The goals we choose dictate the direction of our lives. Without goals our life will have no direction. Our major life goals are closely linked with what we consider to be the purpose of our life. We need a sense of purpose to inspire us towards our goals and our goals will become the concrete manifestation of our feeling of purpose. This, then is our task: to develop a sense of purpose in our lives and to then choose goals based on that sense of purpose.

We must spend time pondering and finding out what is most important to us and what we want to do for the world and ourselves. This understanding of ourselves will not come from watching television or reading the daily newspaper. To reach deeper aspects of ourselves, we need to directly experience our deeper nature. This is done through periods of self-reflection.

We need to set aside time each day, or time every week, for self-reflection and meditation. We must give ourselves time and space in which to explore our deep thoughts and feelings. This does not need to be an elaborate, ceremonial event, but can simply be a quiet walk each evening, a solitary hike in the woods, or ten minutes of quiet time each day away from the distractions and pressures of everyday life. These moments of empowering aloneness will quickly become a wellspring of creativity and insight in our lives.

Our goals do not have to be world-transforming; they can be simple and humble. Our goals can encompass both material and spiritual wealth. The essential factor in this process is that our goals emerge from within ourselves – from within our own minds and hearts. We need to cast aside the limiting ideas of contemporary society and those things which others think and tell us we should do. We must learn to follow the unique dreams each one of us has. One day we will realize the wonderful opportunity that life is. Sri Chinmoy writes:

If we discover the secret of speaking to our inner being, we will solve all our problems and discover the true meaning of our human existence. This human existence is a golden opportunity that the Supreme has granted us. We sat that we don’t have an opportunity; it is a sheer lie. The Supreme has given us the opportunity, but we do not avail ourselves of that opportunity.

EXERCISE 1
On a piece of paper write down the following categories: physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual. Next to each of these write, in a sentence or two, your general sense of purpose for each category. For example, next to emotional you may write: “To create and give importance to relationships that are fulfilling and healthy.” Take your time doing this. You may find yourself changing your purpose as you think more deeply about each subject.

The “physical” category deals with your body and health. “Financial” encompasses your material wants and needs. The “emotional” category will deal with friendships, relationships, and your interaction with other human beings. The category of “spiritual” addresses your deepest feelings regarding the purpose of your life and the need to explore those feelings.

These general statements of purpose should be the expression of your deep feelings about your life and exactly where you want it to go.

Now, below each category, write one or two goals you have for that aspect of your life. These should support the earlier statement of purpose. For example, under “physical” your purpose may have been, “to create and maintain a healthy body through exercise and nutrition.” Now the specific goals can be:

1. To exercise for at least ten minutes every day.
2. To make sure you eat a healthy breakfast each day.

The goals you set will make or break this system. You need to set goals that are realistic and take into account where you are now. Make your goals “non-judgmental,” in that the attainment of the goal is not based on an opinion or rigid standard. This is exemplified by the difference between the goals: “I will exercise ten minutes a day” and “I want to look trim and be beautiful.” The first goal is an action-related goal. The second is based on the opinions of yourself or others and is far too prone to fluctuations.

Goal setting is a skill and an art. We always have the ability to act, but not always to influence what results will occur. Set your goals as action-oriented.

For example, let’s say your sense of purpose in the “emotional” category is to ‘create and give importance to relationships that are productive and healthy.’ An excellent action-related goal for this category would be: ‘I will be kind and outgoing to all new people I meet.’ This is an action we can perform that will have positive effects in ways we cannot even imagine. A goal that would be unproductive or out of our control would be, “to be liked by all new people I meet” or “to become good friends with new people I meet.” These last two goals depend on situations and feelings you cannot control. What if the next three people you meet never like anybody they met for the first time? All you can do is be kind and outgoing. You are not in control of other people’s feelings.

This principle should apply to all of your goals. You can eat well and exercise, but you cannot consciously cause your body to weigh less than it does now. This will most likely occur, but center your goals on what you can control.

Let’s say that under ‘spiritual’ your purpose is to give people hope and joy in their lives through guitar music. One of your general goals that you want to accomplish is to improve your guitar playing. Action-oriented goals would be to “practice one hour every day” or “take two lessons each week.” These are excellent goals. Unproductive goals would be to “become a great guitarist” or “become as good as so and so.” What if so and so keeps getting better, faster than you do? You will never reach your goal and get frustrated. Soon you will find yourself wishing for their demise so you can surpass them! By choosing action goals we assure that we are the masters of our destiny.

