Letting go of the past and moving forward with New Year’s rituals
As we stand at the crossroads of another year, it’s the season for reflection and renewal. This is a perfect moment to practise the art of letting go of the past and moving forward with the power of New Year’s rituals. With a little recapitulation, we can let the old year gracefully recede into memory and usher in a fresh new chapter.
In spiritual terms, recapitulation involves reflecting on the past, with its literal definition being “an act of summarising and restating the main points.” This concept was introduced by author and anthropologist Carlos Castañeda, who wrote, “recapitulation, which consisted of a systematic scrutiny of one’s life, segment by segment, an examination made not in the light of criticism or finding flaw, but in the light of an effort to understand one’s life, and to change its course.”
Recapitulation and yogic philosophy
In yogic philosophy, this concept is known as Vichara, Sanskrit for ‘thought’ or ‘deliberation’. Vichara is a practice of deep contemplation, urging us to continuously self-reflect while focusing on understanding our ‘I’ thoughts.
Every day offers a chance for a new beginning and self-reflection, and embracing this daily is important. However, as the New Year approaches, the significance of actively practising recapitulation becomes especially clear. It’s a poignant time for welcoming change and redirection, creating opportunities for a fresh start.
To commence your journey into the New Year with purpose and positivity, consider integrating a variety of meaningful rituals into your routine. Seeking inspiration, reflection and renewal as we transition into 2024, the Yoga for Good Foundation is delighted to share some of our favourite rituals with you.
Document the events of the year gone by
Take a moment to list all the significant events of the year, including positive and negative experiences. Make sure you cover the highlights, challenges, accomplishments and even the disappointments. If it’s shaped you in any way, it belongs in your record.
This process will likely evoke strong emotions you will need to acknowledge and release. The act of putting pen to paper and summarising your year is a very powerful tool that will help you to celebrate the good times and let go and heal from the trying times, creating mental and emotional energy for the new adventures ahead.
De-clutter your home
Engage in the cathartic process of decluttering your physical space. This is particularly beneficial regarding items that you associate with the past. Decluttering is a tangible step in the process of letting go.
Beyond the physical aspect, entering the New Year with a clutter-free physical environment contributes to mental clarity. A tidy space facilitates a sense of order and organisation, freeing up mental space for new experiences, goals and adventures.
Set affirmative intentions
Shift away from the popular trend of setting New Year’s resolutions that often involve restrictions. Take a positive approach by setting intentions that focus on affirmations, such as “I will welcome abundance into my life” or “I will choose peace when faced with conflict.”
The key to positive goal-setting is maintaining a constructive mindset throughout the year. Choose intentions that resonate with your aspirations, creating a foundation for success in the days, months and years ahead.
Start the New Year with meditation
Deep meditation can be a powerful way to usher in the New Year, releasing the energy you’ve invested in the events of the past year and clearing the path for a meaningful transition to the future.
You can opt for a sunrise meditation session, or just roll out your mat in a serene place at home on New Year’s Eve, right before midnight. Either way, you can create a tranquil and intentional start to 2024, fostering a sense of calm and renewal.
Cleanse your space with dried sage
Both dried sage and palo santa have known properties that clear the air and energy in your home. This ritual creates a refreshed atmosphere and a space that is prepared to receive a brand new year with endless possibilities.
Cleansing with dried sage is a powerful ritual that is intentional and will release negative past experiences and traumas and welcome the present with a sense of deep clarity and positivity.
Connect with your true self through the transformative power of yoga
At Yoga for Good Foundation, we’re grateful for our inspiring community of dedicated yogis harnessing its transformative power for positive impact. We hope you’re able to let go of the past and start moving forward with some or all of these New Year’s rituals.
We look forward to more events and more grants in 2024, and continuing on our mission to spread the goodness of Yoga and give back to the community.
Connect with your true self on a regular basis by attending our free community classes.
For additional insights on rituals, as well as numerous other valuable lessons derived from yoga, explore our Yoga for Good Foundation articles.
