Mantra: “I am whole, I am true, I am supported, I flow.”

Topic: The Beauty of Imperfection – Embracing Wabi-Sabi

Metaphor: The Cracked Tea Bowl
Imagine holding an old tea bowl in your hands—its edges worn smooth, a crack running through its side, repaired with golden lacquer. Instead of being discarded, the crack is honored, transformed into something beautiful. This is Wabi-Sabi, the Japanese philosophy that sees imperfection not as a flaw, but as something to cherish. The bowl tells a story of resilience, time, and the beauty of being incomplete.

A Real-World Example of Wabi-Sabi:

Think of your favorite old pair of jeans—the ones that have softened with time, faded in just the right places, maybe even have a small tear or frayed hem. Instead of being worn out, they are worn in, shaped by your movements and experiences. They aren’t perfect, but they are uniquely yours, more comfortable and meaningful than a brand-new pair ever could be.

This is Wabi-Sabi—the beauty of imperfection, the appreciation of things as they are, shaped by time, use, and life itself.

or

Metaphor: The Worn River Stone

Imagine a stone resting in the bed of a river. At one time, it may have been rough and jagged, but over years of flowing water, it has been shaped, smoothed, and softened. Every ripple, every rush of water, and every collision with other stones has left its mark—not as damage, but as a transformation.

The stone is not perfect, nor is it untouched by time, yet its beauty lies in its journey. Each imperfection tells a story of resilience, endurance, and change. Just like this stone, we, too, are shaped by the flow of life. Our experiences, our scars, and our flaws are not things to hide—they are what make us uniquely beautiful.

Reflection:
We live in a world that constantly tells us to strive for perfection—to smooth out our flaws, to hide our scars, to always be more, better, newer. But perfection is an illusion, an endless chase that leads to exhaustion. Wabi-Sabi teaches us to embrace imperfection, to see the beauty in things as they are—weathered, worn, incomplete, but full of history and meaning.

In yoga, we often approach our practice with the same mindset—wanting the perfect pose, the perfect breath, the perfect balance. But real growth happens when we accept where we are today, with all our limitations and unique qualities. A wobble in tree pose, a deep exhale in a stretch, a moment of stillness in savasana—each of these is perfect in its own way.

Quotes:
🌿 “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” — Rumi
🌿 “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” — Salvador Dalí
🌿 “Imperfection is not our personal problem—it is a natural part of existing.” — Tara Brach
🌿 “Perfection is static, and I am in full progress.” — Anaïs Nin
🌿 “Wabi-Sabi is a state of acceptance, knowing that nothing is ever truly finished, nothing lasts forever, and nothing is ever truly perfect.” — Unknown

Call to Action:
Tonight, as you move, breathe, and settle into stillness, let go of the need to be perfect. Instead, celebrate where you are right now. Notice the beauty in the imperfect, the fleeting, the raw, and the real. Let go of the pressure to be anything other than who you are in this moment. Let yourself be beautifully, gloriously, perfectly imperfect.

Topic: Seeking Approval vs. Standing in Your Truth

Metaphor: The Sky and the Weather
Imagine the vast, open sky—expansive, unshaken, simply existing. The weather changes constantly—clouds drift in, storms rage, the sun shines, and the wind howls. But through it all, the sky remains untouched, never seeking approval from the passing weather.

Now, think of yourself as the sky and other people’s opinions as the weather. If you define yourself by the approval of others, you become like the weather—always shifting, never stable, constantly trying to change with the tides of external validation. But when you stand firm in who you are, like the sky, you remain steady and free, no matter what storms pass through.

Reflection:
Many of us spend too much time trying to control the “weather” of our lives—seeking approval, avoiding judgment, wanting to be liked. But the irony is, the more we chase validation, the less we receive. True confidence isn’t about convincing others of our worth; it’s about knowing our worth so deeply that we no longer need their approval.

In yoga, we often catch ourselves comparing—wanting to perfect a pose, seeking recognition. But the deepest practice is in letting go. When we stop performing and simply move from an authentic place, we find strength, grace, and ease.

