Mantra

“I blossom, and what I seek finds me.”

Opening Reflection

Welcome. Tonight, we remind ourselves that yoga is not about chasing or escaping, but about becoming open to what is already here. Often, we run in circles searching for peace, love, or clarity. What if what you’re after cannot be pursued? What if what you are seeking is already seeking you? Our work is to prepare the soil of the heart, to blossom, and to allow life to meet us where we are.

Topic 1 – Blossoming Instead of Chasing

Metaphor: The flower does not chase the bee. It simply opens, blossoms, and lets its fragrance carry. The bee comes when the flower is ready.
Reflection: Instead of frantically searching for love, peace, or purpose, we prepare ourselves inwardly, becoming the kind of person we want to meet, the kind of spirit we want to embody. This is the Buddhist principle of non-attachment—focusing on being rather than grasping.
Quotes:

“When you let go of what you are, you become what you might be.” – Lao Tzu

“Taking care of yourself makes you stronger for everyone in your life … including you.”

“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.” – Rumi

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go.”

Topic 2 – Faith Shapes Sight

Metaphor: Imagine standing before a mountain trail. With doubt, every step looks like a stumbling block. With faith, each step looks like an opening to climb higher. The trail doesn’t change—only your perspective does.
Reflection: If you believe something won’t work out, you see only obstacles. If you believe it will, you see opportunities. Faith is not blind hope—it is the clarity that reshapes how we walk.
Quotes:

“Your faith can move mountains and your doubt can create them.”

“Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feelings.”

“There isn’t enough room in your mind for both worry and hope. You must decide which one will live there.”

“If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely.”

Topic 3 – Shifting Language, Shifting Energy

Metaphor: Imagine every word passing through a filter in your mind before it’s spoken. If that filter is missing or clogged with self-criticism or doubt, your words come out heavy, sharp, or apologetic. But when the filter is clear with mindfulness and gratitude, the same thought comes out lighter, kinder, and more nourishing. By shifting our words through this mindful filter, we change not only how others hear us, but how we hear ourselves.

Reflection: Neuroscience tells us this filter lives in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain right behind the forehead. It’s the seat of pause and reflection, the place that lets us consider before we speak. In the older “reptilian brain,” this filter is missing, so reactions come out raw and unfiltered—fight, flight, freeze, or sharp words. That’s why unkind words spill out so quickly and can never be unheard.

This also explains why some people lose their temper so easily. It isn’t really us making them angry—it’s their own underdeveloped filter. Remembering this helps us not take things personally, while also reminding us of our own responsibility. Through mindfulness and practice, we can strengthen this filter and give ourselves the gift of space. In that space, we can choose gratitude over apology, kindness over sharpness, compassion over blame.

Quotes:

“Life is a dance. Mindfulness is witnessing that dance.” – Amit Ray

“These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.” – Rumi

“Whatever the situation, never let your emotions overpower your intelligence.”

“May you see sunshine where others see shadows.”

Topic 4 – Taking Back Your Power

Metaphor: Some people drown in a drop of water, unable to see that all they need is to stand up. The drop itself isn’t the problem—it’s forgetting the power they already have.

Reflection: In life, we can’t always control what happens around us, but we can control how we respond. Blaming others or our surroundings keeps us stuck. Remember, peace and strength do not come from outside—they rise when we take responsibility for our own mind and heart. Tonight, as you move, notice where you may be giving away your power to old stories or excuses. Breathe deeply, stand tall, and remember: you already have the strength to rise.

Quotes:

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

“Whatever the situation, never let your emotions overpower your intelligence.”

“We must never allow other’s limited perceptions to define us.”

“Sometimes when a door closes, it’s not a loss, but a sign that you deserve more.” – David Scott

Topic 5 – The Mirror of Connection

Metaphor: Think of a mirror. It never chases a reflection—it simply reflects what stands before it. In the same way, when we stand open, calm, and clear, life reflects that energy back to us.

Reflection: The people and opportunities that come into our lives are often mirrors, showing us where we are growing, and where we are still tender. Instead of grasping or running, we can stand still and open, like a mirror, allowing life to reveal to us what is meant for us. This is the Buddhist teaching of interdependence—we are not separate, and what we seek is often seeking us in return.

Quotes:

“What you seek is seeking you.” – Rumi

“Do not go in search of love, but go instead, in search of life and life will find you the love you seek.”

“The world is a mirror, forever reflecting what you are doing, within yourself.” – Neville Goddard

“Love is the bridge between you and everything.” – Rumi

“When I change, the whole world changes with me.”

Closing Statement

As we prepare to close our practice tonight, remember this: you do not need to chase life. You only need to be open, steady, and awake. Like a flower, you blossom. Like a mirror, you reflect. Like the mountain trail, you rise step by step. The power is already within you, and the clarity you long for is already on its way. Trust that what you seek is also seeking you, and with each breath, let yourself bloom a little more.