Community yoga classes
We are passionate about sharing the joy of practising yoga and offering you an opportunity to connect with your true self on a regular basis.
View previous classes or book now for our next class.
Free
22nd January 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm
Reetu Verma – Transformative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 859 1833 4994
Passcode: 171949
Join Reetu for an immersive meditation session into the depths of our energy centres. Nourish the systems of your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, ready for the year ahead. Be guided by her inspiring voice to relax into meditation and reconnect with and balance the subtle energies within.
Reetu Verma has 25 years of experience as an academic, teacher and coach, providing support, help and guidance to thousands of people from all walks of life from all over the globe.
During a traumatic near-death experience, she experienced pure light and pure love and embarked on a transformational, personal healing journey. Inspired and totally committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others, helping them on their healing journey to live a healthier, happier life.
She founded Healing, Health and Happiness to expanded her teachings of personal development, into finding life purpose and spiritual growth. Reetu has developed a systematic, practical approach to bring more harmony and a sense of joy into life.
Free
3rd February 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm Sydney Time (9am WA time)
Nicky Smith – Dynamic Relaxation Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 834 8185 1566
Passcode: 326861
Join Nicky to experience the Dru Yoga difference, finding the stillness within. Dru Yoga is a fresh approach to nurture your entire being, balance the nervous system and leave you feeling deeply connected and calm.
Stay cool and calm this Summer with Energy Block Release 7 or Dynamic Relaxation. This sequence is perfect for those hot days when you want to practice some slow yoga. Dynamic Relaxation is well suited for those with a busy mind and who have trouble settling into the stillness of relaxation. The focus is on the coordination of breath and movement in slow, subtle mindfulness, leaving you refreshed.
Nicky is a Dru Yoga Teacher, Dru Meditation Teacher, Dru Breath Coach and Mental Health Aware Yoga Teacher. Her business is True Equanimity Yoga, and her practice focuses on mental health and wellbeing or “innercise”. Nicky lives in Dalyellup, Western Australia and loves to spend her time walking in nature and fostering rescue kittens.
Free
13th March 2025 - 11:30am to 12:30nn
Melina Murphy – Loving Kindness Restorative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 838 7373 9503
Passcode: 767969
This loving-kindness yoga class is an extended version of Melina’s insight timer class, held weekly at 7 a.m. at the weekend and sponsored by YFG. The asana sequences are based on traditional yoga and guide our awareness to be super kind and loving to ourselves as we move through this restorative yoga practice.
We fall into Self-love as we move and stretch to open the body, mind and spirit to flow and dive into the deep well of happiness within.
Melina presented at our Annual Retreat 2024, where her joy brought us joy and laughter. She is a healer with thirty years of experience helping people create joyful wellbeing through counselling, herbal medicine, nutrition and yoga.
Melina fell in love with yoga as a teenager, and her passion is going strong. She has been teaching yoga since 2005 and has taught at festivals, in halls and rooms, at her local gym, online, and in her Natural Health Clinic on Djangadi Country.
Testimonials
Our sole mission is to create opportunities to do good for others through yoga.
And we’re making an impact.
A huge thank you to the Yoga For Good Foundation...
…for their incredible contribution to our Life Now Yoga and meditation programs!
This generous donation will mean we can buy new yoga equipment, run a new yoga class in Broome, and enhance our meditation program for cancer patients and their primary carers.
Cancer Council Western AustraliaSending out gratitude to the Yoga for Good Foundation.
Their grant is enabling me to offer FREE trauma informed therapeutic movement and relaxation to frontline mental health and social services staff in Bega.
Participants are really valuing the time out for themselves and experiencing integrated poly vagal theory. And I get to be in a teaching space, yay!
PremKranti CounsellingThe generous grant we've been awarded from the Yoga For Good Foundation...
…allows us to reach more underserved and vulnerable community groups who can benefit from a trauma-informed yoga and embodied mindfulness practice at zero cost to the participants.
Some of the community groups we’ll be serving in the current months include 000 Foundation, Men’s Walk and Talk and WAGEC.
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