We do not want to compare ourselves to others so much, but rather seek to explore and express the best within ourselves. We each have something unique to offer to the world. If we always imitate others we will only create limitations and never originals.

Our goals need to be attainable and within your view of possibility, yet far-reaching enough to challenge and inspire you. Your goals should give you a sense of excitement and hopefulness. Choose goals that are not set in stone. As you achieve each goal, you set new ones. Your ability to create attainable, challenging goals is one of the first keys to your success.

EXERCISE 5
The following is a very challenging exercise. You will need to have all of your goals and purposes written down and in front of you. If you have not done so already, put them down in writing.

Now, the challenging part: see if for an entire day everything you do can be directed towards one of your goals. This can be a very powerful experience. It also tests that your goals are not too limiting. You should have goals that are general enough and inspiring enough so that each day, in one way or another, you are working at each moment towards your goals. You will quickly see when you are “wasting time” and when you are moving in the life direction you have chosen.

Choose certain days to be ‘goal only’ days. These days will be your most fulfilling and you will want to have more and more of them. Again, don’t be too rigid in your thinking or goal setting. The goals of “getting healthy” and “improving friendships” could both be encompassed by a day on the beach, swimming, and enjoying fresh air and sun with some friends. By being conscious of our goals at all times, we can empower our mundane day-to-day experiences with a deep relevance and significance.

From Strategy for Success by Sujantra McKeever
Available at the Pilgrimage Yoga Boutique

With the holidays approaching, you may have begun thinking about finding special gifts for your friends and family. Next time you’re in the studio, take a moment to peruse the Pilgrimage Yoga gift shop and check out our wide range of eco-friendly and fair trade products.

When purchasing a beautiful handmade scarf, you are also supporting Camfed (Campaign for Female Education), a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women.

In addition to helping you de-stress and relax this holiday season, your purchase of One Mango Tree’s luxurious lavender-scented eye pillows also helps generate income for women in Northern Uganda, a region devastated by more than twenty years of armed conflict.

We’re all so blessed with abundance. This holiday season consider your gift-giving as a means to not only express gratitude and joy for your loved ones, but also to support those with less resources and opportunities.

November is already upon us and with Thanksgiving approaching, we’re reminded to be thankful for all the joys and abundance that we have in our lives. Living in San Diego, it’s easy to recognize the good fortune we have with gorgeous sunny warm days well into autumn. I feel grateful to be a part of a caring and supportive yoga community, each day being surrounded by staff, teachers, and students who I’m genuinely happy to see. Even with the negative images and talk that permeate certain elements of our culture, the positivity that surrounds us will always be more powerful.

This is especially true when life takes a turn in an unexpected direction. When I find myself feeling frustrated and stressed, I invoke the power of gratitude to keep me grounded. Each night I write a list of 3 things I’m thankful for. It’s a simple, common, and quick task, that for me, makes all the difference in terms of my mood and outlook. Recognizing all of my good fortune helps me to see that even with new challenges or disappointments, my life is filled with so much to be grateful for.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to tap into the power of gratitude; however, gratitude’s power can be mined at a moment’s notice and need not be reserved for November. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, let down, or frustrated, consider jotting down a few things, big or small, that you’re thankful for.

Last weekend, Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga shared in the fun and excitement of the Adams Avenue Street Festival. We had a booth at the fair that was located right near the studio and even with the unseasonal warmth, we had a blast giving out free yoga passes and chatting about yoga.

Lots of festival-goers talked about how they live right near the studio and have walked by many times, but never been in. Others were thrilled to learn that a yoga studio was right in their neck of the woods. Some people were tentative and expressed misconceptions about yoga. Some think yoga’s just for women, for young people, or for the flexible. It feels great to let folks know that Pilgrimage has a variety of offerings that suit nearly all ages and body types, and that they need not worry about stepping into a rigorous class when that’s not what they’re seeking or ready for.

It also feels great to know how warm and welcoming our community is to new students. What a difference a sincere smile can make to a student laying down their mat for the first time. Each of us was a brand new yogi at one point and we can surely understand how the unspoken and spoken support of those around us contributed to our initial experiences.

Perhaps this week you might consider picking up an extra block for your yoga neighbor or putting back your neighbor’s strap. You might simply introduce yourself to a student you’ve seen at the studio a time or two before, or help a new student struggling to set-up their blanket. The positive exchanges we share and connections we make help each of us become stronger and happier, and isn’t that one of the greatest benefits of a yoga practice?

