Be Open to Learning New Things: Another Lesson from the Yoga Mat

At the start of yoga class, the instructor often invites us to set an intention. One particular day last week, I chose: “Be open to learning new things.”

That intention came after weeks of frustration with the tools I’ve been using to format my children’s book. Page sizes, bleed lines, text boxes, and images all seemed to have their own rules—and I was tired of feeling stuck and was so discouraged.

Carrying the Intention Off the Mat

For me, on the mat, “being open” means easing into postures I tend to resist and allowing my breath to carry me through the uneasy moments. Later that day, when I sat down at my computer to work on Canva, I reminded myself of the same intention.

Instead of bracing myself for another round of frustration, I approached Canva like I would a challenging yoga pose: with patience, curiosity, and compassion. I didn’t need to master it in a single sitting. I just needed to stay present and be willing to learn one small step at a time.

What the Mat Teaches About Learning

Yoga teaches us that growth doesn’t come from instant mastery—it comes from:

• Curiosity — exploring without judgment.

• Patience — allowing progress to unfold.

• Compassion — forgiving yourself for not getting it right the first time.

Those same qualities can transform how we approach new skills—whether it’s Canva, coding, cooking, or career changes.

The Bigger Picture

My yoga intention reminded me that frustration is often the doorway to growth. If we can set an intention to be open to learning new things, we give ourselves permission to move past the struggle and into possibility.

So the next time you step onto the mat—or into a new challenge—try setting an intention that you can carry with you. It just might change not only your practice, but the way you approach the whole day.

A Note of Progress

As an end to this story, I studied YouTube videos, articles, the Canva tutorial, and other sources. I slowly practiced placements and semi-mastered page sizes, bleed lines, text boxes, and images. I decided not to do anything fancy—although there are two spots in the book’s interactive journal where I added flourishes and a few swirls. And you know what? I’m proud of myself.