Gladey RowanThe seeds of intention is a metaphor, for planting your thoughts, hopes, dreams and imaginings into a fertile place within yourself and nurturing them so that they can become your reality.
Many years ago I embarked on my yoga journey which has enhanced my life in so many ways, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through regular disciplined practice, yoga taught me to be a better version of myself, learning how to nurture a relationship with who I was that was more loving and kind.
The initial seeds of intention, to train to teach yoga, were a gift planted by my dad. He suggested it and I said ‘no way! I can’t do that!’ I could not even imagine myself being a yoga teacher. He patiently persisted: ‘yes you can, I believe in you.’
Apart from being a mother, I’d never had a sense of purpose or known what I wanted to do in my life. However, once these seeds of intention had been planted in my mind, my heart just knew her calling and then things moved swiftly and before long I met the perfect teacher for me, and started on my training. My teacher obviously believed in my ability because she literally threw me in at the deep end and got me teaching and covering classes including hatha flow, ashtanga, restorative, pregnancy and mums and babes yoga. Before long I was part of the Bristol yoga teacher work-force and loving it!
Over the years I have met so many incredible people on their own journeys of selfcare and personal development, and had an abundance of really interesting work experiences, as well as running yoga retreats and workshops.
The seeds of intention that were planted in me all those years ago, thanks to my beautiful and wise dad, have been nurtured and cared for, flourished and blossomed into who I am and the knowledge I share with others today. I now do work that I could hardly imagine doing all those years ago. I have the privilege of a vocation that I love and which still inspires me every day.
I am so grateful for the journey that has led me to where I am now and my seeds of intention for this new year are to keep sharing yoga, to learn more, travel far and wide and to be a part of the world peace movement. When we cultivate the seeds of peace within ourselves we can cascade that out to those closest to us, to our communities and wider circles until it ripples out into the world.
Yoga is also activism. It is the path of the peaceful warrior.
Yoga is part of the world peace movement.
