The New Year is a real gift.  A structured part of our lives where we are encouraged to reflect back at what was and look ahead thoughtfully at what could be.  I love it.  A clean slate where we can create what we crave.  A way to start new.  Whether our desired outcomes last the whole year or not… well that is a different story.

I have been slowing down a bit, doing yoga, meditating, reflecting, reading, and journaling – all in the name of getting clear of what I want 2013 to be, how I want to feel, what opportunities I want to find.  I have been thinking about what  essence I want to embody, words came up like: spaciousness, creative, and beautiful.

With that in mind I’d like to offer you this 37 minute vinyasa flow yoga class that you can use to create a clear intention for the days ahead.  Expect to move, build heat, ground down, and open up.  So go ahead and sneak a little practice in today, or schedule it into your days ahead.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/56482245 w=400&h=300]

‘Immerse yourself in the energy of what you desire.’ – Hiro Bogu

I used to start the day by waking up and immediately reaching over for my phone.  I would automatically and mindlessly check my email, Facebook, and whatever else.. all within 1 minute of opening my eyes to a brand new day.  I began to realize I could start my day in a much more thoughtful way, and now this is what my mornings looks like:

• Wake UP
• Wash up
• Drink water
• Get down on my yoga mat and wake my body with some cat/cows + down dogs + cobras + childs pose
• Sit and breathe for 10 minutes
• Set an intention for the day

Then I am free to check my phone…

In order to feel grounded and ready for my day, I need to take this time to get clear about the day.  Lately, I have been meditating for at least 10 minutes before I move on with the rest of my day.  And don’t think when I say the word ‘meditate’ I am sitting with an empty mind, completely enlightened, watching my breath… haven’t gotten there yet!  My mind normally is a big swirl of thoughts, and I just work on watching them and observing rather than reacting.  A definite work in progress.  But from that quiet comes my intention that I create for the day.

One of my favorites from this week was:

‘I greet this day with fluidity, moving into the spaces of my day – present and clear.’  

How do you get ready for the day?

‘Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful.  Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.’ – Mahatma Gandhi

Clarity is something I search for every day.  When I get clear I become efficient, I get things done.  You may have experienced moments of clarity where everything seems aligned.  It feels magical.

When I am clear I move towards the life of my dreams.  When I take the time and space to arrive into my body, into my breath, and into my mind, I am able to create clarity and I find my intention.  When I nurture and feed my body the best food that I can, I feel light and aware.  We have this body that we use as a vehicle daily, but how often do we take the time to maintain it?  Check in with it? Really be in it and feel what is going on?

There are many ways to get back into your body but I have found there is something so powerful about yoga, about its ability to align the body and the mind.  As I move my body in a meaningful way, I am able to connect to my breath, which opens up space in the mind and leaves me feeling clear.