James Walsh Yoga

Friday, December 28, 2018 Still enjoying the marvelous holiday break from my normal routine. I still wake around a normal time, but I'm writing this pre-yoga-post at 10:06AM. I already feel the positive effects of my practice.  My mind, and its thoughts are more stable and reliable, I'm physically seeing changes in my body (even after two days), and, even though I'm still eating a fair amount of unhealthy food options, I'm not feeling as "sludgy" as I was earlier this week. I'm going to meditate, pray, and warm up before I begin my practice. Friday, December 28, 2018 (Part II) Three days. Three consecutive practices. Three completely different experiences. The title of today's post is "Rebirth and Regrowth" but I only really felt that way at the beginning/Part I of my post.  As I write this Part II section of today's blog, I feel very different from how I was before.  I feel solid and steady.  I feel like I'm galvani...

Thursday, December 27, 2018 I'm writing this at 11:08AM (nearly an hour after beginning my practice yesterday). Without an alarm to wake me back up to reality, I'm allowing myself to sleep in and recouperate from the all-cheese-all-champagne diet that I've been loving. I'm not terribly sore or stiff this morning, but I know that, when I do begin my Asanas (physical poses), I'll begin to feel the effects of yesterday's strong practice. Physically, I'm feeling great.  I feel strong and accomplished and ready for more self-discovery on my mat. Mentally, I'm feeling far more "cleansed" than I have in a long while; my thoughts are easy, kind, with no negative anxious fears flitting around in my head. I'm going to take a hot shower to prep myself for my mat, and begin. Thursday, December 27, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. Another marvelous practice this morning.  To draw a comparis...

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 So much cheese. So much champagne. So little yoga.... I'm writing this post at 9:52AM, way later than I usually ever start a post on a normal work day.  I'm lucky in that I get a wonderful holiday break all the way through to January 2. Yes, like most, I intend to "de-tox" after the new year, but I know that I'll be in much better shape for that de-tox if I go into 2019 with a strong yoga base.  Long story short, I'm going to use the time I have off to rededicate to my practice. Physically, I feel bloated, full, and sore.  I have over-indulged in food and drink for nearly two weeks now, and I feel like it's caught up to me.  I tire easily, I crave more junk food than normal, and my spirits are up-beat, but not very energetic.  I'm going to intentionally move with a good deal of strength on my mat today to sweat things out, but I expect to be blocked in several areas (forward bends, inversions, etc.). Mentally, ...

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 The time difference is my friend again, and I woke, bright and early, at 4:00AM. No coffee (ironically), and not much time before I begin my practice.  At home, I'd usually have at least an hour of coffee before beginning my practice. To replace the awakening affect of coffee, I take a quick shower/rinse to wake myself, and prepare for my practice. Having a wonderful time in Seattle, and looking forward to another practice. Tuesday, December 18, 2018 (Part II) Feeling fantastic after an abbreviated yoga session.  Went through my Sun Salutes, and then through my closing sequence.  Feeling marvelous, and ready for the day. Namaste

Monday, December 17, 2018 In my hotel room in Seattle for work. It's 4:39AM here but my Central Standard Time internal alarm thinks it's 6:49AM and that I've overslept. I naturally woke around 3:30AM (5:30AM CST) and I've showered and am ready to begin my practice.  Even though I'm not in familiar surroundings, I love bringing my mat on the road with me. Monday, December 17, 2018 (Part II) Feeling fantastic after a very long and leisurely paced practice.  While I took my time in poses, and added a few extras from my normal routine, I still had a highly focused physical awareness this morning, and moved with strength and intention. I'm feeling fantastic, and ready to go out into the world. Namaste 

Thursday, December 13, 2018 I'm naturally waking at my normal 4:45AM time now; a sign that my body is re-adjusting itself back to this "normal" wake/sleep cadence.  That also means that I'm getting tired around 7:00PM every night. lol I practiced Monday and Tuesday of this week but had to run early morning errands on Wednesday, and wasn't able to hit the mat. I'm back on it today. I'm going to move easily, but purposefully, and take whatever comes. I'll be focusing on burning through the standard "demons" today; anxiety and fear.  No fear, no anxiety; that will be my mantra on my mat.  Everything onto the pyre, everything offered up to God. Thursday, December 13, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat having just come out of Savasana. I am feeling wonderful, and I'm going to take that out into the world to share. My practice was strong, focused, and purposeful, but I do feel like I need to put a bit more variety int...

Tuesday, December 11, 2018, Woke up at my usual 4:45AM this morning feeling good, but with little to zero enthusiasm for yoga. NBD.  I'm on my mat regardless about to warm up.

Monday, December 10, 2018 Good Morning. I haven't hit my mat in a week or two.  That's a longer hiatus than I normally take, but I'm not bugging about it at all. My Macbook started acting up mid-November.  I practiced several times but wasn't able to post about it. For the first time in a while, I woke at my usual 4:45AM.  It's now 5:39AM, and I've been enjoying nearly an hour of quiet time before contemplating hitting my mat. Time to sweat it out.... Monday, December 10, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat having just come out of Savasana. Feeling wonderful after my practice and eager to start my day. Physically, my body regressed and tightened (as expected) but usually by day three of a continual practice, I'm back to where I was. Looking forward to bringing this version of myself out into the day. Namaste

Monday, December 3, 2018 I took a wonderful page from the "self-care" book yesterday and decided to not do a single chore, not lift a finger, not organize, or execute a single task, and ask that all things be done for me, and brought to me. It was a necessary, and well deserved day of relaxation. I've practiced a few times since my last post on November 13, but haven't posted to this blog.  My Macbook started acting up a few weeks ago and I only recently got it fixed! This morning, I'm going to roll around on my mat, and focus on a restorative, not strenuous practice. Monday, December 3, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of a Savasana. Lovely, soft, and gentle are three words to describe my practice this mornings; completely different from my normal practice, which is strong, focused, and energized. Time to enter the day. Namaste

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Laptop still acting up but that should be sorted out after tomorrow. Posting from my phone again and ready to hit my mat. Namaste

Monday, November12, 2018 Laptops acting up, so I’m typing this on my phone. Posts will be short and sweet until I’m back up and running again. Yoga, however, shall continue, as usual.

Thursday, November 8, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM for the first time this week.  Had a wonderful weekend, filled with friends and celebrations, and am ready to get things back to normal.  Physically, I am run down.  I've had no consistency with proper eating or taking care of myself physically and have been running around, non-stop for about two weeks; it caught up with me finally.  I'm going to have a gentle practice on my mat this morning, knowing that my sweat will be a good thing.

Friday, November 2, 3018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM again this morning. Wintery/Autumy weather is upon us here in St. Louis.  While it's cold outside, I know the best way to start a day is by warm coffee/tea and an extended warm up on my mat. Yesterday's practice was excellent, and I'm feeling almost no stiffness or soreness from my session on the mat.  Today, I will continue the focus on physical strength, but I'm going to continue to hone in on my Bhanda system, and continue to mentally focus on burning up my flawed, self-serving, will. 

