James Walsh Yoga

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...