Topic 1 – No Mirrors in an Ashram

“Ever wonder why there are no mirrors in an ashram? A mirror shows us our ‘lower self,’ the physical imperfections we often fixate on. But when we look inward, we glimpse our ‘higher self’—our true, perfect essence.

We can cover the wrinkles and blemishes of our bodies with makeup, but there is no makeup for the soul. Only through inner work—reflection, mindfulness, and growth—can we allow the soul to truly shine.” – David Scott

“Beautiful souls are often shaped and polished by difficult experiences.” David Scott

“All healing begins first in the heart.” So use your mat tonight as a safe space to explore your heart allow any healing you need to occur.

“A rose does not answer its enemies with words, but with beauty.” – Matshona Dhliwayo

“If you look for the beauty inside of others, it will be easier to cultivate beauty within yourself.” – David Scott

“The world is full of many wonders and miracles; never forget that you are one of them.”

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” – Caroline Myss

“When you take a picture of a sunset and it doesn’t look good you don’t say, ‘Eww the sky is ugly.’ You know it is the camera that can’t capture the beauty of the sunset.

Yet when you take a selfie and it doesn’t look good you very quickly say, ‘Eww, I’m ugly,’ when in fact it is the camera that can’t capture your beauty.” – Valentina Quarta, The Purpose Ladder

“Becoming awake involves seeing our confusion more clearly.” – Chogyam Trungpa

“The shallow is easy to embrace, but the profound is difficult.”

“We will become our opposite if we do not learn to accommodate the opposition within us.” – Carl Lung

“When the mind is weak, every circumstance feels like a problem, overwhelming and difficult to handle. But when the mind is stable, those same circumstances become challenges—something we can face and work through. And when the mind is strong, those challenges transform into opportunities for growth, learning, and transformation. – David Scott

The strength of our mind shapes how we see the world. By cultivating mindfulness and inner strength, we shift from reacting to life as a series of obstacles to embracing it as a journey of possibilities.” – David Scott

Topic 2 – Environmental Transformation

“We must be mindful of the environment we immerse ourselves in.

Water in its natural state gives life, just as a loving, supportive environment allows us to thrive. But change the environment, and the water transforms.

Boil it, and it becomes steam, generating energy—just as challenges can unlock our inner strength. Freeze it, and it becomes ice, capable of carving mountains, showing how harsh environments can harden us to overcome difficulties. Yet, staying frozen too long can cause us to lose flexibility and warmth.

Like water, we remain ourselves, but our environment shapes how we express our power. Surround yourself with love and compassion, and you will flow effortlessly, nurturing yourself and others.

Choose your environment wisely, for it shapes your path.”

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn

“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.” — Lao Tzu

“Choose to be in the company of those who inspire and elevate you.” – David Scott

“Actions prove who someone is, words just prove who they pretend to be.”

Topic 3 – Greek Fisherman

A businessman, on vacation in a small Greek village, couldn’t sleep and walked to the pier. There, a fisherman was unloading several large tuna.

“How long did it take to catch them?” the businessman asked.

“Just a little while,” the fisherman replied.

“Why not stay out longer and catch more?” the businessman suggested.

“I have enough for my family and friends,” said the fisherman, smiling. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my kids, nap with my wife, and in the evenings, I sip wine and play guitar with friends.”

The businessman laughed, “I’m an investment banker from New York. You should fish more, buy a bigger boat, then a fleet. Eventually, you could control processing and distribution. Move to the city, expand your empire, and in 15 to 20 years, launch an IPO. You’d make millions!”

“And then?” the fisherman asked.

“Then you could retire to a small village, sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, nap with your wife, and sip wine with your friends.”

“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” — Lao Tzu

“The truly wealthy in this world are not the ones with the most, but the ones that need the least for their happiness” – David Scott

“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.” — James Oppenheim

“The less you need, the more you have.” — Yvon Chouinard

“Happiness is not having what you want. It is appreciating what you have.”

“In a forest of a hundred thousand trees, no two leaves are alike. And no two journeys along the same path are alike.” – Paulo Coelho

“Yoga is a mirror to look at ourselves from within without judging. The most important person you will ever meet along your life’s journey is your higher self.” – David Scott

“Yoga is the garden space within you where the flower blossoms; nourishing and flourishing the divinity within you.” David Scott

“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.” ― B.K.S Iyengar

”You may not be able to control the whole world, but you may learn to control your inner world through yoga.”

“In seeking to escape from the suffering ourselves why should we inflict it upon others?” – Surangama Sutra

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Jack Kornfield

“We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds.” ― Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

”Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” ― Kathryn Budig

“For you, and for those you love, build an island, a temple, an impregnable fortress…. But leave the door open, day and night.” – Dugpa Rimpoce

“Scars are like tattoos, but with better stories.” – Mark Twain

Scars are proof that healing has occurred, and a reminder to not repeat the same mistakes.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb

There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.

”Yoga is the fountain of youth. You’re only as young as your spine is flexible.”

“Yoga uses the body to discipline the mind and to reach the soul.” ~ BKs Iyengar

”The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.”

“Do your practice and all is coming.” ― Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

“Anything you can’t control in life is teaching you how to let go.”

“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable, to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength”

“Anything that cost you peace is too expensive.”

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie

“What love we’ve given, we’ll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.”- Leo Buscaglia

Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”– Albert Camus

“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.”- Wayne Dyer

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust

Affection is when you see someone’s strengths; love is when you accept someone’s flaws.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Lao-Tzu

“A candle without a flame is useless; just like a soul without the fire of passion. Use your passions to ignite your inner flame and illuminate your world. Nothing in this universe is as powerful as a soul on fire, lit with the passions of their dreams.” – David Scott

“I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my Soul.” – Rumi

“I need to believe that only I can chase my dreams. That only I can light the fire in me. That no one can break me unless I break myself and only someone else can help me carry the pieces. I need to believe that I am different and I am full of love. And if I live every moment believing, then the chaos in my heart will be a beautiful thing and the world will never cease to forget my name. I just have to believe.” – Robert Drake