Thursday, November 1, 2018, Woke at my usual 4:45AM but did everything I could before hitting my mat. I'm behind schedule, but it's time to sweat it out.

Thursday, October 25, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM for a relaxing and rejuvenating start to my day. I feel great after my practice yesterday, and I love how an hour on my mat every morning shapes my perspective. Time to sweat it out.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for the first time all week. For whatever reason, I could not get up at the correct time Monday or Tuesday of this week.  I smashed my internal alarm on Saturday night (#noregrets) and I think I'm paying the price for it, four days later. I've needed this practice so I'm going to sweat it out this morning and focus on purifying, centering, and humbling.

Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. Feeling good, but wanting to work up some heat this morning to burn it out on my mat. Calf muscles are incredibly sore today.  I blame Tuesday's Tae Kwon Do class, as the effects of my martial arts classes almost always hit me in a delayed way (I.E. not feeling any soreness or muscle stiffness until 2 days later, etc.). Time to sweat it out. Thursday, October 18, 2018 (Part II) For whatever reason, I haven't been able to totally clear my thoughts on my mat, as I practice.  Part of the Eight Limbed Yoga is Dharana ; focusing and concentrating your mind. I caught myself, usually in sitting positions, having remained in the pose for a longer than usual time.  Typically, I hold a pose for five inhales and five exhales before moving to the other side.  I would realize that I'd been holding a position, thinking about something, and not moving out of the posture.  This isn't "bad", but I ty...

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. For whatever reason yesterday, I could not get myself out of my bed at 4:45AM, when the alarm went off.  I snoozed until nearly 7:00AM.  I try not to beat myself up when I miss a scheduled practice, but I also want to challenge myself into hitting my mat every weekday, if possible; if my body needed the sleep, I wanted to allow the extra Z's. This morning, I'm feeling excellent, and ready to warm up.  I'm going to focus on centering and burning this morning.

Monday October 15, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning and decided that 5:15AM was a much better start time. Dozed for 30-ish more minutes before getting up. I'm on my mat at my usual time, looking forward to my practice. Monday, October 15, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this nearly done with my day today. After I finished my practice, I was short on time, and had to shower up before leaving for the day. My practice was excellent this morning and, even though I hadn't hit my mat since Friday, almost none of the strength or flexibility I've built up has left. While my energy was lower today, I'm always thankful that I started things out on my mat.  I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening with my loved ones. Namaste

Friday, October 12, 2018 In about one month's time this blog will be two year's old. That's a good feeling of accomplishment. I'm going to take a page from my own book this morning and internalize the feeling of being on fire and burning through components that are not necessary. Friday, October 12, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this as I traditionally do; on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. Today's practice was superb, and I'm thankful for everything I gave and received on my mat (#hippie-dippie). Time to share this version of myself with the world. Namaste

Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Woke in my hotel in Las Vegas, and got some coffee. After an hour or so of waking up with coffee and contemplation, I hit my mat. My practice was excellent this morning, with a focus on centering.  What that means is that I envisioned my physical body with a core that was drawing in God and other good things; I used this metaphor of drawing God into my core in a literal and figurative way as I prayed that God is always at the center of my life, guiding all of my decisions. Yesterday's "theme" was put it on the pyre, today's was centering. Centering is hard to do after I get on my mat, and enter the big bad world; the second you begin interacting with other people and situations, you can forget.  Shaping yourself and burning through the bad, while trying to cultivate the good, can make you less reactive to the pushes/pulls of the world. I went through my full modified primary series this morning and ended with one of my favorite p...

Tuesday, October 9, 2018, Some of the imagery that I focus on when I'm on my mat is something like a fire or pyre where I burn things that are unnecessary. Part of living as stress-free and care-free a life as possible, is to offer things up to God by envisioning them on the pyre.  Fear, anxiety, and any unwanted emotions go onto the pyre, but I also try and put my will onto the pyre and burn through my own thoughts and desires.  This means that I'm trying to minimize myself as the center of my life and put God at the heart of everything.  This is extremely difficult to practice, let alone maintain throughout the day after I'm off my mat.  That is today's goal, however.  Physically, I'm feeling good, but still a little bloated from delicious weekend food (#noregrets) and stiffness from yesterday's practice, and the increased running cadence I've had.  Time to heat up and put it all on the fire.

Monday October 8, 2018, Woke at my usual 4:45AM feeling refreshed and ready to go. I've got a 10K race coming up in a few weeks and I've been running at a steady pace to get prepared for it. I'll say that, while running is great endurance and strength training, it builds up tighter muscles in my back and legs.  There's nothing to do for fresh, bound-up muscle than smooth it out on one's mat. Feeling great about my start to the week. Monday October 8, 2018 (Part II) My practice this morning was good, but wasn't deep or focused.  I always feel better after hitting my mat, but my brain wasn't focused this morning at all.  Physically, I felt strong, but very stiff in my back and leg and "bloated" around my middle.  No regrets, however....my weekend food was totally worth it. I'm going to hit my mat again tomorrow morning before flying out of town again. Namaste

Went out of town for work this week and, though I brought my mat, I didn't get the chance to practice.  No worries, however, as I'm still in the yoga mood, and intend to practice this weekend.  Namaste

Monday, October 1, 2018, Woke up at my usual 4:45AM to hit my mat. I didn't post afterwards but I had a wonderful morning talking with family and having I only had time to go through my Sun Salutes and finished up with Savasana before heading out into the world. Brief To the point Useful Namaste

Saturday, September 29, 2018, I took an instructor led class this past Saturday with one of my favorite instructors, Michael Shabsin . Big Bend Yoga Center is in St. Louis, MO, in case you're ever in town and are looking for a great experience. Michael's teaching style is fluid and organic, allowing for any modifications you want/need.  He manages to incorporate the abstract/non-physical styles of yoga into a strong physical practice.  This is a Hatha style class, which I find very familiar in its flow and sequencing of Asanas to the style I practice; Ashtanga.  Feeling great and ready to enjoy my day. Thanks to Big Bend Yoga Center and Michael for being cool! Namaste

Thursday, September 27, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning. Today is Thursday and, for whatever reason, I couldn't get up yesterday in time to practice. NBD, as I had a great practice on Tuesday morning and will have a great practice tomorrow. It's 5:55AM as I type this, and it's time to sweat it out. Thursday, September 27, 2018 (Part II) Spent so much time warming up on my mat, that I didn't have time to update my blog yesterday or this morning, before heading off to work.  I'm eating my lunch as I type this, so this is a perfect opportunity for me to reflect back on this morning's practice. First- I've said it before, but the difference I feel throughout my day whenever I start my mornings on my mat, is nearly immeasurable.  I'm not sensitive, I'm solid, I'm grounded, I'm strong, I'm chill, I'm everything positive and forward moving.  Any fears or anxieties about my day, my work, my self, etc., get burnt up on my...

