Topic 1 – Enough is Enough

“The Dalai Lama was once asked what surprised him most, and he responded, ‘Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.’

Life is like a candle. Each moment, each breath, is a flame slowly burning down, one we cannot reclaim or relight. We’re often so focused on preserving this candle, worrying over its flame, or using it only to light the path to some future goal, that we forget the candle’s true purpose—to illuminate the present moment.

As you breathe here, imagine your awareness as the candle’s flame. Let it fully illuminate this moment without rushing ahead. Be present for each breath, each sensation, letting go of the urge to save this light for later. Life isn’t something that begins once we’re ready or when we’ve achieved enough; it’s happening here and now, in this pose, in this breath.

Just as Thich Nhat Hanh said, ‘The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.’ Let’s commit in this moment to live fully, to let our light shine now, without waiting for some imagined future.”

Topic 2 – Finding Independence Through Your Authentic Self

“Imagine the power of truly not caring about what others think or say behind your back. For Maria, a young woman on a quest for authenticity, mindfulness became her garden in the fertile soil of her mind. At first, she was caught in the weeds—doubts, insecurities, the relentless need for approval. Anais Nin once wrote, ‘She lives on the reflections of herself in the eyes of others.’ But with each mindful breath, she begins to untangle herself, clearing space for her true self to take root and grow strong.

People might say, ‘She went silent,’ yet that silence reveals an inner strength. ‘She stopped trying to change the world,’ but only because she realized the most profound change happens within. ‘She stopped asking for advice and approval,’ because she’s learned to trust her own voice. To some, it may seem she no longer cares, but in truth, she finally cares enough to let go.

As we move through this practice, remember Maria and let each breath be a step on your own path to inner transformation. Release the weight of others’ expectations, and nurture the powerful, authentic self that waits quietly within.” – David Scott

Lao Tzu: “At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want.”

Anaïs Nin (another fitting quote): “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

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

I am attracting better because I have discovered that it all starts with me. I am going to change myself first so that everything can align for me. I’m not going to blame anyone. I am going to take responsibility for my life. The better I become, the better I attract.

You become a master of your life when you learn how to control where your attention goes. Value what you give your energy to.

“She lacks confidence, she craves admiration insatiably. She lives on the reflections of herself in the eyes of others. She does not dare to be herself.” Anais Nin

“We can’t be happy if we are not being ourselves.”

“You will never gain anyone’s approval by begging for it. When you stand confident in your own worth, respect follows.” – Mandy Hale

“Needing approval is like saying ‘your view of me is more important than my own opinion of myself’.” – Wayne Dyer

“If we are addicted to people’s approval, we will always experience pain when that approval is withdrawn–as it always is.” – Joyce Meyer

“Life is the sum of all your choices. ” Albert Camus

“No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, for ‘we’ are the only thinkers in our mind. When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, we will find it in our lives.” —Louise L. Hay

“You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Tear off the mask, your face is glorious.” –Rumi

“For the first time maybe ever, it didn’t matter if I looked beautiful or not. I felt it.” – Kiera Cass

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

“Someday you will look back on your life and realize that everything worthwhile you’ve ever accomplished initially challenged you.” MarcandAngel

Topic 3 – Expanding the horizon of our consciousness

“In life, we often limit ourselves by what we believe we can see—our own self-imposed horizon. It’s like standing on the shore, thinking the ocean ends where our eyes can no longer reach. But the truth is, beyond that horizon lies vast, unexplored potential.

In our practice, we have these moments, between breaths, where our higher self rises above, like lifting our gaze above the clouds. For a brief moment, we catch a glimpse of our infinite potential, far beyond the limits we often place on ourselves.

As you hold this pose, imagine each breath lifting you higher, above your own horizon. Feel the expansiveness, the boundlessness of your potential. Let each breath remind you that your true self is as vast as the sky, with no end in sight.”

Thich Nhat Hanh: “Because you are alive, everything is possible.”

Lao Tzu: “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

Carl Jung: “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

David Scott: “We can only grow and develop as far as we can see; we are limited by our own self-imposed horizon.”

Topic 4 – “Sthira sukham asanam” teaches us that a pose should be both steady and easeful. “Sthira” means grounded, stable; “Sukha” means ease, peace. In yoga, this balance reminds us that true alignment isn’t about perfect form but a harmony within.

Imagine a mountain with a river flowing around it: the mountain stands firm—that’s Sthira, our inner strength. The river adapts and flows easily around obstacles—that’s Sukha, the grace within movement.

As you hold this pose, feel rooted like the mountain, yet fluid like the river. Let go of the need to make the shape “perfect” and connect with the balance inside you. As Buddha reminds us, “In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go.”

Shift your focus from appearance to feeling, finding steadiness with each breath as it grounds and calms you.” – David Scott

“Perfect people are not real and real people are never perfect.”

“Wrinkles mean you laughed, grey hair means you cared, and scars mean you lived.”

Swami Satchidananda: “The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside.”

B.K.S. Iyengar: “Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.”

Rumi: “The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”

Mixed Bag

If you don’t take time for your wellness, you will need to make time for sickness soon.

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”

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

Ego says, “Once everything falls into place, I’ll feel peace.” Spirit says, “Find your peace, and then everything will fall into place.” (Marianne Williamson)

“I am always at the beginning”- Buddha

“Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.” – Buddha.

“The sky is not the limit; your belief system is.”

“If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” Thomas Jefferson

“Don’t be afraid of death, be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever; you just have to live.” – Natalie Babbitt (Hospice Chaplin)

“Every next level of your life will demand a different you.”

“It is the possibility of a dream coming true,that makes life interesting.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Mark Twain

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King

“Little by little, one travels far.” J. R. R. Tolkien

“I am at that awkward age, between birth and death.”

When the wrong people leave your life, the right things start to happen

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

“We usually fear what we want the most; to conquer this fear is the beginning of wisdom and the start of making our dreams a reality.” – David Scott

Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that is going to help you grow. Unknown

To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the person that you are.

“A poor person is not a person without a cent, but a person without a dream.” Harry Kemp

“Aim at nothing and you will succeed.”

We all look at things so differently… I heard a joke… “A pessimist sees the glass as half empty, the optimist sees it as half full, and to the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.”

“Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” —Albert Einstein

“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Featured: Dancing Shiva: Parivrtta Hasta Padangusthasana

“As we enter this pose, imagine channeling Shiva’s energy—one that can both destroy what no longer serves and create space for something new. Just as Shiva’s dance keeps the universe in motion, let this posture remind you of the power to let go and to grow. Feel rooted in your standing leg, like the grounding energy that anchors us in moments of change, while your lifted leg and extended arm embody the openness to embrace the unknown with confidence and grace.” David Scott