James Walsh Yoga

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Last day of April 2019. I woke at my usual 4:30AM this morning and had my hour of coffee and contemplation. Physically, I'm feeling good.  Slightly sore and stiff, but feeling overall well. Mentally, I'm feeling fairly well controlled, but I can sense my brain flitting from one thought to the next.  I'm going to focus on controlling my thoughts this morning, and add an extra "omph" to my physical practice to help sweat out any over-active tendencies. Spiritually, I'm feeling well.  I'm secure, solid, and whole.  Time to sweat it out. 

Thursday, April 25, 2019, Woke at my usual 4:30AM time to realize I'd neglected to fill the coffee maker last night.  Had to make coffee groggily this morning at 4:30AM and couldn't have my first cup until 4:45AM. #firstworldproblems I'm on my mat at 6:00AM, behind schedule, so I'm going to keep this pre-practice-post quick. Time to sweat it out. 

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Woke, and stayed woke, at the usual time of 4:30AM for the first time this week. I don't know why, but I've woke at 4:30AM on Monday morning, had my usual coffee, and felt almost zero effects from it.  I went back to bed at around 5:15AM Monday morning and slept until 6:45AM.  That's very unusual, but I'm not beating myself up about it. I've continued my running patterns so I'll be finding all sorts of sore areas that are prime opportunities to open and stretch.  Time to sweat it out.

Friday, April 19, 2019 Woke at my usual 4:30AM this morning to get onto my mat for the first time since Tuesday. I woke on both Wednesday and Thursday at my usual 4:30AM time, and just couldn't do it.  I hit the snooze until 6:00AM, and went back into dreamland.  NBD. To get in a strong practice, I'm going to keep this pre-practice-post short and sweet.

Tuesday, April 15, 2019, Woke at my usual 4:30AM for coffee and contemplation. It's 5:38AM as I type this, and I'm going to keep this pre-practice-post brief, and begin meditation, prayer, and breathing exercises.

Thursday, April 11, 2019, I ran a competitive 10K (6.2 miles) this past Saturday. Post-run, I talked myself into McDonalds breakfast (which was amazing), pizza for lunch, and then, behold, pizza for dinner.  No regrets.  I run so I can commit food crimes. Throughout this week, my alarm has gone off at 4:30AM each morning, and I've said "nope" and turned my alarm off to wake later, in between 6:15AM-6:30AM. I'm expecting this morning's practice to be fine, but, even as I sit, I can feel soreness in my body.  Time to sweat it out. Thursday, April 11, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this post-practice update the next day.  I had a wonderful practice yesterday but, as it goes sometimes, my head was running around and thinking all of its own thoughts.  The mat helps me bring everything down to Earth again and allows me the practice and exercise opportunities to tell myself, " no, brain; we're not going to think about that hilarious Far Side comic ri...

Friday, April 5, 2019 Woke at my usual 4:30AM this morning and am on my mat at 5:42AM as I type this. As in the past few days, I'm going to focus on controlling my mind and breath in today's practice. Friday, April 5, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this post-practice. I noticed my brain flitting around while I warmed up and meditated so I put more focus into keeping my head clear while I practiced.  Even with the best focus, my brain was a little out of control today.  Physically, I'm feeling wonderful and strong.  Minimal soreness from other physical activity and I'm looking forward to another practice tomorrow morning.  Namaste

Thursday, April 4, 2019 It's been an odd week for yoga.  I've woken at my usual 4:30AM and said, "nope",  twice this week; that's unusual for me, but it does happen sometimes.  I've been sleeping in until 6:00AM for some reason. I'm on my mat at 5:53AM as I type this (a bit behind schedule), so I'm going to keep this pre-practice-post brief. Thursday, April 4, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this later in the day after my practice, but this morning's session on my mat was strong and marvelous.  I intentionally put more effort into breath control and mind control.  I think I've been a little too lax in those areas lately.  I'm realizing that the more practice I put into shutting my mind off, the easier time I have throughout the day as the inevitable challenges of life come my way.  I am far less reactive to stimuli when I've focused my mind on my mat.  The focus, is on nothingthingness.  As I move and breath, I intentionally look...

Monday, April 1, 2019 Woke at my usual 4:30 AM to start my day. Had a wonderful vacation and time off from my normal work routine this past week. While I didn't indulge too much, I'm definitely going to be feeling "stodgy" for a day or too.  Once I muscle past that two/three day hump, I'll be back to normal. Time to sweat it out and begin my practice.....I slept on an air mattress this past Saturday... Monday, April 1, 2019 (Part II) I'm writing this second post well into my day, but have a free moment to update. I'll say that, over the past few days, I've eaten little more than junk food.  I've eaten clean today and my body is talking to me like, " I don't know what you're doing by eating that apple w/peanut butter and kefir yogurt drink, but we hate it and it tastes like garbage".  Long story short, I'm feeling digestive issues today, and I'm glad I started this morning out on my mat to begin moving things al...