Want to change your habits? Yoga practitioners commonly set a heartfelt intention, or sankalpa, to promote positive change. Want to push your practice further? Take up a purascharana.

For beginners, a purascharana might be a commitment to the practice of mantra meditation every day for a week. Your individual practice might vary; a reasonable goal the first month might be to sit for anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes each time you mediate.

To prepare for any meditation practice, examine your sitting posture and props. Allow yourself the freedom to experiment. Some meditators find it useful to cultivate a sacred space, or use a mala to focus the mind. These practices support healthier habits—and promote well-being—within yourself and the world.