Mantra

“I honor the light within me, trust the flow of my journey, and embrace the seasons of life with courage and grace.”

Topic 1 – Our Soul’s Vision

“If you don’t know where your compass is pointing, you’ll never reach your destination. Today is a moment to re-calibrate.” David Scott

“As we step into a new year, it’s a perfect time to ask ourselves, “What is your soul vision for this upcoming year? Instead of setting rigid goals, consider what truly nourishes your spirit. Imagine aligning with your highest self and letting that guide your journey forward.

Imagine life as a river. While the river’s destination—a vast ocean—is inevitable, the way the water flows, meanders, and overcomes obstacles is unique to each path. Our focus is like the river’s current—it shapes the journey and determines the strength and clarity of its flow. When we focus on what strengthens and inspires us, we move closer to our soul’s purpose with grace and intention.”

“Your focus determines your reality.” – Qui-Gon Jinn (Inspired by Buddhist philosophy)

“Take a moment to ask yourself: What do I want to grow this year? Visualize your soul vision, not as a rigid goal, but as a guiding light. Imagine the energy you want to flow toward it—calm, focused, and resilient.”

Topic 2 – “Falling in Love with the Future”

“Past and present—they are familiar companions. They comfort us with their lessons, but sometimes they trap us in their embrace. The future, however, is a mystery—an absolute stranger. Yet, it is this stranger that often holds our deepest hopes and dreams. It beckons us quietly, inviting us to step forward into the unknown.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

Imagine the future as a sunrise on the horizon. You can’t touch it yet, but its light calls to you. To move toward it, sometimes we must leave the comfort of what we know. As the saying goes, ‘When God is ready for you to move, He will make your situation uncomfortable.’ Think of this discomfort not as punishment, but as an invitation to grow, to evolve, to fall in love with the possibilities ahead.

Much like in yoga, growth comes when we find that edge—where the familiar meets the unknown. It’s in this space of stretch and surrender that we discover our strength.”

Supporting Metaphor:
“The future is like a blank canvas. The past may have given you the paints, and the present holds the brush, but it is your courage to imagine that creates the masterpiece.”

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” -Mahatma Gandhi

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” -T.S. Eliot

Topic 3 – “Living Your Own Life”
“Steve Jobs once said, ‘Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.’ These words remind us that life is fleeting, and each of us has a unique light to shine. Imagine your life as a lantern. The light within is yours alone—it flickers and dances with your dreams, your values, and your passions. If you allow someone else to shape the lantern or dim your flame, you lose the chance to illuminate your true path.

As we step onto our mats today, let’s reflect on this light within. Are you nurturing it, letting it shine freely? Or are you allowing the winds of others’ expectations to dim it? This year, let’s focus on keeping our light strong and authentic.”

Supporting Metaphor
“The Lantern of Your Soul:”
“Your inner light is unique—no one else has the same flame. A lantern’s shape or material may vary, but what matters is the brightness of its light. Keep fueling your flame with what ignites your soul, and let it shine unapologetically.”

Supporting Quotes

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Marianne Williamson

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” – Dalai Lama

“There is a light that never goes out: the one within you.” – Anonymous

Topic 4 – Trusting the Seasons of Life

“Life moves through seasons, just as nature does. There are times of blossoming and growth, like spring; times of warmth and abundance, like summer; times of letting go, like autumn; and times of stillness and rest, like winter. Each season has its purpose and beauty, even when it feels like nothing is happening.

The key is to trust the rhythm of your life. Just as a tree doesn’t rush to bloom or resist shedding its leaves, we, too, must honor where we are. By embracing each season, we align with the natural flow of our soul’s journey.”

Supporting Metaphor
“The Tree and Its Seasons:”

“A tree doesn’t bloom year-round. It rests in winter, grows quietly in spring, flourishes in summer, and lets go in autumn. It doesn’t question the process—it simply trusts the wisdom of the seasons. You, too, are growing in your own time, in harmony with the rhythm of your soul.”

Supporting Quotes
“To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” – Paul Theroux
Reflection Prompt

“Ask yourself: What season of life am I in right now? Am I growing, flourishing, letting go, or resting? How can I honor this season and trust its purpose in my journey?”