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM for the first time in a week.  Practiced on my may only once last week, but found other ways to stay active. I'm a little behind schedule, so will begin without posting too much to this blog

Monday, September 17, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning and flung myself out of my bed, shut down my phone alarm, and made a bee-line straight for the kitchen before I could turn back around and crawl into bed (as I did every day of this past week).  I turned down Sunday-Funday opportunities to ensure that I was bright eyed this morning, and ready for my mat.  I haven't practiced since the 5th, so I'm going to be rebuilding mostly from scratch, but I believe that, as I've seen before, my body knows what to do.  In two months, this blog will be two years old.   I think it's time it's shared.  

Wednesday, September 5, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM and hit the alarm for 10 more minutes.  That's usually a death sentence for my morning practice, but I woke again at 4:55AM and got out of bed. Feeling good this morning, but I can tell I have a little bit of soreness in my back from yesterday's backbends, and I have a little bit of "heat" in my face and head.  That heat is indicative of a slight cold, so I'm going to see if I can sweat it out on my mat today and reverse it. Time to sweat it out: Wednesday, September 5, 2018 (Part II) While it sounds hippie- dippie as all get out, I really do visualize certain things while I practice.  It's a kind of  biofeedback , where I envision things (usually a fire) within my body and anything I don't want to have for the day gets put onto the fire and burned.  Fear, anger, anxiety (the dark side are they...lol # starwarz4lyfe ), but seriously though, my morning yoga practice gives me a peaceful opportunit...

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 Woke up at my normal 4:45AM this morning. For whatever reason, I could not get myself up last week.  My alarm would sound at 4:45AM and I would walk across the room, hit the snooze, and then climb right back into bed. I don't feel too much shame at this (though keeping a consistent practice is something that helps all areas of my life), but I am happy that I forced myself up this morning. I pushed myself to run 3 out of 5 days last week.  With no yoga to stretch out my muscles after each run, I'm interested to see what my body will feel  like on my mat this morning.  Beyond that, I enjoyed a wonderful holiday weekend absolutely chock-full of junk food #noregrets. Time to meditate and pray and sweat it out. Tuesday, September 4, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off my mat, having started my day off right. I'll say that this morning's practice was excellent and a great reminder that, even a few days off my mat, will regress my f...

I haven't hit my mat this week as, for some reason, I've been sleeping in until 7:00AM.  That is extremely late for me, and I haven't felt at my best without a yoga practice each morning. Flew back home last Friday from a wonderful experience in Austin Texas where I was able to take an instructor led class.  The instructor was fantastic and pushed me, and the class to our limits with the practice.  I've been running after work and will need to re-incorporate my mat into my physical regime unless I want to loose all malleability in my muscles. Hopefully will practice tomorrow morning and over the weekend. Namaste

Tuesday, August 21, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning. It was difficult to get out of bed for some reason but, when my alarm sounded, I shambled out into the kitchen to get coffee and start my day.   I'm on my mat now getting ready to sweat it out. 

Monday, August 20, 2018 Woke up this morning at my usual 4:45AM. Feeling eager to start my week out on the right foot with prayer, meditation, and yoga. In three months, this blog will be celebrating its two year anniversary! That's something that I'm very proud of. Monday, August 20, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the morning after Monday's practice as I didn't have an opportunity to post yesterday after hitting my mat. Felt a little "off" on my mat, and in general, yesterday.  Not from anything in particular, but from the weekend's junk food and wine.  I will say that, practicing always helps to advance me into a more refined version of myself so, even when I'm feeling a little run down or unbalanced (as I was yesterday), my mat always brings out the best in me. Physically, my backbends are the strongest and deepest they've been in two years.  Urdhva Danurasana (upward bow) is strong, deep, and stable.  This pose is one of my...

Friday, August 17, 2018 Woke slightly later than my usual 4:45AM this morning.  I rolled out of bed at 5:15AM, so I'm hitting my mat slightly later than usual. Time to get to it.

Thursday, August 16, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM feeling wonderful. For whatever reason, my backbends have been deeper and stronger than they've been all year; my arms straighten and I'm able to push upwards and together forming the desired "bow" shape of Urdhva Dhanurasana. I'm going to spend more time in meditation and prayer than I usually do.  I attribute yesterday's deep practice to the additional time I spent in thought before beginning my asanas.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM to get back into my normal routine. I practiced on Monday of this week and felt wonderful throughout my day; dawn to dusk. For whatever reason, I slept in yesterday, and didn't practice.  My day wasn't bad at all, but I was definitely a little less "on fire" about things.  Having excitement about normal and mundane day-to-day tasks is important in my opinion.  You have to stay interested and excited by the faces you see day-to-day, the chores you do day-to-day, and the general maintenance that comes with a normal day. I'm feeling physically strong this morning, though a little sore from Monday's practice, and a little bloated from this weekend's junk food (which crept into the week a little bit). Time to meditate and pray before sweating it out. Wednesday, August 15, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this about mid-way through my day and feeling wonderful from this morning's practice still. ...

Monday, August 13, 2018 This will be the first time I've hit my mat in about two weeks. I'm a little sore, but looking forward to rebuilding any physical strength that might have been lost.

Saturday, July 28, 2018 Woke, slightly later than usual, this morning, and am hitting my mat slightly later than usual. This would be my 3rd practice in Boston, and 2nd practice in my hotel room. Feeling great physically and mentally, and ready to sweat it out.

Friday, July 25, 2018 Woke 15 minutes later than usual this morning, at 5:00AM. I'm in my hotel in Boston still and, so far, yoga has been infused into my trip in wonderful ways. No instructor led class this morning; just me and my mat. " In this system, yoga is the union of the self and the Lord " Kaundinya's Pancarthabhasya on the Pasupatasutra Friday, July 25, 2018 (Part II) I'm on my mat having just come out of Savasana as I type this. Feeling wonderful after a full practice and excited for what the day has in store. Namaste

Thursday, July 26, 2018 Shaping your mind and shaping your body is the intent of this blog. I'm in Boston away from my hometown of St. Louis and working with a large group of clients and coworkers.  A chunk of us went to an instructor led class this morning and, I have to say, I should probably take instructor led classes more often. Every one does poses differently.  Everyone advises differently.  Everyone guides differently and offers different thoughts and analogies to link and yolk; the actual word "yoga" is derived from the root word of yuj  which means to attach, harness, join, or yoke. This morning's instructor led class was great.  Different vinyasas and a different pace of breath (much slower than what I'm used to) but that added to the challenge.  We held certain poses longer than what I'm used to as well and I'm happy for it. In bed now, ready to crash and tackle tomorrow with some more yolking. Namaste

Wednesday, July 25, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning, and can't wait to hit my mat. I fly out to Boston for work today and, like always, I'll have my mat with me. Apparently, there's going to be a collective yoga class when I arrive onsite.  I'm looking forward to that but, most of all, starting each day on my mat to help battle through any stress. Wednesday, July 25, 2018 (Part II) Feeling great after my practice and ready to clean up and head to the airport. Namaste