Wayne Dyer’s words remind us: those who seek the most approval receive the least, while those who need it the least receive the most. When you stop bending yourself for validation, people respect your authenticity. Like the sky, your presence becomes steady, magnetic, and undeniable.

Quotes:
🌿 “What other people think of me is none of my business.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
🌿 “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde
🌿 “You don’t need permission to be exactly who you are.” — Unknown
🌿 “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.” — Lao Tzu
🌿 “The people who don’t require validation from others are the ones who get the most of it.” — Unknown

Call to Action:
As we move through our practice tonight, release the need to be seen, judged, or measured. Instead, move with your breath, your body, and your truth—without apology, without hesitation. Like the sky, remain steady. Let the weather come and go, but stay rooted in who you are.

Topic: The Company We Keep – Choosing Who Walks With Us

Metaphor: The Garden of Relationships
Imagine your life as a garden. Some people are like sunlight, warming you, helping you grow. Others are like rain, nourishing you in ways you didn’t expect. Some are the strong roots that keep you grounded. But there are also weeds—people who drain your energy, stifle your growth, or overshadow your light. A gardener knows when to nurture and when to prune. Our relationships require the same care—we must choose who we allow to stay in our soil.

Reflection:
Not everyone who enters our life is meant to stay forever, and that’s okay. Some people lift us up, while others weigh us down. Some bring joy and laughter, while others bring lessons we didn’t ask for but needed. The key is learning to recognize who deserves our time, energy, and heart.

As we grow, our circle naturally changes. We start valuing quality over quantity—depth over surface. True friends are those who inspire us, make us laugh, and allow us to see the world differently. They are the ones who remind us of our worth, not the ones who make us question it.

Yoga teaches us the same principle—where we place our energy matters. If we focus too much on outside noise, on the people who drain us, we lose our balance. But when we center ourselves, when we choose presence, we realign with what truly matters.

Quotes:
🌿 “Surround yourself with those who see your worth, not those who make you forget it.” — Unknown
🌿 “Some people arrive and make such a beautiful impact on your life, you can barely remember what life was like without them.” — Anna Taylor
🌿 “Let go of those who bring you down and surround yourself with those who lift you up.” — Oprah Winfrey
🌿 “Your circle should want to see you win. Your circle should clap loudly when you have good news. If not, get a new circle.” — Wesley Snipes
🌿 “Energy is contagious. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.” — Unknown

Call to Action:
As you flow through your practice tonight, reflect on the energy you allow into your life. Who lifts you? Who inspires you? Who truly sees you? Just as we mindfully step into each pose, be mindful of who you step forward with in life. Let go of those who dim your light and embrace those who help you shine.

The story of “Wabi-Sabi: The Beauty of Imperfection”

In the quietude of ancient Japan, where cherry blossoms whispered secrets and bamboo swayed in reverence, there existed a profound philosophy known as Wabi-Sabi. It was not merely a concept; it was the very essence of existence, woven into the fabric of tea ceremonies, ink-stained scrolls, and the gnarled bark of ancient trees.

700 years ago, those who sought enlightenment understood that perfection was an illusion—a shimmering mirage that danced on the horizon but could never be grasped. The tea masters, the Buddhist monks, and the nobility—they all embraced this truth. They called it Wabi-Sabi, the celebration of imperfection.

Picture a tranquil tea room, its tatami mats worn by countless footsteps. Here, time slowed, and the mundane became sacred. A single flower nestled in a weathered bamboo vase spoke volumes. Its petals, slightly bruised, held the wisdom of seasons—the fleeting beauty of life itself. The scroll on the wall bore calligraphy strokes, each one imperfect, yet harmonious. And the patina on the tea bowls—their cracks and chips—told stories of resilience and endurance.

Rikyu, the revered tea master, understood this deeply. His teachings transformed tea ceremonies into portals. As guests sipped matcha, they stepped outside the cacophony of their lives. The world beyond the tearoom faded, leaving only the warmth of the cup, the fragrance of leaves, and the hushed conversations between souls.

