Lessons from Yoga on Living with Intention | Inger Burnett-Zeigler | TEDxNorthwesternU

how many of us knew exactly what we

how many of us knew exactly what we intended to do with our life when we

intended to do with our life when we

intended to do with our life when we were kids well when I was 17 and a

were kids well when I was 17 and a

were kids well when I was 17 and a senior in high school I thought I had it

senior in high school I thought I had it

senior in high school I thought I had it all figured out I plan to go to Columbia

all figured out I plan to go to Columbia

all figured out I plan to go to Columbia University in New York and get both a

University in New York and get both a

University in New York and get both a rigorous academic experience while also

rigorous academic experience while also

rigorous academic experience while also training to be a professional ballerina

training to be a professional ballerina

training to be a professional ballerina I remember the exact day that that plan

I remember the exact day that that plan

I remember the exact day that that plan got derailed it was a sunny day in April

got derailed it was a sunny day in April

got derailed it was a sunny day in April and I just finished track practice I

and I just finished track practice I

and I just finished track practice I started into the routine of calling home

started into the routine of calling home

started into the routine of calling home every day to see what college acceptance

every day to see what college acceptance

every day to see what college acceptance letters had arrived in the mail on that

letters had arrived in the mail on that

letters had arrived in the mail on that particular day when I called my mom was

particular day when I called my mom was

particular day when I called my mom was so excited to tell me that Columbia had

so excited to tell me that Columbia had

so excited to tell me that Columbia had arrived I asked her if the envelope was

arrived I asked her if the envelope was

arrived I asked her if the envelope was big or small and when she told me the

big or small and when she told me the

big or small and when she told me the envelope was small I immediately started

envelope was small I immediately started

envelope was small I immediately started crying my mom urged me to hurry home and

