Mantra – Not sure yet…

“I plant peace, I grow compassion. With each breath, I give thanks to the living world.”

Topic 1 – We Belong to the Earth
In the Eight Limbs of Yoga, the very first limb is the Yamas—ethical principles that guide how we relate to the world around us. One of those Yamas is Aparigraha—which means non-hoarding, or non-attachment to possessions, outcomes, or even ideas of ownership. It asks us to take only what we need and to release our grip on excess—whether physical or mental.

We often speak of nature as something we visit—but we are nature. We are not above the Earth. We are of it. Imagine looking down through a telescope from space—you wouldn’t see borders or names. You’d see one breathing, living planet. One organism. One shared life.

This is the invitation of aparigraha—to live in balance. To stop clinging. To see that the Earth doesn’t belong to us. We belong to the Earth.

Metaphor – The Beehive:
A single bee doesn’t own the hive. It serves it. And in return, it thrives. Each bee works in balance, not taking more than its share, because survival depends on the whole system staying in harmony.

Quotes:
“When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you… it is you who belong to this land.”
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” – Chief Seattle
“How is it possible that the most intellectual creature to ever walk the planet is destroying its only home? We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go.” – Jane Goodall
“The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it.” – Barry Commoner

Call to Action:
Practice presence today. Take only what you need. Let your breath be an offering of balance and gratitude.

🌿 Topic 2 – Leave No Trace
Yoga means union—and true union includes our relationship with the natural world. Every footprint matters. Aparigraha reminds us: we’re just visitors here. What kind of visitor will you be?

Metaphor – The Campfire Ring:
Imagine arriving at a forest campsite. The last guest left it pristine—no garbage, no damage, just a careful circle of stones and a view that takes your breath away. You feel welcomed, respected. That’s the kind of trace we’re meant to leave—evidence not of what we took, but how we cared.

Quotes:
“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” – Gaylord Nelson
“Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught—only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten.” – Cree Indian Prophecy
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw

Call to Action:
As you move today, imagine your breath is your footprint. Let each step honor the land and those who will walk it after you.

🌬️ Topic 3 – Listening to the Earth
The Earth speaks—but not in words. It speaks through the wind, the birdsong, the heat of the sun, the silence before rain. We’ve gotten so good at talking, we’ve forgotten how to listen. Listening is part of love. And love, in yoga, is also restraint—knowing when to pause, when not to take, when to simply receive.

Metaphor – The Wind Chime:
A wind chime makes music only when it’s still enough to be moved by the breeze. It doesn’t force a sound—it listens for the wind. In the same way, can we allow our stillness to help us hear the voice of the living Earth?

Quotes:
“Nature transcends language, political and social boundaries.” – David Scott
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“We are nature, long have we forgotten.” – N. Scott Momaday

Call to Action:
Breathe in. Pause. Listen. Let your movement today respond—not react—to what the world offers.

🔁 Topic 4 – From Ownership to Stewardship
The way we treat the Earth often mirrors how we treat one another—and ourselves. Ownership says, “This is mine.” Stewardship says, “This is sacred.” Aparigraha invites us to move from possession to care, from control to reverence.

The Earth is not ours to dominate—it’s ours to tend, gently and wisely. This shift begins with awareness: how we move, how we consume, how we live. When we live as stewards, we live with love.

Metaphor – The Library Book:
Imagine checking out a beautiful book from the library. You’d handle it with care, knowing it isn’t yours to keep. You wouldn’t tear the pages or scribble in the margins. You’d read with reverence. The Earth is no different—it’s on loan to us for this short time.

Quotes:
“Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children.” – Chief Seattle
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw

Call to Action:
As you move today, shift from doing to tending. What would change if you treated your body—and this Earth—as a sacred trust?

🔄 Topic 5 – Sacred Balance
The Earth gives. Constantly. Food, water, warmth, shelter. But do we return the gift? Yoga isn’t just about inner balance—it’s about harmony with everything around us. When we shift from taking to tending, we walk the path of sacred reciprocity.

Metaphor – The See-Saw:
Imagine a see-saw in perfect balance—not by chance, but through continuous, mindful effort. Each side adjusts slightly to meet the other. That’s the dance of sustainability. Not perfection—just care.

Quotes:
“We borrow the Earth from our children.”
“Only after the last tree has been cut down… only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.” – Cree Prophecy
“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations…” – Gaylord Nelson
“The Earth is speaking—are you listening?” – Chief Oren Lyons

Call to Action:
Let your practice be a prayer of balance. Receive, and then give back—breath by breath.

Closing Mantra:
“Take only what you need, give back with every breath.”

Let this mantra carry us beyond the mat—into how we live, how we consume, and how we care for this one sacred Earth we all share.

The Earth is the one of things we all share in common. Like Music and art, it is experienced and often understood. Nature transcends language, political and social boundaries.” – David Scott

Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten. – Cree Indian Prophecy

When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you, it is you who belong to this land.

