Foundations of Change

Ground with Sui Soul, breathwork, and meditation, and set intentions to prepare for change.

Welcome to August, the hottest month of the year in the northern hemisphere and a month brimming with the power of the sun, yang, action, and initiative. Thus, it is the perfect month to launch Sui’s 21-Day Transformation Challenge and to reflect on the subject of transformation. In week one, we will focus on setting intentions. In week two, we will discuss acceptance and adaptability as key aspects of personal growth. In week three, look forward to learning about how to awaken your inner strength. In the final week of August, we will take a look back on all our progress and celebrate rebirth and renewal.

Making Space for Change

It may seem counterintuitive to embrace stillness when discussing change and transformation, but grounding is key to understanding what direction you want to grow in and when it is time to let go. It’s important to know where you want to go before booking a plane ticket! Taking a step back can also help you to reflect on your values and whether or not your current path aligns with them. Time and space can be used to develop awareness and cultivate insight about your goals. When I was in university, I really admired the older students who took gap years. They seemed to me to be extremely driven in class after taking a year to reflect, mature, and venture outside of the immediate high school to college pipeline that is so common in the United States. To be sure, gap years can take a variety of different forms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the more organized and thoroughly planned a gap year is, the better the experience is likely to be. In terms of creating space to set intentions, a planned “gap year” could look like a divergence from overcrowded schedules for the sake of meditation, yoga, or breathwork. 

While Sui Yoga’s tranquil and welcoming interior is the perfect place for relaxation, hot yoga and other mindfulness practices like breathwork are like training grounds for your mind. Have you ever caught yourself glancing up from your mat and feeling the pressure to engage in a “side crow” because your neighbor is, even though you’re feeling more tired than usual? Or perhaps you’re holding a perfectly poised “dancer’s pose” when you suddenly remember you’re surrounded by other students and begin to feel self-conscious. These moments could represent how you engage with the world outside of the yoga studio – it’s just that you may not notice it out there.

Grounding through these practices is a way to return to your inner voice and values after noticing thoughts of fear, anxiety, regret, or any other feeling that is holding you back from growing into a more authentic version of yourself. Grounding is also a way to connect deeply with the present moment, which is always the most important moment as we create our future in actions we take now. 

The Power of Your Thoughts

While navigating the job search for the first time, one of my mentors told me that the most important voice in my life is the voice in my head. This was not the interview wisdom or LinkedIn networking secret I was expecting to hear. However, over the past several months, I realized how invaluable this advice was. I had grappled with thoughts that I wasn’t qualified enough to apply to an opening, or that I hadn’t done a good enough job in my previous roles to speak to in my cover letters but once I began to change the narrative to value a kinder voice, I realized I could provide polished and convincing “STAR method” responses in my interviews – “STAR” is a way to structuring your responses by describing the situation, task, action and result. None of my past experiences really changed, but I started seeing the good in them. All that is to say that thoughts have power.

Intentions and Manifestation

In his book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra describes consciousness as having two qualities: attention and intention, whereby “attention energizes, and intention transforms.” This intention is similar to the concept of manifesting, or the idea that thoughts and beliefs can help one’s goals come true. It would certainly be more helpful to have hope than false limiting beliefs. Some people might find it more beneficial to have a visual reminder of these inspirational thoughts in the form of a vision board. Chopra further describes intention as “desire without attachment to the outcome.”  I interpret this as having an understanding of where point B is and accepting that the path to get there may not be what you expect. 

We hope that Sui Yoga can be a grounding spot for you on your journey of growth, whether it’s 21-days-long or 21 years in the making. This August at Sui Yoga, we encourage you to take mindful pauses to set intentions, adjust course, and acknowledge how far you’ve come.