crying my mom urged me to hurry home and

crying my mom urged me to hurry home and open the envelope myself but I knew in

open the envelope myself but I knew in

open the envelope myself but I knew in that moment that my professional dance

that moment that my professional dance

that moment that my professional dance career had ended before it ever started

career had ended before it ever started

career had ended before it ever started I went to Cornell not Columbia and I

I went to Cornell not Columbia and I

I went to Cornell not Columbia and I continued to dance albeit not

continued to dance albeit not

continued to dance albeit not professionally my ballet teacher at

professionally my ballet teacher at

professionally my ballet teacher at Cornell began each class with a brief

Cornell began each class with a brief

Cornell began each class with a brief yoga practice ballet introduced me to

yoga practice ballet introduced me to

yoga practice ballet introduced me to yoga and yoga ultimately introduced me

yoga and yoga ultimately introduced me

yoga and yoga ultimately introduced me to myself through yoga I developed a

to myself through yoga I developed a

to myself through yoga I developed a self-awareness that set me down the path

self-awareness that set me down the path

self-awareness that set me down the path to discover my true life intention most

to discover my true life intention most

to discover my true life intention most of us are moving through life on

of us are moving through life on

of us are moving through life on autopilot we’re going through the

autopilot we’re going through the

autopilot we’re going through the motions giving little attention to the

motions giving little attention to the

motions giving little attention to the behaviors we take every day and the

behaviors we take every day and the

behaviors we take every day and the moments that we’re collecting from the

moments that we’re collecting from the

moments that we’re collecting from the time we’re very young we’re set on a

time we’re very young we’re set on a

time we’re very young we’re set on a race track of time milestones that we

race track of time milestones that we

race track of time milestones that we should precisely hit at every turn if

should precisely hit at every turn if

should precisely hit at every turn if we’re doing life right from playdates to

we’re doing life right from playdates to

we’re doing life right from playdates to driving going off to college getting

driving going off to college getting

driving going off to college getting your first job

your first job

your first job getting married and have

getting married and have

getting married and have children then ultimately moving into

children then ultimately moving into

children then ultimately moving into your four-bedroom home with your two-car

your four-bedroom home with your two-car

your four-bedroom home with your two-car garage in the suburbs and most

garage in the suburbs and most

garage in the suburbs and most importantly feeling happy the goals and

importantly feeling happy the goals and

importantly feeling happy the goals and accompanying timeline are set for us by

accompanying timeline are set for us by

accompanying timeline are set for us by the cultural norms and values of the

the cultural norms and values of the

the cultural norms and values of the society we live in we are in an

society we live in we are in an

society we live in we are in an achievement oriented productivity driven

achievement oriented productivity driven

achievement oriented productivity driven society the ability to meet goals and

society the ability to meet goals and

society the ability to meet goals and accomplish things makes us feel proud

accomplish things makes us feel proud

accomplish things makes us feel proud and valuable and worthy but it’s never

and valuable and worthy but it’s never

and valuable and worthy but it’s never enough

enough

enough we’re rarely Emma now and we’re

we’re rarely Emma now and we’re

we’re rarely Emma now and we’re constantly seeking the next best thing

constantly seeking the next best thing

constantly seeking the next best thing we’re surrounded by messages to do more

we’re surrounded by messages to do more

we’re surrounded by messages to do more faster bigger better my own life has

faster bigger better my own life has

faster bigger better my own life has certainly fallen subject to this at

certainly fallen subject to this at

certainly fallen subject to this at times study get good grades participate

times study get good grades participate

times study get good grades participate in sports and extracurricular activities

in sports and extracurricular activities

in sports and extracurricular activities go to college then grad school then more

