New Year Intention

Photo Credit: Arik Cardenas

There is nothing inherently "magical" about January (other than it being my birthday month! 😇) and yet, there is something undeniably potent about the symbolism of a new beginning.

Globally, we are entering a collective ritual--a time to honor the lessons of the last twelve months while planting little seeds of hope for the year ahead.

Many of you are familiar with the Sanskrit term Sankalpa, or "heartfelt intention." San refers to a connection with our highest truth, and Kalpa means a vow or commitment.

Unlike a typical New Year’s resolution, a Sankalpa isn’t born from shame or a perceived "lack." It is rooted in the radical belief that we are already whole. As Rumi so beautifully put it, "What you seek is seeking you."

With a Sankalpa, there is an air of certainty. We don’t need to force or manipulate. Instead, we practice Ishvara Pranidhana—the art of surrender. Not a surrender of "giving up," but a surrender of trusting. It is about releasing our rigid grip on how things "should" be to make space for possibilities we haven't even imagined yet.

These concepts have been the heartbeat of Kula since its inception. Many of you know that this studio has consumed my entire life, for better or worse 😅. For a long time, I believed that sustainability would come through my own incessant effort. Lately, however, I’ve realized that sustainability actually requires me to surrender more deeply to the community itself.

I believe with every fiber of my being that Kula is destined to be a sacred home for gathering, play, and deep connection. But for that vision to be realized, we need you.

While the New Year is symbolic for many, it is a critical juncture for a small business like Kula. If you’ve felt even a teeny tug of interest to visit us, I invite you to lean into it. Whether you pop in for a donation-based event, a single class, or a deep-dive workshop, your presence is the "effort" that meets our "surrender."

Let’s create a space that offers support, meaning, and purpose together. We can't wait to see what unfolds when we all show up 🩵.

With love & hope,

emily