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” Chief Crazy Horse

How is it possible that the most intellectual creature to ever walk the planet Earth is destroying its only home? We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed. – Mahatma Gandhi

“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” – Gaylord Nelson

“The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it.” – Barry Commoner

“Meatless Mondays” – Less Meat = Less Heat

Global livestock production creates more greenhouse gas than the entire transportation sector.

Eating a ¼ pound of beef is equivalent to driving 6.7 miles in terms of greenhouse gases

The typical American eating 8 ounces of meat per day generates 36 pounds of CO2e from those meat products.

American meat consumption has doubled since 1960? The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide, far more than transportation. Annual worldwide demand for meat continues to grow, but cutting down on meat consumption once a week can help slow this trend.

The water needs of livestock are much greater than those of vegetables and grains.

– Approximately 1,700 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef vs 39 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of vegetables.

NOT EARTH DAY TODAY? Start here…

“When you like a flower, you just pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily.”

Never assume that loud is strong and quiet is weak.

Understand you own self first, then you will be ready to understand everything else.

“Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of the actor in it.” Ram Das

“To keep the lamp burning, we must continue to put oil into it.” – Mother Teresa

“Real people are never perfect, and perfect people are never real.”

“You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.” – Navajo

What would you tell your 18-year-old self? To be easier on yourself? To stop worrying and have more fun? To trust that things will work out? From this perspective, what do you think an older version of yourself would tell you today? Probably the same.

“Don’t allow that which is in the way, become the way.”

You learn nothing from life if you think you’re right all the time.

“When you know your worth, no one can make you feel worthless.”

“People know your name, not your story. They’ve heard what you’ve done, but not what you’ve been through. So take their opinions of you with a grain of salt. In the end, it’s not what others think, it’s what you think about yourself that counts. Sometimes you have to do exactly what’s best for you and your life, not what’s best for everyone else.”

“We need to learn to work together in peace. The Native Americans had a quote that said, “no tree has branches so foolish, as to fight among themselves.” They all reach for the sun instead of wasting time in entanglements.

“The ones who notice the storms in your eyes, the silence in your voice and the heaviness in your heart are the ones you need to let in.”

“The best teachers show you where to look, but not tell you what to see.” “The eyes are useless if the mind is blind”

“As long as you search for the Buddha in others, you will never find it within yourself.” – David Scott

The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” – Maya Angelou

“Today I choose to take back my power on a mental, physical, and emotional level. All things I give my attention and life force to, will be purposeful and elevating. I choose to get better. I choose to evolve. I choose to let go. It’s a new day to recreate myself.” – Idil Ahmed

He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”

“I am the bended, but not broken. I am the power of the thunderstorm. I am the beauty in the beast. I am the strength in weakness. I am the confidence in the midst of doubt. I am Her!” -Kierra C.T. Banks

“Sometimes you don’t realize just how strong you are until you come face to face with your greatest fear.” – David Scott

“What if I told you that 10 years from now, your life would be exactly the same? I doubt you’d be happy. So, why are you so afraid of change?” -Karen Salmansohn

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” -Confucius

“Anyone can give up; it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone would expect you to fall apart, that’s true strength.” – Chris Bradford

“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. Strength comes from overcoming the things you thought you couldn’t.”

If the bees disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man. If all insects and arthropods on Earth suddenly died, within 50 years all life on Earth would perish. If all humans on Earth suddenly died, within 50 years, all life would flourish

We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love, and then we return home. – Australian Aboriginal

Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better. – Albert Einstein

“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” – Native American Dakota

Mother Earth

“I belong to this land

It runs through my veins

It’s the earth in my bones

It’s the dry dusty plains

It’s the whispering wind

As she blows through the sand

It’s the sparkling salt water

That trickles through my hands

It’s the feeling I get

When I return to my place

It’s deep down inside me

It’s my Mother Earth space.

I belong to this Country

I’ve walked in her dust

I have weathered her storms

I have learned from her past

It is respect for my Mother

It meanders through my mind

It clings to my spirit

To my soul it does bind

It’s that feeling I get

When I walk in this place

It’s deep down inside me

It’s my Mother Earth space”

“As we journey through our practice on the mat, cradled in the sanctuary of this yoga room, we are nurtured much like a seed in the womb, bathed in warmth and protection. Each pose, each breath, serves to unfold our potential, strengthening our bodies and spirit, guiding us toward a better version of ourselves. As we end with savasana and finally gently curl into a fetal position on our right side, we symbolically prepare for a rebirth. This moment allows us to gather strength and resilience, readying ourselves to re-enter the bustling world with its endless demands—children’s homework, daily chores, and the flurry of activities that await us.

In this fetal pose, build a castle around your mind. Remember, your peace is yours to keep; it cannot be taken without your permission. Each class builds us, empowers us, reminding us that, as Heraclitus wisely noted, ‘No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.’ As you leave today, step out feeling rejuvenated, stronger, and more prepared than ever to embrace the challenges and joys that lie ahead.”