go to college then grad school then more

go to college then grad school then more school and the cycle has continued and

school and the cycle has continued and

school and the cycle has continued and then the process of working tirelessly

then the process of working tirelessly

then the process of working tirelessly to stay on track I’ve often been an

to stay on track I’ve often been an

to stay on track I’ve often been an anxious and neurotic wreck rarely if

anxious and neurotic wreck rarely if

anxious and neurotic wreck rarely if ever did I stop to ask myself what my

ever did I stop to ask myself what my

ever did I stop to ask myself what my true intention was and how my goals and

true intention was and how my goals and

true intention was and how my goals and everyday behaviors aligned with that

everyday behaviors aligned with that

everyday behaviors aligned with that intention since I couldn’t become a

intention since I couldn’t become a

intention since I couldn’t become a dancer I did the next best thing and

dancer I did the next best thing and

dancer I did the next best thing and became a psychologist I was living in

became a psychologist I was living in

became a psychologist I was living in Ann Arbor doing a post doctoral

Ann Arbor doing a post doctoral

Ann Arbor doing a post doctoral fellowship in psychology and in the

fellowship in psychology and in the

fellowship in psychology and in the midst of a breakup when yoga found me

midst of a breakup when yoga found me

midst of a breakup when yoga found me again I’d studied enough psychology at

again I’d studied enough psychology at

again I’d studied enough psychology at this point to appreciate the importance

this point to appreciate the importance

this point to appreciate the importance of self-care and scheduling positive

of self-care and scheduling positive

of self-care and scheduling positive behaviors so I made an intentional

behaviors so I made an intentional

behaviors so I made an intentional decision to start going to yoga I’d been

decision to start going to yoga I’d been

decision to start going to yoga I’d been wanting to get back into it for a while

wanting to get back into it for a while

wanting to get back into it for a while and now seemed as good a time as any as

and now seemed as good a time as any as

and now seemed as good a time as any as Ann Arbor is hardly a town known for its

Ann Arbor is hardly a town known for its

Ann Arbor is hardly a town known for its bustling nightlife in the therapy world

bustling nightlife in the therapy world

bustling nightlife in the therapy world it is commonly held

it is commonly held

it is commonly held that the interactions that play out in

that the interactions that play out in

that the interactions that play out in the context of the therapy space are

the context of the therapy space are

the context of the therapy space are microcosm of how people behave in the

microcosm of how people behave in the

microcosm of how people behave in the real world the same can also be said for

real world the same can also be said for

real world the same can also be said for yoga the anxieties and frustrations of

yoga the anxieties and frustrations of

yoga the anxieties and frustrations of the real world often play out on the mat

the real world often play out on the mat

the real world often play out on the mat and the awareness and intentionality

and the awareness and intentionality

and the awareness and intentionality that’s cultivated on the mat can be

that’s cultivated on the mat can be

that’s cultivated on the mat can be taken back into real life when I enter

taken back into real life when I enter

taken back into real life when I enter the yoga studio I roll out my mat and I

the yoga studio I roll out my mat and I

the yoga studio I roll out my mat and I sit down in my designated space in the

sit down in my designated space in the

sit down in my designated space in the front corner of the room because my

front corner of the room because my

front corner of the room because my default is to operate from a place of

default is to operate from a place of

default is to operate from a place of structure and routine I always sit in

structure and routine I always sit in

structure and routine I always sit in the same space and when I’m not able to

the same space and when I’m not able to

the same space and when I’m not able to sit in that space I’m anxious or I’m

sit in that space I’m anxious or I’m

sit in that space I’m anxious or I’m annoyed I’m still working through that I

annoyed I’m still working through that I

annoyed I’m still working through that I sit down and I check in with myself and

sit down and I check in with myself and

sit down and I check in with myself and I survey all of the places in my body

I survey all of the places in my body

I survey all of the places in my body where I feel strain or discomfort I

where I feel strain or discomfort I

where I feel strain or discomfort I purposefully check to see if I’m

purposefully check to see if I’m

purposefully check to see if I’m clenching my fists or firing my brow I

clenching my fists or firing my brow I

clenching my fists or firing my brow I check the pace of my breath sometimes I

check the pace of my breath sometimes I

check the pace of my breath sometimes I lie down I lie down and allow the floor

lie down I lie down and allow the floor

lie down I lie down and allow the floor to carry the full weight of my body I

to carry the full weight of my body I

to carry the full weight of my body I let go of all effort I allow myself to

let go of all effort I allow myself to

let go of all effort I allow myself to just be in my many years of practicing

just be in my many years of practicing

just be in my many years of practicing yoga I’ve come to appreciate the great

yoga I’ve come to appreciate the great

yoga I’ve come to appreciate the great privilege it is to have this few minutes

privilege it is to have this few minutes

privilege it is to have this few minutes to check in with myself even before the

to check in with myself even before the

to check in with myself even before the formal class starts when I’m in this

formal class starts when I’m in this

formal class starts when I’m in this space I’m just a girl that sets up her

space I’m just a girl that sets up her

space I’m just a girl that sets up her mat in the front corner of the room not

mat in the front corner of the room not

mat in the front corner of the room not all of the labels and expectations that

all of the labels and expectations that

all of the labels and expectations that society places on me or that I place on

society places on me or that I place on

society places on me or that I place on myself when the teacher comes in I sit

myself when the teacher comes in I sit

myself when the teacher comes in I sit up promptly ready to be a good student

up promptly ready to be a good student

up promptly ready to be a good student and do my best yoga classes often begin

and do my best yoga classes often begin

and do my best yoga classes often begin by setting an intention for what you

by setting an intention for what you

by setting an intention for what you hope to get out of the practice that day

hope to get out of the practice that day

hope to get out of the practice that day when it’s time for me to set an

when it’s time for me to set an

when it’s time for me to set an intention it’s usually something like

intention it’s usually something like

intention it’s usually something like relax or

relax or

relax or number you are enough I follow as a

number you are enough I follow as a

number you are enough I follow as a teacher guys the class through a series

teacher guys the class through a series

teacher guys the class through a series of familiar postures

of familiar postures

of familiar postures despite this familiarity some postures

despite this familiarity some postures

despite this familiarity some postures are still very challenging a battle

are still very challenging a battle

are still very challenging a battle against the frustration at the postures

against the frustration at the postures

against the frustration at the postures that I can’t do yet and the postures I

that I can’t do yet and the postures I

that I can’t do yet and the postures I used to be able to do that I can no

used to be able to do that I can no

used to be able to do that I can no longer do I remind myself of my

longer do I remind myself of my

longer do I remind myself of my intention you are enough as the class

intention you are enough as the class

intention you are enough as the class reaches its climax my body starts

reaches its climax my body starts

reaches its climax my body starts showing its signs of fatigue I push

showing its signs of fatigue I push

showing its signs of fatigue I push through and win fathom taking an

through and win fathom taking an

through and win fathom taking an unsolicited child’s pose because I don’t

unsolicited child’s pose because I don’t

unsolicited child’s pose because I don’t give up I notice my breath becoming more

