Sankalpa: What is Intention in Yoga
Every path requires orientation.
In yoga, this orientation is expressed as sankalpa (purpose or intention). Sankalpa is not a goal to achieve; it is a steady remembrance of why we practice at all.
Where intention rests, attention follows.
Where attention goes, the mind moves.
And where the mind moves, the body and nervous system respond.
Without a clear sankalpa, practice becomes fragmented. Techniques are applied without understanding, and progress is measured through comparison, achievement, or extraordinary experience rather than freedom from misidentification.
This is why Patañjali begins with clarity of aim.
Samādhi is not presented as a starting point but as a destination, so the practitioner does not mistake the path for the purpose.