“When strangers start acting like neighbors… communities are reinvigorated.”

How cool! We won 1st place in the 10news A-list Best Yoga Studio in San Diego contest!!

Sending gratitude and love to our community for supporting the studio, our teachers, and our staff! It’s the warmth and positive energy that you bring to class every day that makes our space so special!

One of the things I love most about attending yoga classes is experiencing the unique energy and style of the teachers. I’m amazed at how different each class can be even though the level may stay the same, similar postures may be offered, and classes may take place in the same studio.

In my personal practice, I’ve been surprised at how much my preference for studio classes has changed over the years. When I first started I was ecstatic for yoga, filled with vim and vigor and ready for the most intense classes I could find. I enjoyed teachers who exuded moxie and found their energy to be infectious.

Being pregnant has slowed me down some and I’ve found my mindset to be more contemplative. I now enjoy classes with instructors who leave lots of quiet time in class where I can listen to my breath and find stillness, often welcoming reminders to stay focused internally.

A small bit of advice that I regularly offer to new students is to keep an open mind about each new teacher you encounter and recognize that your yoga preferences may change over time. Trying out lots of classes is a great way to find one or maybe a few teachers who you feel a connection with; still, be open dropping in on a new instructor or trying out a substitute when the opportunity arises as you never know where your life and your yoga will take you.

As a first-time pregnant woman and yogini, I’ve learned a lot about letting go of expectations and embracing the unfamiliar in the past 6 months. With a constantly changing center of gravity and the added physical demand of growing a little one in my belly, I’ve had to adapt my practice from a strong, vinyasa flow to a more mellow, but still strength-building hatha practice. Fortunately, I have a prenatal yoga certification under my belt and have been able to stick with regular yoga classes without getting frustrated at all of the inaccessible and no longer comfortable postures offered.

If you’re a mom-to-be and find yourself challenged in navigating regular yoga classes, please drop by our new Prenatal Yoga class. Beginning 8/14/10 and being offered each week on Saturdays from 9:30-10:30a, I’ll be leading Pilgrimage’s Prenatal Yoga class. This class will not simply include relaxing postures, but will focus on flexibility, strength-building, relaxation, breathing, and connecting with your growing baby. With this more comprehensive approach, you’ll build or keep your strength up during pregnancy, aiding in a quicker and more pleasant post-delivery recovery. Plus, you’ll get to connect with other moms-to-be who can share in your pregnancy experience.

Drop by any Saturday morning or call the studio for more details!

We are so happy to announce that starting August 14, 2010 Pilgrimage of the Heart will begin offering Prenatal Yoga! Our Prenatal Yoga class will be held on Saturday mornings from 9:30-10:30a and will be taught by Michelle. Michelle recently completed a Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training program and is currently pregnant with a little baby girl. She’s looking forward to offering a yogic experience that allows for mamas-to-be to connect with their growing babies while maintaining strength, mental and physical flexibility, and a joyful heart. For more information, feel free to connect with Michelle or front desk staff.

Pilgrimage is competing in San Diego’s 10News A-List contest to be named Best Yoga Studio in the city. We hope you consider us your favorite studio around town, click on the A-List link posted here, and vote for us!

“Do thy work in the peace of Yoga and, free from selfish desires, be not moved in success or in failure. Yoga is evenness of mind — a peace that is ever the same.”

Drawn from the Bhagavad Gita, the above quote can be seamlessly applied to the physical practice of Hatha Yoga. So often we become overly focused on achieving the final form of a given pose: getting legs up in headstand, balancing steadily in warrior three, or finding flight in crow pose. The difficulty that certain postures present has great value as these challenges help to keep the practitioner’s mind strongly focused in the present moment.

At times though, we can develop an attachment to the final form of a posture that draws us into the ego and away from the simple work of yoga. The practice of keeping an evenness of mind through mellow poses and intense poses alike easily translates to life off the mat as we encounter wonderful days filled with happiness and good fortune, as well as days that involve loss, sadness, and disappointment.

In my life, I’ve found that moments of challenge often arise without warning and its in those moments that I’m most grateful for my yoga practice. Staying present in yoga class might not seem like an effort worth making on some days when your mind would rather float into a daydream. However, the efforts to stay present create an evenness of mind that is invaluable to support you through life’s joys as well as life’s hardships. –Michelle Laxton