give up I notice my breath becoming more

give up I notice my breath becoming more rapid I follow the teachers instruction

rapid I follow the teachers instruction

rapid I follow the teachers instruction to breathe intentionally when a posture

to breathe intentionally when a posture

to breathe intentionally when a posture is particularly challenging I remind

is particularly challenging I remind

is particularly challenging I remind myself of my intention relax some

myself of my intention relax some

myself of my intention relax some postures bring me an overwhelming sense

postures bring me an overwhelming sense

postures bring me an overwhelming sense of relief they feel as if stress and

of relief they feel as if stress and

of relief they feel as if stress and worry is literally being wrung out of my

worry is literally being wrung out of my

worry is literally being wrung out of my body as if the weight of the world is

body as if the weight of the world is

body as if the weight of the world is being lifted off of my shoulders I

being lifted off of my shoulders I

being lifted off of my shoulders I noticed this feeling and I breathe it in

noticed this feeling and I breathe it in

noticed this feeling and I breathe it in with joy and gratitude the practice ends

with joy and gratitude the practice ends

with joy and gratitude the practice ends just how it started I lie down and allow

just how it started I lie down and allow

just how it started I lie down and allow the full weight of my body to sink into

the full weight of my body to sink into

the full weight of my body to sink into the floor I check in once again to

the floor I check in once again to

the floor I check in once again to notice where I still might be holding

notice where I still might be holding

notice where I still might be holding tightness or tension sometimes my mind

tightness or tension sometimes my mind

tightness or tension sometimes my mind starts to wander I bring it back not

starts to wander I bring it back not

starts to wander I bring it back not wanting to lose any of the goodness of

wanting to lose any of the goodness of

wanting to lose any of the goodness of these moments I feel proud that I

these moments I feel proud that I

these moments I feel proud that I accomplished my goal of coming to yoga

accomplished my goal of coming to yoga

accomplished my goal of coming to yoga that day and my body too is rejoicing a

that day and my body too is rejoicing a

that day and my body too is rejoicing a few years into my yoga practice I

few years into my yoga practice I

few years into my yoga practice I started to notice the ways in which Yoga

started to notice the ways in which Yoga

started to notice the ways in which Yoga was changing me

was changing me

was changing me Yoga taught me to be in the moment and

Yoga taught me to be in the moment and

Yoga taught me to be in the moment and to accept things as they are not as they

to accept things as they are not as they

to accept things as they are not as they were course or as anyway

were course or as anyway

were course or as anyway them to be yoga taught me to embrace

them to be yoga taught me to embrace

them to be yoga taught me to embrace stillness and the opportunity to check

stillness and the opportunity to check

stillness and the opportunity to check in with myself yoga taught me to breathe

in with myself yoga taught me to breathe

in with myself yoga taught me to breathe the breath is your life source and your

the breath is your life source and your

the breath is your life source and your anchor through yoga I developed a

anchor through yoga I developed a

anchor through yoga I developed a practice of observing my breath in

practice of observing my breath in

practice of observing my breath in periods of ease and struggle and learn

periods of ease and struggle and learn

periods of ease and struggle and learn to slow down my breath in moments of

to slow down my breath in moments of

to slow down my breath in moments of struggle yoga taught me self-awareness

struggle yoga taught me self-awareness

struggle yoga taught me self-awareness it taught me to observe my body my mind

it taught me to observe my body my mind

it taught me to observe my body my mind and my emotions I noticed how I react in

and my emotions I noticed how I react in

and my emotions I noticed how I react in the face of challenge and how my mind

the face of challenge and how my mind

the face of challenge and how my mind can vacillate sometimes unpredictably

can vacillate sometimes unpredictably

can vacillate sometimes unpredictably from peace to chaos yoga taught me

from peace to chaos yoga taught me

from peace to chaos yoga taught me patience every day I walk into the yoga

patience every day I walk into the yoga

patience every day I walk into the yoga studio is different and every day I wake

studio is different and every day I wake

studio is different and every day I wake up and take on life is different there

up and take on life is different there

up and take on life is different there are many roads to a singular destination

are many roads to a singular destination