In Kyoto’s majestic gardens, where moss-covered stones whispered secrets to the wind, Rikyu tested his disciple. The garden, meticulously tended, seemed flawless. Yet, Rikyu reached for a maple branch, its leaves ablaze with autumn fire. He shook it gently, and the auburn leaves descended—a dance of imperfection. They landed on the gravel path, mingling with fallen twigs and moss.

The disciple watched, perplexed. Why disrupt perfection? Rikyu smiled, his eyes crinkling like ancient parchment. “Wabi-Sabi,” he murmured. “The magic lies not in flawlessness, but in the dance of impermanence. The leaves fall, the seasons change, and we, too, are part of this eternal rhythm.”

And so, in that quiet garden, the young man glimpsed enlightenment. The order of nature was never sterile—it was wild, untamed, and gloriously flawed. Imperfection was not a blemish; it was the heartbeat of existence. The tea master’s touch had revealed the hidden truth: nothing was ever perfect, nor permanent.

And as the last leaf settled, the wind carried Rikyu’s wisdom across centuries. In the rustle of bamboo leaves and the fading echo of a tea bowl lifted, Wabi-Sabi lived on—a fragile, exquisite reminder that imperfection was the brushstroke that painted life’s most profound canvas.

“Yoga gives us the opportunity to confront our inner darkness in a safe space. We shine the light of awareness on the illusionary tall shadows that doubt and fear have manifested. As the mind concentrates, it illuminates and shines light in the dark corridors of our mind, as they do the shadows they disappear. With practice the ego’s voice slows down and sometimes even becomes silent, finally giving our soul a voice to express itself and be heard in our mind.” – David Scott

“Imagine how differently your life would end up, if it were your dreams instead of your fears that motivated you most.” – David Scott

“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.

“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.”

“When you are evolving to your higher self, the road is long and lonesome, but you’re simply shedding energies that no longer match the frequency of your destiny. The hardest walk is walking alone, but it’s also the walk that makes you the strongest.”

“The person who insists on seeing with perfect clarity before they decide, never decides. To end in certainty we must first begin with doubt. The well-worn, easy path is the one usually leading to mediocrity. Take the more difficult, less traveled path or create your own trail. The greater the challenge, the greater the joy experienced in overcoming it.” – David Scott

“Be very very very gentle with yourself. The world is very very very hard on you.”

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

“People who want the most approval get the least and the people who need approval the least get the most.” – Wayne Dyer

You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are. ~Yogi Bhajan

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” – Bob Marley

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda

“People know your name, not your story. They’ve heard what you’ve done, but not what you’ve been through. So take their opinions of you with a grain of salt. In the end, it’s not what others think, it’s what you think about yourself that counts. Sometimes you have to do exactly what’s best for you and your life, not what’s best for everyone else.”

Change your thoughts and change your day.

“The ones who notice the storms in your eyes, the silence in your voice and the heaviness in your heart are the ones you need to let in.”

“Not everyone you meet in life is good, but if you look you will find good in every person.” David Scott

“Life is short. Spend it with people who allow you to see the world differently; that make you laugh and feel loved. Focus on the people who inspire you, not the ones who devalue you.” David Scott

“Whether you pushed me or pulled me, drained me or fueled me, loved me or left me, hurt me or helped me, you are part of my growth, and I thank you.”

“As we grow older we realize that it is less important to have a ton of friends and more important to have a few that are real.”

“If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” – E. Joseph Cossman

“Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness.

“I’d rather be disliked for who I am, than loved for who I’m not.”

A grinding wheel is a lot like our experiences, can either make us sharp or it can wear us away.

“Keep calm and be crazy, laugh, love, and live it up because this is the oldest you’ve been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.”

“We are all broken, that’s how the light gets in.” – Ernest Hemingway

“May you be firm, but never inflexible; may be you proud, but never boastful; may you be strong, but never forceful; may you be gentle but never weak; may you be truthful, but never unkind; may you be brave but never foolish; may you have more than enough, but never be greedy. – David Scott