James Walsh Yoga

Thursday, March 28, 2019, Still enjoying a wonderful week of vacation. My internal alarm is getting me up at 5:00AM, so I plod out into the kitchen for coffee. It's 8:23AM as I type this post, and I'm feeling well, but I can tell that my brain is flying around.  I'm going to focus on mental control in today's practice. Thursday, March 28, 2019 (Part II) I focused my mind and breath with greater intent today and I believe it paid off. It is extremely tricky to control your mind.  Try to "not think" about anything for any length of time, and your mind starts to stir, almost within seconds.  You'll start thinking about work, friends, to-do lists, that embarrassing thing you did in the 7th grade; you'll start thinking about "not thinking" and if you're doing enough "not thinking" to really be "not thinking". I joke with what I'm writing above, but your brain really does flit around like that almost all of t...

Monday, March 25, 2019 I'm writing this first post at 10:31AM.  I'll be enjoying some lovely vacation days this week and will be allowing myself more time to relax and chill in the mornings before hitting my mat.  I ran around, all caffeinated, and did some deep cleaning around my home that I'd been putting off. I'll be running either the Half-Marathon or 10K (6.2 miles) in a few weeks, and I've been diligent with my running routine.  I'll be paying special attention to my warm up this morning to ensure that I un-kink my feet and legs gradually and intentionally. Time to sweat it out. Monday, March 25, 2019 (Part II) I re-titled this post after my practice because this morning was a strong, and focused physical practice.  I feel proud and amazed at what I accomplished.  I'm thankful that my body can cooperate as it did today. Sun Salutes A and B were controlled, stable, and strong.  I continued to extend and add-on poses to Sun Salute B to make ...

Friday, March 22, 2019, I'm writing this on a Friday morning at 10:00AM. I'm enjoying some vacation time today, and every day next week. I'm going to begin my meditation and go through a light practice. Friday, March 22, 2019 (Part II) I went through my meditation and prayer series, but I feel like I have so many thoughts buzzing through my mind, that I can't focus myself properly, another side of me doesn't even want to focus my thoughts, as I'm buzzing with good, high-spirited energy.  I went through my Sun Salutes after prayers and meditation and they were simple, clean and strong.  I added some additional postures to my, already modified, Sun Salute B (I normally do four Sun Salute A's and 2 Sun Salute B's).  Sun Salute/Surya Namaskara can be viewed here .   I am nowhere near as beautiful in my movement as the practitioner in this video, but this gives a visual representation of what I do each morning on my mat.  I follow these Sun Salute...

Thursday, March 21, 2019 As the title states, my last practice was one week ago today.  My goodness! I don't know why, but, when my alarms been going off at 4:30AM, I've been saying, " nope", and hitting the snooze button.  I've literally been sleeping in until 6:45AM or beyond each morning.  I think we all know that's the kiss of death for morning productivity; " just 5 more minutes...".  lol I've been running and jogging with great enthusiasm in the past week+, so I know I'll find all sorts of stiffness within myself, as I begin my practice.  I'm happy to be on my mat again, however, as yoga is the "yin" to the running "yang". Thursday, March 21, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this post-practice update a few hours after coming out of Savasana. Today's practice was wonderful but, as I assumed, I was full of kinks and tenderness that hasn't been there for awhile.  As mentioned, this is all because of ...

Thursday, March 14, 2019, Woke at my usual 4:30AM for 1+ hours of coffee and contemplation. Feeling good, ready to begin.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 As the title states, I've been pouty-polly for the past few days. I can say that, at times, I put far too much emphasis on why I'm feeling a certain way.  I believe that this practice of self-reflection is almost always good but, at times, it can lead you into an overly-analytic, paralyzing, direction-less whirlpool. Why do I feel good/bad/tired/energetic/anxious/peaceful on any given day?.....who cares....it doesn't matter. I've said it before on this blog; I believe that in 2019, we put far too much emphasis on feelings.  Feelings are good, your emotions have a place, but just because you woke up feeling blue doesn't mean that there's a deeper reason for the sadness that needs to be explored and teased apart. Case in point, I believe the blues I've been having for a few days now are due to the zero sugar/zero starch diet restrictions I've imposed on myself.  In fact, I'm almost 100% certain of it.  I've been t...

