James Walsh Yoga

Wednesday, September 16, 2026,  All skills are perishable.   All health is perishable.  This is the third morning I've been back on my mat.  Nothing monumental has occurred but that remark about perishability struck me this morning.  It's 5:29am, and it's time to begin.... Part II: Three is a powerful number and, whether it's real or I imagine it, a three day stretch of practicing yoga does something; on the third day, you're different.  I won't be practicing tomorrow, but I'm going to rethink how to best incoprorate yoga back into my routine.  Namaste

Tuesday September 15, 2026, Starting one's day with prayer and reflection is really the prime benefit of being on one's yoga mat.  The physical/asasa aspect of the practice is secondary.  Time to begin... Part II: Great practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Monday, September 14, 2026,  Haven't been on my mat for awhile.  I've been more involved in weight-training, running, and biking lately.  Time to clear out some of the clutter that's built up.  It's 5:34am as I type this, and it's time to begin... Part II: It's now 7:04am, and I've just completed my first practice in, what seems to be 3 months.  So much changes physically in that time (good and bad). My goal is to practice 3 days in a row this week and see what comes of it.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

 Thursday, June 11, 2026: I haven't been on my mat, in any sort of scheduled way, for some time.   The hiatus has occured becuase, due to pure vanity, my morning workout has been nearly all about weight lifting for the past few years........never having weight lifted before, I'll say that, once you start, it's easy to get addicted to it...... In the hiatus from my mat, I've noticed a few things physically and emotionally/mentally......physical tightness creeps in and start to effect areas you'd never expect and, from an emotional/mental state, I'd say I feel less "grounded" altogether (not terribly so, but just, in general).  I'm going to go through my standard practice this morning....time to begin... Part II: Great practice.  Time to shower and enter the world. Namaste

Tuesday, January 13, 2026, On the mat at a, slightly later than usual, 5:30am....time to begin... Part II: On my mat having just come out of Savasana/Corpse Pose.  It's 7:08am and it's time to take this refined and balanced version of myself out into the world.  Namaste

Monday, January 5, 2026, Woke at the usual 4:15am.  On my mat for the first time in a while.   Time to begin... Part II: Today's practice was more of a glorified/extended warm up (which was much needed), followed by some strong sun salutes, and a modified sequence of poses......I took a page from my own book and ended today's practice with a short, but fully executed, upward bow (Urdvha Dhanurasana).....backbending keeps you young and keeps your heart and spirit light (it keeps my heart and spirit light, anyway).  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Thursday, October 30, 2025, Thursday yoga- Time to begin... Part II: Great practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Thursday, October 16, 2025, It's 5:21am, and it's time to begin today's practice... Part II: Time to enter the world.  Yoga, and the peace it brings to one's self, is a miracle.  Namaste

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 I wake at 4:15am and, while that seems incredibly early, it's strange how the time just "slips away"; I'm on my mat at 5:30am, and that's technically behind schedule a little bit. Time to begin...  Part II: My yoga practice has been intermittent lately and, given that, and given the other areas of physcial activity I've been involving myself in lately, (running, weight lifting, etc.), my practices have become more of exaggerated warm ups.....candidly, it feels exactly like what my body needs to loosen itself up.  Enough chit chat; the spiritual side of my practice (which is the primary goal and primary gift of being on your yoga mat), has not diminished and I am always a better version of myself coming off of my mat.  Time to take this better version of myself out into the world.  Namaste

Thursday, August 4, 2025, Thursday yoga.  Time to begin... Part II: More of an extended warm up than anything else but, as always, delighted that I started my day on my mat.  Time to enter the world. Namaste

Thursday, August 21, 2025, Continuing to wake at the usual 4:15am, as always, and trying to re-shape Tuesday's and Thursday's into yoga mornings.  It's 5:27am as I type this, and it's time to begin... Part II: Not much time for a Part II post but, as always, the version coming off the mat at the end of practice is superior to the version that got on the mat in the beginning of practice.  Time to bring this version of myself out into the world.  Namaste

