I’ve been practicing CorePower Yoga for a year now, which means a year’s worth of Intention. Making an Intention in yoga class was new to me. At first it felt forced. Then I got into the spirit of Intention and began identifying people who could use a bit of extra energy. Neighbors suffering from illness, folks struggling with life decisions, friends who could use an extra boost – people I would pray for if I believed in prayer. Sometimes I conjured cosmic, Buddhist sort of Intentions like world peace and universal wisdom. Rarely I sent my Intention inward to myself; a sure sign that I was troubled.

Some teachers suggest Intentions. They ad lib a few palliative words or read an inspiring quote. They have good – intention – though their suggestions never align with my own headspace.

A few weeks ago, when nothing seemed particularly better or worse in the world or my position in it, Intention came up fast during yoga sculpt and I had nothing in mind. Have fun! Rang through my head. What? I did a mental double take. That is no kind of Intention. It’s silly and ephemeral. But nothing significant would occupy my head, so, Have fun! it was.

When we were in an extended high plank and the teacher invoked our Intention to spur us on, I smiled. When she commanded that our Intention bring us through hamstring curls the fact that I wasn’t having fun – yet – made me laugh. When she brought us back to our Intention during savasana I decided that the prospect of having fun had energized my yoga that day.

Since then, frivolous Intentions have become commonplace. Some days my Intention is to have fun; other days its to dance, have more sex, or party. My yoga is more carefree, buoyant. Perhaps someday my Intentions will address the world’s major ills directly. For now I enjoy musing about song and dance and having fun. Which may do more for me – and the world – than any somber Intention.