Poses for Focus and Soul Vision
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose)

Requires intense focus and balance, symbolizing the need to stay grounded while looking forward to your soul’s vision.

Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana (Half-Bound Lotus Standing Forward Fold)

This pose emphasizes both strength and surrender, embodying the duality of trust and effort in pursuing your vision.
Poses for Embracing Challenges
Bakasana (Crow Pose)

Balancing on the hands requires courage and trust, mirroring the metaphor of stepping into the unknown.
Astavakrasana (Eight-Angle Pose)

Demands strength, focus, and alignment, reflecting the idea of moving with intention and clarity toward your soul’s purpose.
Poses for Trusting the Journey
Kapotasana (King Pigeon Pose)

A deep heart-opener, symbolizing vulnerability and trust in the flow of life.
Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose)

This full backbend represents opening yourself fully to the present moment and embracing your path with courage.
Poses for Strengthening Inner Light
Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose with Variations)

Balancing on one arm with variations challenges you to maintain your center while staying strong and steady, much like keeping your inner light shining through challenges.
Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance)

An inversion that requires trust, balance, and perseverance, symbolizing turning your perspective upside-down to embrace growth

Mixed Bag

The Buddhist Story of the Poisoned Arrow

There was once a man that’d been wounded by a poisoned arrow. And when his family wanted to find a doctor to help him, the man said no.

The mortally wounded man said that before any doctor tried to help him, he wanted to know who had attacked him. What was his caste and where was he from?

He also wanted to know this other man’s height, strength, skin tone, the kind of bow he used, and whether its string was made of hemp, silk, or bamboo.

So, as he wondered if the arrow’s feathers came from a vulture, peacock, or falcon, and whether the bow was common, curved, or made of oleander, he ended up dying before getting an answer to any of his questions.

What is the Story of the Poisoned Arrow Trying to Tell Us?
This attitude from a man on his deathbed sounds pretty absurd, right? But, bringing this scenario to other situations in life, aren’t there times when we act like the wounded warrior, too?

It might be unconsciously, but sometimes we focus too much on questions that are actually unimportant out of fear of confronting the truly important ones.

We leave the heart of the matter unknown, while we worry about issues that are relatively unimportant at that time.

“The unhappy will use every tactic to disrupt your inner peace. When you run into toxic people choose distance over drama. You don’t need to join every argument you are invited to. Gracefully excuse yourself from anything that is trying to keep you from your purpose. Distractions will limit your growth and make you question your future. Don’t fall victim to negativity, it’s not worth your energy.” – David Scott

“Fully understand your problems before ever starting to solve them, but when you do give all of your energy to the solution and no longer to the problem.” – David Scott

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

“Do you remember who you were before the world told you to be who you think you are?” – David Scott

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

“He that has little and wants less is richer than he who has much and wants more.” – Buddhist Quote

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” -Albert Einstein

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair

“Freedom is the only condition for your happiness. If in your heart you are holding onto any negative emotion from your past, anger, jealousy, rage, disappointments, you are never truly free, and it will be exceptionally hard to be happy. Sadness does not hold onto us, but we hold on to our sadness.” – David Scott

There are many ways to let go of the past and move forward. Here are some tips that might help:

Create a positive mantra: Tell yourself a positive message that can help you reframe your thoughts. For example, instead of getting stuck in negative thoughts, try a positive mantra such as, “I am fortunate to be able to find a new path in life — one that is good for me”.

Create physical distance: Try to distance yourself from the person or situation that is causing you to be upset. This can help you let go of an emotionally painful experience.

Focus on yourself: Focusing on yourself is important. You have to make the choice to address the hurt that you’ve experienced. When you think about a person who caused you pain, bring yourself back to the present. Then, focus on something that you’re grateful for.

Practice mindfulness: Allow your yoga mat to be your therapist. Practicing mindfulness can help you bring your focus to the present moment. When we start practicing being present, our hurts have less control over us, and we have more freedom to choose how we want to respond to our lives.

May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.. – Irish Blessing

“Every ending is a new beginning. We just don’t know it at the time.” – Mitch Albom