Inspirations - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Many yoga teachers seek inspiration from the outside world to help students connect with their most true inner nature. Dr. Martin Luther King's courage, compassion, vision, and drive give us all much to consider and emmulate on our quest for yoga (unity and harmony.) I'm including today, a list of some of MLK's powerful and wise quotations. Today I am grateful for all of those individuals who are able to see the injustices in the world, and are able to shine a light on them in a way that, rather than spotlighting our misgivings for the sake of being critical, luminates a path to higher consciousness and elevated living.
We're also including a rockin'-yoga MLK music playlist from Jo Griffith. Jo is the office angel here at Shine and as well as teaching Gentle/Beginner's for us on Tuesdays at 11:30, she teaches a full schedule around town. Jo always has a n eclectic music list for her classes and I'm thrilled that she is sharing this special one with us. Check it out down below!
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
”“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
"If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward."
From Jo Griffith.....
My playlist for Martin Luther King Jr day, you will probably hear it if you come to my yoga classes this week (someone was asking for suggestions) ~ This is mine from years ago:
Blackbird - the Beatles
Caged Bird - Alicia Keys,
Exodus - Bob Marley
Who'll Stop the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Everybody Rejoice
The Wiz
One - U2 with Mary J Blige version
Lean on Me - Bill Withers,
Mahatma's Message - MC Yogi
One Love - Bob Marley
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Up to the Mountain subtitled Martin Luther King Song - Patsy Griffin
Imagine - John Lennon,
Turn the World Around - Harry Belafonte
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Redemption Song - Bob Marley
Be and Be Not Afraid - Tracy Chapman.