are many roads to a singular destination and sometimes an unpredictable road can

and sometimes an unpredictable road can

and sometimes an unpredictable road can take you to a beautiful place that you

take you to a beautiful place that you

take you to a beautiful place that you never knew existed yoga taught me to let

never knew existed yoga taught me to let

never knew existed yoga taught me to let go it taught me to let go of rigid

go it taught me to let go of rigid

go it taught me to let go of rigid expectation of what I thought would be

expectation of what I thought would be

expectation of what I thought would be or expectation of what I think may come

or expectation of what I think may come

or expectation of what I think may come it taught me to let go of things that

it taught me to let go of things that

it taught me to let go of things that don’t serve me like situations people or

don’t serve me like situations people or

don’t serve me like situations people or even my own thoughts yoga taught me to

even my own thoughts yoga taught me to

even my own thoughts yoga taught me to be flexible Yoga is not only about

be flexible Yoga is not only about

be flexible Yoga is not only about flexibility on the mat but the ability

flexibility on the mat but the ability

flexibility on the mat but the ability to adjust to life

to adjust to life

to adjust to life Yoga taught me to find my edge to work

Yoga taught me to find my edge to work

Yoga taught me to find my edge to work within that space and be stretched and

within that space and be stretched and

within that space and be stretched and grown a flexible body led to a flexible

grown a flexible body led to a flexible

grown a flexible body led to a flexible spirit and a flexible spirit led me to

spirit and a flexible spirit led me to

spirit and a flexible spirit led me to be less resistant and more tolerant of

be less resistant and more tolerant of

be less resistant and more tolerant of unexpected life events and challenges

finally yoga taught me to trust myself

finally yoga taught me to trust myself through yoga I became more closely a

through yoga I became more closely a

through yoga I became more closely a with my sense of intuition and developed

with my sense of intuition and developed

with my sense of intuition and developed a confidence in being able to listen to

a confidence in being able to listen to

a confidence in being able to listen to that intuition and not the distracting

that intuition and not the distracting

that intuition and not the distracting chatter of the world around me it’s easy

chatter of the world around me it’s easy

chatter of the world around me it’s easy to look around and see that I’m not the

to look around and see that I’m not the

to look around and see that I’m not the only one that’s jumped on the yoga

only one that’s jumped on the yoga

only one that’s jumped on the yoga bandwagon there’s a yoga studio in every

bandwagon there’s a yoga studio in every

bandwagon there’s a yoga studio in every corner Yoga YouTube channels you know

corner Yoga YouTube channels you know

corner Yoga YouTube channels you know the magazines yoga apps in fact yoga is

the magazines yoga apps in fact yoga is

the magazines yoga apps in fact yoga is one of the top ten complementary and

one of the top ten complementary and

one of the top ten complementary and alternative approaches used by adults in

alternative approaches used by adults in

alternative approaches used by adults in the United States in 2012 21 million

the United States in 2012 21 million

the United States in 2012 21 million people stated that they had used yoga

people stated that they had used yoga

people stated that they had used yoga for their health in the past year Yoga

for their health in the past year Yoga

for their health in the past year Yoga has health benefits including reducing

has health benefits including reducing

has health benefits including reducing stress depression and anxiety improving

stress depression and anxiety improving

stress depression and anxiety improving attention and concentration physical

attention and concentration physical

attention and concentration physical fitness strength and flexibility as it

fitness strength and flexibility as it

fitness strength and flexibility as it became as I started to really think

became as I started to really think

became as I started to really think about the ways in which I was personally

about the ways in which I was personally

about the ways in which I was personally benefiting from my yoga practice I

benefiting from my yoga practice I

benefiting from my yoga practice I started to wonder how people in my

started to wonder how people in my

started to wonder how people in my clinical practice might also benefit

clinical practice might also benefit

clinical practice might also benefit from the skills that I learned in yoga

from the skills that I learned in yoga

from the skills that I learned in yoga in my clinical practice I treat adult

in my clinical practice I treat adult

in my clinical practice I treat adult women who are experiencing symptoms of

