At the end of all my classes, while everyone is resting in Savasana, I like to find a poem or a reading to share, something meaningful that makes me feel peaceful.
Every morning, when we wake up, we have 24 brand new hours to live.
What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these 24 hours will bring peace, joy and happiness to ourselves and others.
Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we see and do.
The question is whether or not we are in touch with it.
We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living.
We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on.
But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.
Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.
We need only to be awake and alive in the present moment.
Thích Nhất Hạnh
Life is amazing.
And then it's awful.
And then it's amazing again.
And in between the amazing and awful,
It's ordinary and mundane and routine.
Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary.
That's just living, heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life.
And it's breathtakingly beautiful.
L.R. Knost
Don't make yourself small. Not for anyone. If someone tells you you're too much, too loud, too sensitive, too fierce, too caring, too intellectual, too optimistic, too realistic, too logical, too emotional, just smile and move on, my friend. Clearly, they aren't enough for you.
L.R. Knost
Just show up, as you are.
You don’t have to look or feel great.
You don’t have to be prepared for each challenge or know all the hows of every situation.
You don’t have to be fearless, or have all the answers, or be 100% ready.
Nobody is any of these things. Nobody ever was.
It’s not about being perfect at all.
You just have to show up, as you are, despite all the objections and insecurities of your mind, despite each and every fear that threatens to hold you back, despite the limitations and criticisms other will place on you.
The hell with it all. This is your life, your journey, your adventure, and all it’s asking of you is to show for it, as you are.
That’s enough. That’s more than enough. That’s everything.
Scott Stabile
Every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling,
“This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!”
And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say, “No. This is what’s important."
Ian Thomas
May today there be peace within.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.
May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are.
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.
Mother Teresa
​To finish off, this is my favourite poem, written by the amazing Donna Ashworth, and read many times in my classes;
Most people are good.
Most people kiss their pets goodbye and read just one more bedtime story to their children.
Most people visit their grandparents even when they have no time and most people stop by to check on quiet friends, after a day too long and draining.
Most people return their shopping trolleys, despite already being late and most people let someone with only one item, jump to the front of a queue.
Most people give money when money is scarce and most people worry about people they don’t even know, day in and day out.
When the world seems bad, remember, most people are good.
Donna Ashworth