James Walsh Yoga

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