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning feeling reasonably good and reasonably ready for my practice. I'm on my mat as I type this feeling some eagerness to begin, but not a huge drive.  I'm going to try and amp up that feeling of drive while I practice (usually by pushing myself a little more physically), to see what happens afterwards, and if I feel different. Tuesday, July 24, 2018 (Part II) Like yesterday, I'm writing this on my mat the following morning.  Yesterday's practice was wonderful, and definitely sets the tone for my day. I'm feeling ready to sweat it out on my mat this morning and looking forward to shaping my mind and body. Namaste

Monday, July 23, 2018 After a weekend of fun, friends, and camping/floating on the rivers of Missouri, I'm ready to sweat it out on my mat. All of last week, I maintained a clean diet in anticipation of the poor diet choices I'd be making this past weekend.  The food did not disappoint, and I enjoyed myself immensely.  I woke at my usual 4:45AM to begin the reversal of all that delicious junk-food. Physically, I'm feeling sore and stiff but ready to warm up and sweat it out on my mat. Monday, July 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this post-practice the morning after. I can easily say that, when I start my day with a yoga practice that everything is easier. Stress doesn't seem as stressful.  Insults and jabs aren't taken personally, and problems that seemed convoluted and insurmountable at first become streamlined and easily resolved.  Namaste

Thursday, July 12, 2018 Today will be a simple and easy day.  I'm up at my usual 4:45AM, ready to hit my mat.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018 Woke up at my usual 4:45AM this morning. I don't know what it is about doing things in threes, but I feel that three days back on my mat realigns me back into a standard yoga shape. I have to say that, as I type this, I only have two practices this week under my belt (afterwards, of course, I'll have three), but I already see an enormous change in myself, physically.  The main thing I see after two sequential practices is a "deflating" of my abdomen.  Hitting my mat for a morning yoga practice is the best thing I have ever encountered for assisting in digestion and elimination. I'm going to pray/meditate before warming up and beginning my sequence. Wednesday, July 11, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this second half of the post the morning after, on my mat, getting ready to begin my practice again. I'm so proud of the feeling I get when I get up at 4:45AM to refine myself.  Some practices are better than others (as certain d...

Tuesday, July 10, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. Feeling wonderful this morning, and not terribly sore at all.  There's a bit of stiffness in my back from yesterday's backbends, but that's to be expected. Ready to sweat it out on my mat. Tuesday, July 10, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off my mat, already showered up for my day. I love going to my mat.  The physical challenge alone is reward enough, but, while I've said it many times before, the mental and spiritual adjustments that one can make are priceless.  Physically, I already see a difference in my body.  Arms are still re-building their stamina, but the twists and forward bends I incorporate are already helping with digestion and elimination and the general "deflating" of my body and G.I. track (TMI, I'm sure, but this is one of the main physical reasons why I practice). Mentally, I feel prepared for anything that comes my way today and fe...

Monday, July 9, 2018 It's been two weeks since I've hit my mat. No worries about that break in the practice; I will always return to my mat. In the past two weeks, I just haven't been able to get up at my normal 4:45AM.  Without that, I don't have enough time in the morning to dedicate to my practice. I've kept myself physically active with running and tae kwon do, but the mental shaping of my yoga mat cannot be replaced with anything. I'm looking forward to sweating it out on my mat this morning though I'm expecting to have lost some strength and flexibility.  Whatever is lost is quickly re-gained. Monday, July 9, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this having finished my practice, and showered up for the day. Today's physical practice was excellent.  The Papa John's Sausage and Pepperoni pizza I had for dinner last night was still in the way (#noshame #junkfoodlover) and, when I inverted or attempted forward bends, the softness I've a...

Friday, June 22, 2018, Woke at my usual 4:45AM feeling wonderful. I'm on my mat as I type this, ready to begin my practice. I notice that I hone in on myself for some practices, and then not as much on others.  I don't force myself into anything on my mat (as I believe one of the primary benefits I learn is being ok with how things are on any given day) but, that aside, I do want to challenge myself a little more today and focus myself mentally. The mental challenge as I understand it, is to shut down your mind and your thoughts as you practice.  This is nearly impossible to do for longer than 4 seconds; try it and you'll see!  You'll start thinking about your life, bills, responsibilities, fun activities you have planned...you'll bring yourself back and then focus on not focusing on anything...long story short, your brain and thoughts are running around doing whatever they want and part of the challenge is to control and shape them.  Controlling your body is...

Thursday, June 21, 2018 I'm writing this on my mat, at 6:27AM.  For some reason, I didn't wake up at my usual 4:45AM this morning to practice. I won't have time for a full Primary Series, but I will have time for prayers, meditation, and a warm up. Thursday, June 21, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the next morning, on my mat for another practice. While I wasn't feeling well yesterday morning, and didn't do a complete practice, the meditation, prayers, and warm up were still enough to shape myself into something.  Every day... Hit the mat... No excuses... Namaste

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 I didn't practice yesterday as I woke at my usual 4:45AM and couldn't get up. For whatever reason, I slept for nearly 12 hours on Monday night (passing out on the couch right after dinner and then shambling over to bed to sleep until 6:30AM Tuesday morning.  That's very unusual for me, and I don't know what caused it. I did celebrate a lot over this past weekend, eating and drinking, and I feel like that may have played a role in it all.  My diet's been 75% clean, and 25% not  clean (healthy breakfasts/lunches and then incredibly unhealthy dinners), and I believe that's contributed to the sluggish and bloated feelings I'm having. I am up, as usual, this Wednesday morning at 4:45AM to sweat it out and hit my mat.  I'm looking forward to what's in store. Wednesday, June 20, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the following morning, as I leapt up from my mat yesterday after I practiced to go and get ready for my day. ...

Monday, June 18, 2018 Woke up at my usual 4:45AM feeling good for a Monday morning! I recharged myself on Sunday with a schedule of doing nothing, and allowed myself to lay around and relax.  I had a wonderful weekend of celebrations and partying, so I'm happy to sweat it out on my mat this morning. Physically, I'm feeling a little sore in my back and hips, but that's nothing new; special attention to those areas, and a luxurious warm-up will help move things along.

Thursday, June 14, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM for coffee and contemplation. I'm feeling pretty sore this morning, and a bit groggy for some reason. My mat will rectify all of that.....

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 I'm always amazed at how much a morning practice can change the course of a day by keeping you resilient, focused, and honed. I can't tell you how many times the day's mojo just wears off (usually after lunch), and how your outlook can change when this happens.  I notice that, with a morning practice under my belt, this is minimized greatly and the mojo flows from morning to night. I'm feeling great this morning, after waking at my usual 4:45AM, and I have to say that the additional 15 minutes of time I give myself really makes a difference (I used to wake at 5:00AM). Physically, I'm feeling well.  I feel strong and solid, but a bit sore from yesterday's practice, and last night's Tae Kwon Do class.  Additionally, I'm still working on eliminating the wonderful array of junk food I enjoyed over this past weekend so I'm paying close attention to forward and back bends to help speed that along. Time to sweat it out....

