them everyday.
In 2014 I want to let go of the word struggle. I want to celebrate those around me. I want to laugh!
Practice lovingkindness towards myself!
My focus this year is “nurture” – to nurture myself in many ways: physically, mentally, financially. I’m so good at nurturing others, not so good at nurturing myself. IT’S TIME! <3
My intention this year is patience!! With two small children, I often find myself becoming frustrated and agitated, and often have to remind myself to enjoy the present and to breathe. Impatience is just an unnecessary waste of energy.
Meditation!
Practice yoga every day this year (even if I only have time for a few sun salutations! Also my intention this year is to be more financially stable and watch my spending. I want to practice minimialism in all things and be content with what I have.
I will commit to a better year in 2014. This includes being grateful for what I have rather than what I wish I had.
live my truth!
Finally complete the remaining requirements for my RYT200 and begin a free weekly “yoga breaks” class at work for my co-workers.
to continue to expand my yoga therapeutic practice helping people in pain.
My goal is to incorporate regular meditation into my practice and to follow my curiosity more…fingers crossed!
My resolutions are to reduce sugar intake, eat healthier overall, meditate and practice yoga more frequently. Happy New Year! 🙂
Finding my best path by striving forward no matter the obstacles – because we can’t find our way unless we keep going!
To listen to my heart more often and follow its advice rather than letting my head get in the way
More balance, daily dedication and devotion, mindful eating, more meditation and going within, being at peace with myself.
I’ll try to be more happy and detached and less rigid and worried.
To be more, but be proud, confident, & happy with all that I am.
To love in the moment and appreciate where I am in my life. To not always ask, “what’s next?”
The only resolution I have as such, is simple; to fully integrate the innate truth that my life is not my own, thus every action taken must be for the highest good of all. That all said actions originate from the heart center. That is all 😀 Much love and light to all!
Namaste~
Drop judgement and attachment a s accept and love more. Live more in the present moment.
I want to do a better job at staying connected with my friends- both near and far!
2014 is all about continuing my journey with yoga. My goal is to practice yoga on a daily basis and find ways to encorporate yoga into my speech therapy practice with children diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
I wish for 2014 to be a year of enlightenment, health and clear vision.
I have two important resolutions, one being to improve and deepen my meditation practice, the other to let go of things and people and reactions that don’t matter.
My other resolution isn’t really important to my overall well being – I want to finally learn to do a headstand – but I just really want to do it.
To meditate each morning and at least 2 evenings. I want to learn more about using essential oils to promote health and wellness.