Class Mantra

“I see with clarity. I listen with wisdom.”

Opening Reflection – Seeing and Hearing Within

Welcome. Tonight, we explore two subtle centers of awareness:

The Third Eye, or Ajna Chakra (AHJ-nya CHAH-kra), which invites us to see beyond appearances into truth and wisdom.

The Third Ear, or Bindu Chakra (BEEN-doo CHAH-kra), which helps us listen beyond sound into silence, intuition, and the whispers of the heart.

Together, they remind us that yoga is not only about moving the body but awakening perception—learning to see and hear ourselves more clearly beneath the backdrop of all the noise arround us.

Topic 1 – The Third Eye: Inner Sight (Ajna Chakra)

Metaphor: Imagine walking into a dark room. At first, nothing is visible. But as your eyes adjust, shapes slowly emerge. The Third Eye works the same way—when the mind grows still, the truth comes into focus.

Reflection: Tonight, practice not only the poses but the way you see yourself. Instead of focusing on flaws or doubts, adjust your inner vision to see the deeper truths of your resilience and worth.

Quotes:

“The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step you are taking at this moment.” – Eckhart Tolle

“It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.” – Bhagavad Gita

“Look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your thoughts about them.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Topic 2 – The Third Ear: Inner Listening (Bindu Chakra)

Metaphor: Think of a radio. At first, all you hear is static. But with a small adjustment, a clear signal comes through. The Third Ear is like that dial. It helps us tune past the noise of fear and self-doubt so we can hear the quiet signal of intuition and wisdom.

Reflection: The Third Ear is not about hearing more, but about hearing what matters. In practice tonight, soften the mental static and listen carefully. Your breath, your body, and your heart are always sending quiet guidance.

Quotes:

“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.” – Ma Jaya

“Water, if you don’t stir it, will become clear.”

“Every time we become aware of a thought, we experience that opening of the mind.” – Joseph Goldstein

“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded.” – Buddha

Topic 3 – Edison and Potential

Story:
At the age of 12, Thomas Edison came home from school carrying a sealed envelope. His teacher had told him, “Give this only to your mother.” Curious, young Edison watched as his mother Nancy unfolded the note. Her eyes filled with tears as she read silently.

“What does it say, Mother?” he asked.

She took a steady breath and read aloud: “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and does not have enough good teachers to train him properly. Please teach him yourself.”

From that day forward, Nancy Edison taught her son at home. She nurtured his curiosity, encouraged his experiments, and protected his spirit. The rest, as history shows, is astonishing: Edison became one of the greatest inventors of his century, holding over a thousand patents.

Many years later, long after his mother had passed, Edison was going through old family belongings. In a drawer, he found the original letter from his teacher. He unfolded it with trembling hands and read the words: “Your son has a severe learning disability and is mentally deficient. We will not allow him to return to school.”

Edison sat down and wept. Later, in his diary, he wrote: “Thomas Alva Edison was a mentally deficient child, who by the heroism of a mother, became the genius of the century.”

Reflection:
This story reminds us how powerful it is to choose what voice we listen to. Edison’s teacher saw a failure; his mother saw a genius. Edison listened not to judgment but to encouragement—and that choice shaped his destiny. Tonight, as you move through practice, ask yourself: What messages about myself am I listening to? Are they rooted in fear—or in potential?

Quotes:

“There is no heavier burden than an unfulfilled potential.” – Charles Schulz

“Fear and self-doubt have always been the greatest enemies of human potential.” – Brian Tracy

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Emerson

“Often it is not the stupid things we do in life that we most regret, but the hopes and dreams we left stranded.” – David Scott

Topic 4 – The Breath as Teacher

Metaphor: Your breath is like a loyal companion. When ignored, it grows shallow and restless. When honored, it deepens, steadies, and restores you.

Reflection: Breath is the simplest and most powerful teacher we have. Tonight, relearn how to breathe—slow, full, intentional. With each inhale, open. With each exhale, release. Breath is the sound the Third Ear was meant to hear.

Quotes:

“The quality of our breath expresses our inner feelings.” – T.K.V. Desikachar

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“Every time we become aware of a thought, we experience that opening of the mind.” – Joseph Goldstein

Topic 5 – Balancing Sight and Sound

Metaphor: A musician must see the notes and listen to the music. Only together does harmony emerge.

Reflection: The Third Eye and Third Ear are like two instruments within you. Balance comes when you see clearly and listen wisely. Tonight, let your practice be about harmony—seeing yourself as you are and listening to the wisdom already within you.

Quotes:

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” – Rumi

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different.” – James Baraz

“The significant is hiding in the insignificant. Appreciate everything.” – Eckhart Tolle

Topic 6 – The Space Between

Metaphor: Music is not only the notes played, but also the pauses in between. Without silence, sound has no meaning.

Reflection: In life, too, wisdom comes not only from doing, but from pausing. The Third Eye shows us vision. The Third Ear teaches us silence. Together, they help us honor the space between—where presence lives.

Quotes:

“In the same way that rain breaks into a house with a bad roof, desire breaks into the mind that has not been practicing meditation.” – Buddha

“The little things in life are not that little. In the end they will become some of your most treasured memories.” – David Scott

“Suffering usually relates to wanting things to be different than they are.” – Allan Lokos

“The significant is hiding in the insignificant.” – Eckhart Tolle

Closing Reflection – The Inner Song

Seeing with the Third Eye and listening with the Third Ear brings wholeness. Your potential is like a hidden diamond or an unwritten song. If you never let it shine or be sung, the world will never know its beauty. Tonight, let your practice be your song—sung not with words, but with presence.

Closing Quote:
“Imagine your potential as a hidden vein of diamonds buried deep within… only through friction and effort do they begin to shine.” – David Scott