women who are experiencing symptoms of

women who are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety most of the women

depression and anxiety most of the women

depression and anxiety most of the women I treat are highly functioning and just

I treat are highly functioning and just

I treat are highly functioning and just need some extra support in coping skills

need some extra support in coping skills

need some extra support in coping skills to get through the day-to-day challenges

to get through the day-to-day challenges

to get through the day-to-day challenges of life a few years ago I treated

of life a few years ago I treated

of life a few years ago I treated someone who was feeling stressed after

someone who was feeling stressed after

someone who was feeling stressed after recently having had a baby she had a

recently having had a baby she had a

recently having had a baby she had a traumatic birth and delivered early and

traumatic birth and delivered early and

traumatic birth and delivered early and her baby spent two months in the NICU at

her baby spent two months in the NICU at

her baby spent two months in the NICU at the point in which she came to me her

the point in which she came to me her

the point in which she came to me her baby was nine months old and healthy but

baby was nine months old and healthy but

baby was nine months old and healthy but she was extremely anxious because things

she was extremely anxious because things

she was extremely anxious because things were not going according to her plan

were not going according to her plan

were not going according to her plan this woman had been a professional

this woman had been a professional

this woman had been a professional athlete and after her athletic career

athlete and after her athletic career

athlete and after her athletic career ended she went to law school she married

ended she went to law school she married

ended she went to law school she married her high school sweetheart she got her

her high school sweetheart she got her

her high school sweetheart she got her first choice job and now she was having

first choice job and now she was having

first choice job and now she was having her first child by her own report she

her first child by her own report she

her first child by her own report she had always gotten every

had always gotten every

had always gotten every she wants it but not now now things were

she wants it but not now now things were

she wants it but not now now things were out of control

out of control

out of control she was plagued with self blame and

she was plagued with self blame and

she was plagued with self blame and guilt that she had not given her son the

guilt that she had not given her son the

guilt that she had not given her son the grand entry into the world that she had

grand entry into the world that she had

grand entry into the world that she had imagined she feared that she had already

imagined she feared that she had already

imagined she feared that she had already ruined his life by not getting him off

ruined his life by not getting him off

ruined his life by not getting him off to the best start despite having

to the best start despite having

to the best start despite having information from her doctors that he was

information from her doctors that he was

information from her doctors that he was progressing well she panicked

progressing well she panicked

progressing well she panicked every time he moved with the fear that

every time he moved with the fear that

every time he moved with the fear that he would do something to hurt himself or

he would do something to hurt himself or

he would do something to hurt himself or she would hurt him she was so blinded by

she would hurt him she was so blinded by

she would hurt him she was so blinded by fear and worried that she could not see

fear and worried that she could not see

fear and worried that she could not see her healthy happy son in front of her

her healthy happy son in front of her

her healthy happy son in front of her she was clinging relentlessly to the

she was clinging relentlessly to the

she was clinging relentlessly to the storybook delivery that she thought she

storybook delivery that she thought she

storybook delivery that she thought she would have and judging herself for her

would have and judging herself for her

would have and judging herself for her inability to meet her own unrealistic

inability to meet her own unrealistic

inability to meet her own unrealistic expectations this woman is not unlike

expectations this woman is not unlike

expectations this woman is not unlike many I see in my therapy practice

many I see in my therapy practice

many I see in my therapy practice anxiety disorders are among the most

anxiety disorders are among the most

anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions with about

common psychiatric conditions with about

common psychiatric conditions with about one in five people meeting criteria for

one in five people meeting criteria for

one in five people meeting criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point in