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 New week, new yoga practice. The last time I hit my mat was last Friday, 3 days ago.  I'm interested to see where I'm at physically as I had a fun weekend spent outdoors hiking around outside.  I'm feeling slightly sore from the weekend of fun, but eager to break through that soreness on my mat. Tuesday, June 12, 2018  (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having come out of Savasana about 10 minutes ago. I'm feeling wonderful, as always, after I practice.  I focused on honing my thoughts and emotions this morning (something that gets easier the more you practice it).  While it sounds totally  hippy-dippy, you can  gain a kind of control over your thoughts and attitudes, and help shape yourself with the practice of yoga. Physically, I felt fine this morning.  Not perfect or completely satisfied with my Asanas, but definitely happy that I'm keeping with my standard routine.  My arms were strong and stable (for ...

Friday, June 8, 2018 Woke feeling a little strange this morning as I had some funky dreams and my stomach's behaving a bit strange. Regardless of how I feel, I'm on my mat, and will be sweating it out shortly. Friday, June 8, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having come out of Savasana about 30 minutes ago. Why do I keep coming back to my mat? Why do I wake at 4:45AM when I'd rather sleep half the time? Why do I practice yoga? The answer is because it shapes me.  The title of this blog is "shape your mind, shape your body", and my yoga practice does just that.  It gives me an opportunity to focus on my thoughts and emotions, judge and measure them, and then shape them into something that is useful and positive for me. I'm going to have a wonderful day today, and I'm looking forward to taking this version of myself out into the world to share. Namaste

Thursday, June 7, 2018 After taking that hiatus from my mat, I always feel wonderful when I come back and reform my routine. I do feel guilty when I don't practice with diligence, but I don't beat myself up over breaks from my practice (even though self control and diligence with a practice is always best). Physically, I'm feeling a little  bit sore this morning, but nothing like I was on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Looking forward to sweating it out! Thursday, June 7, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the morning after my practice as I felt so good yesterday after closing out my sequence that I hopped up from my mat and played around for 20 minutes before getting in the shower. Can I get a "Namaste" to that! lol

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 Woke again at my usual 4:45AM and finally feel  like I'm getting back into my yoga groove. When I'm fully in my groove, the alarm goes off at 4:45AM and I have no problems hopping up out of bed to start my day.  When I'm not  in my groove, the alarm goes off on the other side of the room, and I stand there, after turning it off, doing a 50/50 split in my head about crawling back into bed for "5 more minutes". We all  know that "5 more minutes" becomes an hour almost immediately. Delighted this morning to be on my mat and eager to see what's in store as I begin my practice. Physically, I'm feeling a little stiff from running and Tae Kwon Do, but I know that the remedy for that is burning through myself physically to heat things up and loosen any stuck areas. Wednesday, June 6, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this part two post the morning after  I practiced. I felt wonderful yesterday after hitting my mat and a...

Tuesday, June 5, 2018 Woke up at my usual yoga hour of 4:45AM. I'm feeling ok.  I don't feel great, but I don't feel bad.  I feel unmotivated and bored with certain parts of my life.  I feel like I'm going through the motions on certain things; I'll see how long this feeling persists but I'm thinking it'll go away after my practice. I'm going to focus on my physical practice this morning and see if I can light the fires by burning through things physically. Tuesday, June 5, 2018 (Part II) What a difference your mat makes. I was not happy this morning.  I don't know if it's a combination of waking up early, not getting enough sleep, or being disappointed in my practice yesterday, but I turned it all around on my mat. I became emotional on my mat afterwards for some reason and began thinking about all of the good things I have in my life.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow's practice. Namaste

Monday, June 4, 2018 While I've been away from my mat for a few weeks, I'm re-setting my routine and woke up at my usual 4:45AM this morning to warm up and shape myself into something. I can say that, as I feel now, I feel a little stiff and sore and not quite fully awake yet.  The hour of coffee and contemplation was nice, but wasn't really enough to shake the night's sleep off of me. Instead of blogging about it, I'm going to start warming up. Monday, June 4, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I will never regret going to my mat (and neither will you), but my practice was not brilliant this morning.  I'm not being self-deprecating, rather, I'm just being honest about the general vibe of this morning's session. I wasn't ever fully awake for it all.  Having woken at my standard 4:45AM for the first time in two weeks has made me a little loopy feeling; it was extremely  tempting to simply crawl...

Monday, May 14, 2018 Today is my birthday.  I am 33 years old.  I'm in Las Vegas for work and, like always, I've got my yoga mat with me.  I've got my hotel room's heat cranked, and a coffee next to me while I wake and enjoy the early morning to myself.  Last time I practiced was Thursday of last week.  I'm looking forward to waking up the sleeping energy that I built last week. Monday, May 14, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat having just come out of Savasana. Sleeping energy indeed. My practice was focused, strong, and controlled this morning.  Backbends were the deepest I've had in a long while.  Arms are almost 100% straightened with shoulders hovering over my palms; pretty soon, I should be able to walk over. Time to shower and start my exciting day of work! Namaste

Thursday, May 10, 2018 I was still feeling a little behind on my sleep yesterday, even after my practice and my day of work. I truly believe that good sleep is better then any medication when you're feeling run down. Because of that, I crawled into bed at 7:00PM last night, flipped on cooking shows on Netflix, and was out by 7:30PM. I'm feeling rested and balanced this morning, even before hitting my mat.  I'm looking forward to my practice. The only physical block I'm feeling at the moment is my right hip.  I'm nearly 33 years old, and I've noticed that, when I sit at my desk all day (as many of us do), my lower back and hip start to feel "funky" after a while.  Forward bending is my remedy for this.  Forward bends have never been my strong suit, but I'm going to focus on them in this morning's practice. Thursday, May 10, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this Part II post at the end of the day. For some reason my energy was great t...

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 I don't know why I was such a zombie yesterday but I'm definitely glad that I hit my mat in the morning. I think my grogginess was leftover fatigue from the weekend when my internal clock gets re-wired from Friday-Sunday.  Trying to wake up on Monday makes for a difficult transition sometimes. Yesterdays practice was still strong, despite the grogginess. Looking forward to prayers and meditation before beginning my practice. Wednesday, May 9, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having come out of Savasana about 10 minutes ago.  My "Part II" posts are always probably a bit more gooey than my Part I post, as my endorphins are running from the practice. This morning's practice wasn't too dissimilar from yesterday as I fell a little grogged out still and a little depleted.  The Asanas were strong and intentional, and I'm pleased with my efforts, as always. Time to shower up and enter the day. Namaste

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 For the first time this week, I woke at my usual 4:45AM.  I could not get out of bed yesterday for the life of me.  Didn't get up until an appallingly late 6:45AM; way to late to hit the mat. Looking forward to what my mat will do for me this morning. Tuesday, May 8, 2018 (Part II) Body and brain weren't too cooperative this morning, but that's happened to me before, and I just keep moving. My brain was all over the place, while my body was literally trying to shut my eyes while I prayed and meditated; I'm still a little sleep deprived from the weekend. Feeling accomplished and happy that I practiced, and ready to go out into the world. Namaste

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. For whatever reason, when my alarm went off yesterday morning I couldn't do it.  My brain refused to ignite and, whatever was needed to shamble across the room, snooze my alarm, and shamble back to bed, was all that clicked on mentally. Today is going to be such a good day. Wednesday, May 2, 2018 (Part II) I write this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I titled today's post after  I practiced, as I'm starting to clearly see physical changes. Mostly, these changes occur in my back, arms, and legs.  Not all of the changes are related to flexibility; many of the changes my practice is bringing me are strength related.  The purpose of yoga isn't to "get ripped" or look a certain way, but I love how my practice makes me look and feel.  The strength in my back is currently the most noticeable change.  My backbends are deeper every morning, and my body ...