Tuesday, March 12, 2019, In addition to yoga, I also run. I typically do the GO! St. Louis Half Marathon each April.  I did a training run yesterday and, while it feels great while I'm doing it, the next morning after a long run can bring soreness and tightness to obscure areas of your body. Yoga pairs perfectly with running for this reason, and I intend to enjoy this morning's practice. Tuesday, March 12, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this post-practice update about 2 hours after I came out of Savasana. I will never regret a yoga practice, but this morning's practice was a little uninspired and groggy.  That's a metaphor for my mentality lately; uninspired and groggy. For whatever reason, my spirits have been off for awhile.  I've been overly sensitive, melancholy, and out of sorts.  I know these periods don't last forever, but this seems to have been lingering on for too long (I feel like two months have passed with my spirits being off). That...

Monday, March 11, 2019 I'm out of sorts again and I don't know why. It's not severe or extreme, but I'm slightly bored with life and all components of it for some reason. I'm going to practice some pranayama this morning while I medictate and see if I can turn inwardly to find the cause of this.  Am I silly for wanting to get rid of this and should I simply let it be and be still. Monday, March 11, 2019 (Part II), Even though I'm waking up at 4:30AM and hitting my mat at 5:30AM(ish), I'm still running out of time after my practice for a decent post. I'm writing this the following morning on my mat.  I'm always pleased I started my day with yoga. Namaste

Saturday, March 9, 2019 I'm writing this two mornings after I took an instructor led class.  Normally, my practice is a personal and private thing that I manage and grow by myself but, every few months, and instructor led class is exactly what's needed to shake up the practice a bit.  Think of it as being in a food/cooking rut and then going to a great restaurant for inspiration. In the 2+ years I've maintained this blog, I've taken my instructor led classes at a place called Big Bend Yoga Center.   While at BBYC, I always try to take the class of Michael Shabsin .  There's nothing to be said about his class other than it's wonderful.  It's practical but never boring or simple.  It's though-provoking but never overly crunchy.  If you're ever in the St. Louis area, I recommend his class! Namaste

Thursday, March 7, 2019 While I woke at my usual 4:30AM, I'm short on time this morning, and will do an abbreviated practice. Thursday, March 7, 2019 (Part II) Great practice.  No time to post more. Namaste

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Instead of a physical practice yesterday, I spent the morning relaxing and reflecting on my couch.  It seemed right, and I didn't fight it. This morning, however, I woke at my usual 4:30AM and I'm on my mat at 5:30AM to begin my practice. Physically, I am feeling well.  I feel as though I'm strong and capable.  I expect this morning's practice to reflect that. Mentally, I'm feeling well, but have a little bit of turmoil running around in my head. Since your spirit is the master of your mental and physical state, I'll say that I have a bit of turmoil running around in my heart as well.  Nothing serious, but I use my mat, and my practice as a reflective way to look inwardly and self-examine. Enough gibberish.......time to warm up. Wednesday, March 6, 2019 (Part II) I'm actually writing this the following morning.  I'm on my mat this morning ready for Thursday's practice, and realized I neglected to post after ye...

Monday, March 4, 2019 Woke at my usual 4:30AM to start off my week right. I'm on my mat, but I'm a bit behind schedule and will begin right away.  No time for an extensive pre-post! Monday, March 4, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this having just come out of Savasana. I've said it many times in the 2+ years I've maintained this blog, but one never regrets going to the mat. I woke up this morning, groggy, unmotivated, in disbelief at the speed my Saturday an Sunday dissolved away, and went to my mat with an open heart/mind, but a surly attitude. I'm feeling transformed by my practice, which is nothing new, and feeling eager to go out into the world and solve it all. Namaste