Tuesday, August 19, 2025,  My practice has been more intermittent lately.  I've been getting up at my usual 4:15am every morning, but different types of workouts have been taking precedence in my mornings, and I've noticed that this, my yoga practice , has taken more of a backseat. My goal is to use certain days of the week as " yoga mornings " to re-incorporate my practice back into my daily schedule; nothing gives one mental and physical clarity the way a yoga practice does (not running , not weight-lifting ,....nothing).  Time to begin... Part II: Great practice.  I have a lot of physical stiffness to work through.  Happy, as always, that I began my day with prayer, meditation, and a practice.  Namaste

Thursday, July 24, 2025, Late to the mat.  Time to begin...  Part II: Late to get off the mat too.....refreshed and renewed, however, and happy to enter the world.  Namaste

Tuesday, July 8, 2025,  Learning how to detach from the world, and from "worldly things" is an important skill to have and, minimally, understand.  At it's heart, the phrase "of the world" to me always meant things that were highly man-made.....in 2025, that would predominately mean the little pocket computers we're all mildly addicted to, and the images that come from them.   Being "in" the world and always trying to not be "of" the world is a constant push/pull struggle that does require daily maintenance.  Time to begin today's practice.... Part II: On my mat having just come out of Savasana.   Not a bad practice this morning, but not a great one either.....physically strong but definitely "tightened" in certain areas......mentally a little "all over the place".  Ah well, ....the version of yourself that comes off the mat after practice is always superior to the version of yourself that got on the mat at the beg...

 Monday, June 23, 2025,  "Come As You Are" has been used by me as a post title before.  While I can't remember the specifics of why I may have posted with this title before, I would bet that I used the phrase "Come As You Are" due to feelings of being inadequate, ugly, not worthwhile, or generally indifferent to myself and my practice.  If you're feeling any of these things, practice anyway.   Time to begin today's practice... Part II: Having just come out of Savasana after a vert gentle "Yin" style practice, I'll say that, when one is feeling ugly, unlovable, inadequate, etc., all the more reason to hit your mat.  You'll come out of your prayer, meditation, and practice knowing that you are none of those things.  Time to bring this version of myself out into the world.  Namaste

 Friday, June 13, 2025, Has it really been since April since I've had a dedicated practice? Time to begin, right where I left off.....on my mat.  I've had breaks and hiatuses in practice before and I've learned a few things about getting back into the swing of thing....... Taking a break from something you do as a routine is actually a good thing.....I expect that I'll find and discover new and unique ways of moving and new and unique parts of me this morning that I may not have discovered or been aware of as easily in my day to day.  Ease into it but don't ease into it for too long- I'm going to see if I can do a 3 day run....that usually gets things back on track.....today's first practice will really just be about checking in on my body and mind and seeing where things are.  Time to begin... Part II: Great practice.  Physically strong, and mentally acute.   Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Thursday, April 3, 2025, Oh so bizzy.  Life makes one feel like there's "lots to do" all the time and, candidly, sometimes, there is  lots to do, and lots to manage.  How should one approach this? I know that, for me, taking exceptionally good care of my body during these busy periods is key (eating well, sleeping adequately, no drinking, etc.); those three keys right there set me up for more success when my "to-do" list seems too long.  Another element to ensuring that one's "to do" list can be well managed, is to pause from it all (very difficult sometimes), separate from it all ( incredibly difficult at times), and focus one's energy on slowing oneself down.  The yoga mat, paired with prayer and meditation, are the perfect key to this kingdom of "zooming out" to give one perspective and help strategize the best path for success in tackling the "bizzy to-do-list". In the vein, it's time to begin today's practice......

Tuesday, February 25, 2025, I've been feeling a tad "sludgy" for the past few days.  What does that mean?.....for me that means I've felt heavy, "stuck", and sloppy.  For me, this is almost always a sign that I've eaten junk that I shouldn't have.  My practice (and your practice) will help speed up and balance the process of elimination. Part II: Feeling way less sludgy after my practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste 

Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Time to begin... Part II: Great practice. Time to enter the world.  Namaste