Monday, April 30, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM to have coffee and contemplation, and to start my work week off right. I've come to re-realize that being with myself on my mat is the best way to start my day.  It conditions me, helps me examine myself, and prepares me for the day that lies ahead. It's 5:58AM as I type this, so I'm a little behind schedule, and will begin my warm up now.... Monday, April 30, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat having been out of Savasana for about 10 minutes. I should never start my day without the benefit of my yoga practice.  Not only does it help me sift through my emotions and discard what I don't want, it leaves me with a sense of pride and accomplishment in the morning. Time to clean up and enter the world. Namaste

Friday, April 27, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM for coffee and contemplation. After yesterday's practice, I cleaned up and strolled out the door ready to tackle my day.  I had not gotten fully down the stairs to my car when I inhaled some sort of insect.  Smaller than a fly, but bigger than a gnat. Reflexes kicked in a coughing fit, the likes of which you've never seen, ensued. After a few minutes, I seemed to be ok again; I'd either coughed up this intruder or it sent into my lungs to be absorbed.  Disgusting as this is, the point of my story is that my lungs haven't felt quite right since yesterday.  They still don't today. On that note, I am feeling physically drained and tired.  I skipped Tae Kwon Do last night and had dinner with my Mom, so there's no reason for the fatigue, but, none the less, I am tired. I am also  behind schedule (it's 6:10AM as I type this) so I'm going to stop blogging and begin. Friday, April 27, 2018 (Part II) I...

Thursday, April 26, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning and had my hour of coffee and contemplation. I'm feeling good mentally.  No manic thoughts of anxiety running around, so I'll definitely work on myself mentally today to quiet my mind even further to give the best clarity possible throughout the day. I don't suffer from anxiety (not in the medical sense), but, on a daily basis, when I examine myself for "demons", my "demons" tend to take the shape of worries.  Worries about any area of my life.  Most worries, as usual, are in my head, and any anxiety that lives there will eat up energy.  I've had a propensity to worry about things most of my adult life (as many people do), and I don't take my worries for anything more than the standard level/intensity of "worry" that all people feel. Still, I consider worry/confusion/anxiety to be "demons" that need to be controlled, corralled, and burned up. Physically, I...

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Woke at my normal 4:45 AM and began my morning routine. Mentally, I'm feeling ok.  I don't feel good or bad, but I feel anxiety and stress running around in my body and in my mind.  I'm going to try and burn them up on my mat this morning. Tuesday, April 24, 2018 (Part II) Feeling good after my practice (as always).  The anxiety and worry that I feel is still there, but I view the things that are causing this anxiety with a little more clarity and a little more peace of mind. Time to take this cultivated version of myself out into the day to share. Namaste

Friday, April 20, 2018 Woke up later than usual this morning. I set my alarm for 5:30AM instead of my usual 4:45AM. I get to work from Home on Fridays so don’t have to get up quite as early to fit in my yoga routine. And speaking of routine..... I may mix it up this morning and go through my warm-up/Sun Salutes, and then do completely different asanas/poses. Let’s see what feels best. Time to sweat it out...... Friday, April 20, 2018 (Part II) Waking later in the morning wasn't the best plan of action as ran out of time for a full practice.  I hit my mat at 6:30AM for prayers and meditation and warm-up.  At that time I really only about 20/25 minutes to play with before I needed to get into the shower.  I went through my Sun Salutes and Padahastasana and Padangutasna and then Savasana. I feel wonderful, even with an abbreviated practice, and I'm delighted with my diligence this week.  It definitely helps with self-esteem. Namaste

Thursday, April 19, 2018 Woke up at my usual 4:45AM for coffee and contemplation #strangerthings. I’m feeling well this morning and have motivation to better myself on my mat. Physically, I’m not too sore, even though I’ve been asking a lot from my body lately.  I’m looking forward to turning inward and seeing what I uncover. Thursday, April 19, 2018 (Part II) I should never go out into the day without having practiced first; it banishes all sorts of negative thoughts from your mind/body/soul.  Went through my full modified primary series and ended with the strongest backbends so far this week.  My arms are having a hard time straightening out, even when I move into the third, final, and deepest backbend.  I'm tempted to push it further, but I've messed up my shoulders before moving too deep too soon.  I'll play around with these poses next week and see how I feel. Namaste

Wednesday April 18, 2018 Woke at my new usual 4:45AM (instead of 5:00AM) this morning feeling very sore and with almost no motivation to hit my mat. When I got out of bed to go across the room and turn my alarm off, I literally stood there, in the darkness, for awhile holding my phone and being pulled in two directions; go the kitchen to get coffee or snuggle up back into bed and forget that I intended to practice this morning. I'm laughing at the moment now but, at the time, it seemed very serious. I've been up for a little over an hour now, milling around, and waking myself up. Physically, I'm sore, as I mentioned, but otherwise strong.  Mentally, I don't feel like I have a care in the world; I'll still turn inwardly this morning to have 1:1 time with myself on my mat. Time to sweat it out...... Wednesday April 18, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this post-shower and read to take this version of myself out into the world to share. Namaste

Tuesday, April 16, 2018 Happy new yoga week to me. I'm on my mat without much enthusiasm, I have to confess, but that's not too uncommon. Duty and diligence help banish any depressing thoughts as they help boost your self-esteem.  I always  feel better after 1:1 time with myself on my mat. Physically, I'm feeling strong.  The foundation that I laid last week is still with me and I'm going to build off of that today. Mentally, I'm feeling fair enough; I believe that's where my biggest and most complex battles lie.  I'm feeling slightly unmotivated and anxious.  I need to turn that into motivation and tenacity on my mat today.  I intend to have a strong physical practice this morning to burn through negative emotions like anxiety and worry.  Time to sweat it out! Tuesday, April 16, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this at the end of my day.  My practice happened 15 hours ago but I'm amazed at what a different course this can set up me on throu...

Friday, April 13, 2018 For whatever reason, my phone's alarm did not sound yesterday morning.  When I woke naturally at 6:00AM, I laid in bed, thinking about the time, and then realizing it was too light outside for it to be before 4:45AM (the time my alarm was supposed  to go off). After getting myself up and looking at my phone in my robe pocket, I saw that it had died in the night.  My iphone7 was at, at least, 20% power when I put it into my robe and went to bed Wednesday night, so I don't know how it could have died in the night. I woke Thursday morning with a mild return of the headcold I've had for the past week or so.  Pair that with the running I've been doing and I'll say that my body was grateful for the additional rest (and could probably have used more). This  morning, however, I did  wake at my usual 4:45AM for an hour of coffee and contemplation before getting on my mat at 5:45AM.  I'm sore from Thursday's Tae Kwon Do, but that's ...

