YogaJournalSingapore-February092018

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ART DIRECTION : ANUJA BAGADE, PHOTO : GARGI MAZUMDAR, ILLUSTRATION : FREEPIK

Dear Readers,

It’s the Year of the Dog according to the Chinese calendar—my

zodiac! I’ve set the intention, embraced happy thoughts and sent the

message out to the universe—this will be a very special year to bring

wellness to all. You bet!

Speaking of “intention”, it is fast becoming the swiftest spreading

secret around the world: from wellness coaches who urge you

to read Rhonda Byrne and Gary Zukav’s books, to Oprah Winfrey

endorsing how intention cured her ‘disease to please’, to Jim

Carrey’s anecdote about writing it down and carrying it in his wallet.

The more I read and learn, the more convinced I am of the power we

all hold within us. The impetus, remember, is the deep-rooted sense

of service behind your intention, steering clear of a selfish path.

Why am I doing this? What is my intention? Does it serve a higher

purpose and service? These are questions to ask before setting

off on an intended task. This was beautifully captured during a

group discussion at a ‘Being Me’ retreat that I recently attended in

Singapore, where a participant also asked a dilemmatic question—

Do you blindly follow your intended calling or do you first fulfill

your duty? The answer was earnest and erudite—set your intention

towards your calling and work up a gradual path towards it,

without ignoring your present duty. Often, callings are heard and

intentions are set at a time when other responsibilities are at their

peak. Sometimes the journey may slow down, but your powerful intention will eventually drive you to your destination. There are tools, such

as meditation and mindful breathing practices, that help you to focus and stick to your intentions. On page 52, we share with you a very strong

Kundalini yoga practice that can strengthen intuition and willpower.

Our cover model, Ruth Tan, too had set her intention to share her asana practice via social media. Her intention was never selfish—it was simply to

spread her love for yoga, and to learn from others. “I learnt how to do a handstand through Instagram,” she said, when we met for coffee before our

cover shoot. Clearly, Instagram yogis—as they are now called—started benefiting from her posts, with more than 80,000 people now following her

from all over the world. Read more about Ruth, a yogini and financial advisor, on Page 51.

May you set your intention too and take steps to follow it this year, remembering to pause often and reminding yourself to tread on your journey

with love and compassion. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Enjoy the magazine!

Warm Regards,

Kavita Chandran
[email protected]
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february / march 2018

yogajournal.com.sg

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CHINESE NEW YEAR

YEAR OF THE DOG