an anxiety disorder at some point in

an anxiety disorder at some point in their life women are 60% more likely

their life women are 60% more likely

their life women are 60% more likely over the course of therapy we work

over the course of therapy we work

over the course of therapy we work together to develop an awareness about

together to develop an awareness about

together to develop an awareness about her fears and worries that she wasn’t

her fears and worries that she wasn’t

her fears and worries that she wasn’t and wouldn’t be a good enough mom and

and wouldn’t be a good enough mom and

and wouldn’t be a good enough mom and the ways in which this fear impacted her

the ways in which this fear impacted her

the ways in which this fear impacted her behavior by preventing her from allowing

behavior by preventing her from allowing

behavior by preventing her from allowing her son to explore his environment and

her son to explore his environment and

her son to explore his environment and from her from seeing the moments of joy

from her from seeing the moments of joy

from her from seeing the moments of joy that were surrounding her every day

that were surrounding her every day

that were surrounding her every day eventually she learned to slow down to

eventually she learned to slow down to

eventually she learned to slow down to allow herself to just be and to be less

allow herself to just be and to be less

allow herself to just be and to be less reactive and more responsive she let go

reactive and more responsive she let go

reactive and more responsive she let go of her storybook delivery and accepted

of her storybook delivery and accepted

of her storybook delivery and accepted what was before her and she got better

what was before her and she got better

what was before her and she got better it’s easy to become blinded by the

it’s easy to become blinded by the

it’s easy to become blinded by the stories we tell ourselves about how

stories we tell ourselves about how

stories we tell ourselves about how things should have been or how we

things should have been or how we

things should have been or how we imagine that things will be we can

imagine that things will be we can

imagine that things will be we can become burden by expectations set by

become burden by expectations set by

become burden by expectations set by ourselves or the world our active

ourselves or the world our active

ourselves or the world our active wandering minds can get in the way of us

wandering minds can get in the way of us

wandering minds can get in the way of us noticing and appreciating what is right

noticing and appreciating what is right

noticing and appreciating what is right before us what would it be like if we

before us what would it be like if we

before us what would it be like if we were to start each day by setting an

were to start each day by setting an

were to start each day by setting an intention if we were to set an intention

intention if we were to set an intention

intention if we were to set an intention set it free and wait openly for it to

set it free and wait openly for it to

set it free and wait openly for it to come back to us how would your life be

come back to us how would your life be

come back to us how would your life be different if you created moments of

different if you created moments of

different if you created moments of stillness to check in with yourself and

stillness to check in with yourself and

stillness to check in with yourself and truly get to know yourself how would it

truly get to know yourself how would it

truly get to know yourself how would it feel to let go of expectation allow

feel to let go of expectation allow

feel to let go of expectation allow yourself to just be and accept yourself

yourself to just be and accept yourself

yourself to just be and accept yourself as you are what would it mean to trust

as you are what would it mean to trust

as you are what would it mean to trust that your path is the right path and the

that your path is the right path and the

that your path is the right path and the only path for you Yoga was my vehicle to

only path for you Yoga was my vehicle to

only path for you Yoga was my vehicle to cultivate and greater self awareness but

cultivate and greater self awareness but

cultivate and greater self awareness but what might open your spirit to

what might open your spirit to

what might open your spirit to discovering your true life intention and

discovering your true life intention and

discovering your true life intention and noticing the possibility within you and

noticing the possibility within you and

noticing the possibility within you and around you every day I’ll end by sharing

around you every day I’ll end by sharing

around you every day I’ll end by sharing my favourite intentions in my yoga

my favourite intentions in my yoga

my favourite intentions in my yoga practice with you relax and know that

practice with you relax and know that

practice with you relax and know that you are enough

you are enough