Wednesday, April 11, 2018 Woke up this morning at 4:45 AM for an hour of coffee and contemplation. Now that it's 5:49 AM, I'm on my mat about to begin my warm-ups and prayer/meditation routine. I am incredibly  sore this morning.  A combination of my Monday night run, and a strenuous, but awesome, Tae Kwon Do class last night, has left me feeling tender in random spots (left ankle/shin, back, shoulders, etc.) all over my body. I've been here before, however, and I'll be moving delicately through my practice this morning, very mindful of how my body is responding. time to sweat it out.... Wednesday, April 11, 2018 (Part II) Went through my full modified primary series again this morning and am feeling great about that. Back stiffness sets in about mid-day after I do strenuous Urdhva Dhanurasna but, little by little, the shape of your spine starts to change and your posture improves. Looking forward to practicing again tomorrow morning. Namaste

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 Have I really been keeping this blog going for 1.5 years? I started it in November of 2016 and have been faithfully posting content (almost faithfully, lulz) since then. That makes me proud! I woke earlier than I normally do at 4:45 AM.  While it sounds silly, that extra 15 minutes makes a difference for my mornings.  I just  start to become bored with my coffee/book/brain/phone around 5:45 AM and, happily or not, I hit my mat. It is 5:42 AM as I type this and I am sitting on my mat ready for a nice warm up and prayer/meditation session before beginning. I ran yesterday evening (for the first time in what seems like months) and, while it was only a 3 mile run, I know that the downside of running is the tightening of leg/back muscles.  Runners of the world, take note; you must  incorporate daily stretching into your lives.  There was a period of time a few years ago when I was more focused on running than on yoga.  Whe...

Monday, April 9, 2018 Haven't practiced in a while but I got up at my usual 5:00AM ready and happy to hit my mat. For the past week, I've been dealing with a head cold.  Nothing too severe, but enough to bother me and encourage me to take Dayquil/Nyquil. I'm interested to see what the practice and the heat does to the congestion; I am expecting it to be broken through at least a little bit. Additionally, since it's Monday, my weekend diet of junk is still with me; I know  that my practice will help get my digestion back on track.  Time to prep myself before beginning.... Monday, April 9, 2018 (Part II) I lolli-gagged for a while before actually starting my Asana. Nevertheless, I began, as I always do, after prayers/meditations, with my Sun Salutes A and B.  I never loose too much muscle or strength but flexibility can quickly go if it gets neglected. I ran through my opening sequence and finished with Padahastasana and Padangusthasama.  I'm feeli...

Friday, March 23, 2018 Woke later than my usual time this morning.  5:45AM is when I woke from my sleep to have coffee and contemplation. What does yoga do for me?  Another way of asking is, " do I act, behave, interpret, etc., my world differently on the days that I've started my morning on my mat?" The answer can be yes and no. I believe that starting your day with physical exercise if almost always a good thing.  It wakes your heart and lungs up and starts your day off on an energetic foot. I also believe that starting my mornings on my mat allows me to turn inwardly and sort through any problems, fears, or anxieties that live inside.  When you feel these things running around, you can gain control of them with your mind and turn them off; you burn them out later with the heat built in your practice. I'm going to focus on the mental aspect of myself this morning while I move and see if I feel any different afterwards. Friday, March 23, 2018 (Part II) ...

Thursday, March 22, 2018 Woke at 4:45AM to have coffee and contemplation, and hit my mat. Physically, when I travel, I don't usually feel run down, but I will say that, if I don't watch my diet, I won't feel good.  I'm not referring to eating ever-present junk/snack food, but more about eating sensibly and balanced (one tends to inhale one's meals when there's limited time to eat). I have a lot to celebrate, so I'm going to shape my thinking into something positive and grateful this morning while I move through my Asanas. Thursday, March 22, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I'm feeling wonderful.  Recharged, refreshed, and wonderful. Life is filled with complications and difficulty; yoga has helped me face those challenges and difficulties with more patience and grace than I would normally have. My physical practice was excellent this morning and I'm very pleased with myself. Time to tak...

Monday, March 19, 2018 Woke up in my hotel room at my usual 5:00AM. Lucky me who gets complimentary starbucks coffee in my room!!! I'm excited about the work day I have ahead of me, but I will be hitting my mat shortly to prep myself for the day. Yesterday was the first morning I'd finished a complete practice in a few weeks.  I went into my backbends at the end of practice with apprehension but moved through them easily and was able to deepen them without any problems. I feel mild soreness/stiffness in my back today because of it. I'm going to meditate and pray before starting my physical practice. Monday, March 19, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off of my mat having just come out of Savasana. I'm feeling great after another full practice this morning.  Backbends, again, were easy and strong so it's making me wonder why. lol  I feel complete and whole and totally balanced.  Time to take this version of myself out into the day to share. Nama...

Sunday, March 18, 2018 Woke up at my usual 5:00AM this Sunday morning and will be hitting my mat before flying off to Dallas for a week of work. I haven't practiced in weeks, I'm afraid.  I'm not angry or upset, but I eager to see what this morning's practice brings. I'm expecting the following: decreased flexibility in my back, hips, and legs decreased muscle strength in my arms and shoulders a feeling of accomplishment and joy afterwards Let's see what happens...... :) Sunday, March 18, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I feel so wonderful and I'm kicking myself for having neglected my practice the way I have.  I feel whole, complete, steady, re-assured, proud, stable, and balanced. I did  have some decreased flexibility in my legs and back and I did  have some "shakey" muscles when I'd hold a pose or move through Chataranga a little slower than normal to challenge myself; I d...

Saturday, March 3, 2018 Went to an instructor led class at Big Bend Yoga Center in St. Louis. I took my two, wonderful Aunts, both of whom have never practiced yoga before; we were led through our class by the wonderful Michael Shabsin . Michael's classes are some of the best instructor led courses I've ever had.  We moved through standard Vinyasas as well as a series of backbends, balance poses, twists, inversions, etc.  When the class was over, we felt wonderful; connected, warm, centered, and wonderful.  I'm going to be practicing again tomorrow morning to re-capture that centered and wonderful feeling. Namaste

Thursday, February 22, 2018 Woke at my usual 5:00 AM this morning and started moving. I got side-tracked by a disorderly kitchen and started cleaning.  I have a tendency to go to bed saying, "it can wait.....".  I believe that's good, at times, because, if my body is saying lay down, I listen to it. After tidying the kitchen, it was nearly 6:00AM and I was ready to hit my mat. It's 6:08AM at the time of writing this so I'm a little behind schedule.  I'll go through my Vinyasa series and take Savasana.  I'll meditate and pray for 5 minutes first, naturally. Thursday, February 22, 2018 (Part II) Great Practice. Namaste

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 I woke at my usual 5:00AM and am on my mat enjoying my coffee. I'm a lucky person as I have a lot to be thankful for.  I'm going to focus on that today as I move and practice. Tuesday, February 20, 2018 (Part II) I'm on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. We've had an unusually warm past few days (50-70 degrees during the day for the high), and I've opened up windows to sleep better. This means that the air is warmer and more humid; perfect for sweating it out. I hit the mat groggily and sort of unfocused and unlit this morning.  I plodded through my Vinyasa A and Vinyasa B and began feeling better about things by the end of my 4 Vinyasa A's (that's typically how it goes). I'm going to shower up and take this version of myself out into the world. Namaste

Thursday, February 15, 2018 Woke at the usual 5:00AM. No desire to do yoga but that's nothing out of the ordinary. lol. Thursday, February 15, 2018 (Part II) My practice  was simple and abbreviated this morning.  I had minimal Asanas (physical poses) and I focused more on meditation and pratyahara (breath control). I'm going to keep myself light today as I go out into the world. Tomorrow's Friday!! Namaste

Wednesday, February 14, 2018 Happy Valentines day and Ash Wednesday. Now...down to business. I don't know what has caused it, but I'm incredibly sore and stiff this morning.  I'll extend my warm up to ensure I break through it in my practice. Wednesday, February 14, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I need to factor in more time to update this blog after each practice. I'm feeling great.  My practice was strong and focused.  I'm feeling a little bit of digestive issues but that's what backbends and spine twists are for....AMIRITE?!?! lulz Feeling great about the version of myself that I've shaped to bring out into the world. Namaste

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 I ran for the first time in a long while last night.  While this blog isn't about running, and the run I completed was a little baby 3 mile trot around the park, muscles that haven't been engaged for a while were brought back to life. I don't feel too stiff or sore but I feel tenderness in the small, balancing muscles around m lower calves/ankles.  I'll add a bit more pre-stretching to today's routine. Woke at 5:00AM Feeling good otherwise and ready to meditate/pray before beginning my practice. Tuesday, February 13, 2018 (Part II) I'm on my mat having just come out of Savasana. Start to finish, my practice takes about 50 minutes.  While I'm  moving, my brain can be focused or go all over the place.  Today, I had fairly good control while I moved.  Physically, I felt great.  Stiff, but strong in some of the forgotten running muscles. I'm going to shower and take this version of myself out into the day.  I...

Monday, February 12, 2018 I'm going to work on having more patience, kindness, and understanding towards people I encounter.  I've neglected these traits for awhile now and I don't believe they're I had a wonderful weekend, spent with my perfect boyfriend, where we recharged and relaxed while enjoying each others company.  While it's painful to think we're both going back out into the big bad world, I'm going to muster as much courage, and patience and understanding as I can, and keep that with me throughout the day today. Physically, I've maintained some of the cleanest eating habits I've ever had for over a months now.  Nearly nothing but vegetables/fruit/animal protein (no sugar, no starch/bread/potatoes).  I gave in this weekend and ate a bunch of junk.  While it tastes great, I have to remark at how exhausted I felt almost immediately afterwards.  Exhausted is an understatement actually; I was nearly comatose and had to relax on the couch. ...

Friday, February 9, 2018 It's Friday and I've been looking forward to the weekend When the world pulls from you and chips away at you, it can start to effect you without realizing it.  My pride, and self-worth, can be directly connected to how well I'm doing personally, professionally; how well I'm doing with eating properly, and holding to my routines of yoga, Tae Kwon Do, and running.  I do feel torn and confused at times; am I being to full of pride or am I too full of fear and anxiety.  Probably all 3.  The opposites of pride, fear, and anxiety are humility, assurance, and peace.  I smiled just thinking about those 3 old friends.  I can call on them whenever I need them and I'm going to focus on humility, assurance, peace in today's practice and when I bring myself out into the world. Time to hit my mat.....

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 Woke up at 5:00 AM again with little to no interest in hitting my mat. I'm sitting here now, on my mat, and ready to practice. I'm still committed to my practice, and I want to ensure that, despite how I feel, I'm on my mat. Time to pray and meditate and then sweat it out. Wednesday, February 7, 2018 (Part II) On my my having just come out of Savasana. Feeling great.  Ready to tackle the day. The strength in my arms has diminished a little bit, but that's quickly regrowing. Namaste

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 I wrote the title of today's post as a tongue in cheek look at how I was feeling this morning. I keep my phone/alarm across the room, in the pocket of my robe.  I'm forced to physically get up and cross the room to shut it down.  This almost always moves me far enough away from the comfort of my bed to toss on the robe and shamble into the kitchen to get my coffee. I wake at 5:00AM.  I allow myself an hour of coffee and contemplation, and then an hour to practice.  This puts me at the end of my practice around 7:00AM (though depending on when I start, can be earlier or later). I would rather have slept in today, as I did yesterday.  I'm on my mat, however, getting ready to practice.  I will always feel better and more accomplished after I practice. Tuesday, February 6, 2018 (Part II) Always happy to have hit m mat, even when I don't want to. Out the door to face the world. Namaste

Sunday, January 28, 2018 I'm writing this from my hotel room in San Jose. I practiced on Monday and Tuesday of this past week.  I'm proud of that, but I want to increase the cadence and frequency of my practice. I'm going to shower and hit my mat for meditation and prayer before beginning my Asans . Sunday, January 28, 2018 (Part II) I love practicing in new locations.  I don't know why, but I'm guessing that it has something to do with the universal nature of yoga and your mat.  It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you have your mat, you can practice. Reverse Warrior pose This mornings practice was wonderful. As I moved through my series, I noticed how quickly my muscles went from stiff, heavy blocks of lead to fluid, heated, flexible things. I move through 4 Sun Salute A and 2 Sun Salute B I modify my Sun Salute B to include a few other variations of poses in it to make it a bit more challenging on my arms; Reverse Warrior pose, sho...

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Re-building a routine is hard. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning and did not want to get out of my bed. I'm on my mat as I write this, however, and will be beginning my practice shortly.  I've found that, like most habit changes, the 3rd day "hump" is usually the most difficult; get past that, and you're golden. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. As always when we push ourselves through something we don't want to do, it feels good when it's done and over with.  I'm feeling wonderful, connected, and ready to address the challenges the day might throw at me. Namaste

Monday, January 22, 2018 This is my first post of 2018, but not the first time I've hit my mat. While not the first time practicing, I haven't been diligent with my practice lately and I do feel bad about that. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning.  I'm enjoying my coffee and contemplation #strangerthings, and I'm going to begin my practice in about 30 minutes after I have my prayer and meditation. Monday, January 22, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I love the title of today's post; "Re-Building".  We have to do that so many times in our lives.  It's work and can seem daunting and complicated.  How does anything get done?  One-foot-in-front-of-the-other.  Never despair (though we all do and we all will).  When I despair, I turn my thinking around by focusing on that concept of one foot in front of the other; that is the only way to rebuild something. My physical practice was excellent this ...