James Walsh Yoga

Friday, May 29, 2020,  Heat will cure what ails you. For me, at least, that's true. Stiff, sore, achy,....you name it; heat will help move it out of your body, primarily, through your sweat. I typically don't practice on the weekend so, until monday.... Namaste

Upavista Konasana - Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend I execute this pose daily (when I complete a full practice), and this is an essential Asana to keeping my back mobile and fluid.   Thursday, May 28 2020 (Part I), With Monday being a holiday, and yesterday's practice being interrupted and incomplete, today (Thursday), was the first full practice I've completed all week.  The last full practice I completed was one week ago and, in that time, enough occurs in life to stiffen up, and immobilize areas of your body, particularly your back and spine. Whether I was running/jogging around my neighborhood, or biking, or lounging on the couch this past Memorial Day weekend, a 4-day hiatus from my mat was enough to regress my spine Padmasana-  Lotus Pose When executing this Asana, don't forget to change legs so you stay balanced.  It's 8:15AM as I type this, and it's time to begin... Thursday, May 28, 2020 (Part II),  I'm writing this Part II upd...

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 (Part I),  For those who continue a 6 day, or even 7 day practice, good for you. For those of us that don't practice on the weekends, #badyogi, we come back to our mats with a body that needs work, but a mind that doesn't want to obey. With warmer weather here to stay (I hope), the extra heat will help reconnect my body and brain; currently they're not holding hands.... Tuesday, May 26, 2020 (Part II),  A strong, but simple practice today.  No time for yoga picz; Until tomorrow... Namaste

The man | The myth | The legend B.K.S. Iyengar   Thursday, May 21, 2020 (Part I) Align your body, and you will align your mind. It seems odd that a physical practice of something (yoga, running, tennis, Zoomba....whatever you do), can have an effect on your mind; " my mind and body are unrelated and unconnected" , one says.... Through a daily practice, which will be beautiful on some days and less beautiful on others, one starts to realize the alignment and control you can gain over your mind/thoughts through the alignment and control of your body and breath. A practice helps you discern between things that are real, and things that are fake; many fake things are in our own heads and our disobedient minds run around thinking, dreading, contemplating, fantasizing, planning, anticipating, etc.  A practice helps you stop the spiral of uncontrolled thoughts and emotions.  Control your thoughts, and you control your reality.  This doesn't mean only good things ...

Pranayama/Breathing Exercise Hands in Namaste with thumbs pressing gently in and up into the space between my eyebrows.  You'll feel your sinuses drain while doing this.  Complete a 4-count breath sequence (explained at right), while holding your hands in this position.  Change hands to be over your heart and press in/up while repeating the 4-count Pranayama technique.  Side-bar: if that mop keeps growing...we'll have full man-bun come summer. Wednesday, May 20, 2020 (Part I),  Like many, I was initially drawn to the visual side of a yoga practice. " Who are these yoga-bros",  I'd ask, " and how do I become cool like them, and learn how to balance on my head while juggling?". Like many, being interested in the physical poses/Asanas isn't a bad thing at all; however, there are Eight Limbs of Yoga   with the physical poses/Asanas, only being one of those limbs. You could study each limb of yoga for a lifetime, and only begin to scratch the s...

Adho Mukha Vrikshasana/Downward Facing Tree I can hold this puppy for about 10 seconds before allowing myself to fall out of it.  Always have space around you to fall; both forward and backward falls...don't practice this around your Christmas ornaments.... Tuesday, May 19, 2020 (Part I),  Pushing yourself to do something that makes you uncomfortable should be a daily goal. The discomfort you're bringing on yourself doesn't need to be Earth-shattering, and leave you in recovery mode for hours/days afterwards, but pushing yourself into doing something you don't want to do refines you as a person, and reminds your disobedient brain that you're in charge; not the other way around.  You control your thoughts and actions; they don't control you.  This means that, with practice, you can conquer fear, worry, anxiety, depression, dread, doom, malaise, you-name-it!.. I begin my mornings on my mat.  Very often, I don't want to begin my mornings this way; how...

Monday, May 18, 2020 (Part I),  I am a big believer that there are certain impurities that can only be eliminated through the action of sweating. Heat purifies things , as you can read about in the April 7, 2020 update so, when you're feeling like you need to "detox", crank the heat, put on a hoodie and a double layer of t-shirts, and become active.  You'll be able to retox afterwards! Do you ever "detox to retox"?  Weekends are meant to be celebrated, and enjoyed so, when Monday rears its ugly head, begin with a detox......soon you'll get to retox!! Monday, May 18, 2020 (Part II),  Today was the first practice since last Thursday.  I will almost never practice on the weekends (Saturday is observed as a day of rest in Yoga), but I have zero excuses for missing Friday's practice other than I was celebrating the day before!....in other words, I retoxed to detox. #notsorry. Today's practice definitely felt clunky, in that I was full or jun...

Thursday, May 14, 2020 (Part I),  Why does one have a practice? What keeps a person coming back to their mat, when they don't really " feel like it ", on any given day? In the time I've learned, studied, and practiced yoga, I've learned that there is a marked difference in the version of yourself that exists before you practice, when compared to the version of yourself that exists after you practice; this site's Part I and Part II updates can attest to that. Having said that, the version of yourself that exists when you wake up is uncultivated, unrefined, and raw.  That's a good thing, as it means you have the opportunity to make something beautiful out of yourself before you skooch out the door and into the fray, chaos, and discord of the world. Pickle Rick (Season 3/Episode 3) of Rick and Morty gets chastised by the family therapist as she explains why he would be bored senseless by therapy, as he would view it as maintenance, cleaning, a...

Tolasana/Scale Pose First put yourself into Padmasana/Lotus , then lift; can also be done on the knuckles.  T uesday, May 12, 2020 (Part I),  Second morning with the new 6:00AM wake-up routine being established. It's a chilly, cloudy, and somewhat dreary day in St. Louis Missouri today; I'll go through my normal routine/house-keeping/maintenance today, and will leave it at that. Time to begin.... Tuesday, May 12, 2020, (Part II), I'm writing this Part II update, post practice, as always. The difference in emotions, thoughts, feelings, and general demeanor before and after a yoga practice is remarkable. Before I practice, I don't feel bad, or good, or anything,....I simply feel flat.  There's something about getting your heart rate up, and sweating out the Doritos and wine from the weekend, that really makes you feel accomplished. I'm still rebuilding some of the strength, flexibility, and stamina that was lost from my impromptu vacation las...

Monday, May 11, 2020, (Part I, Janusirsasana/Head to Knee Pose Tuesday of last week, I posted a real lofty goal of " getting up every morning at the same time"..... what a dweeb... With absolutely zero apologies, I took an impromptu Spring-time vacation down to Southern Missouri the following morning.  It was a vacation with all the trimmings of good food, family and friends, and a completely unscheduled pattern to each day.   Today is the first day I'm on my mat since last Tuesday.  My body is a bit out of whack from jumping on a trampoline, and my digestion is a bit out of whack from the marvelous vacation/road-trip foods, so I'm going to let today's practice be what it wants to be.  Something to be proud of is that I set, and responded to, my 6:00AM alarm (as a former early riser who set the alarm for 4:15AM, getting up early usually makes me feel better about myself).  I had my hour of coffee and contemplation (#strangerthings), and ...

Vrischikasana- Scoprion Pose Tuesday, May 5, 2020 (Part I), Part of a good practice, and routine, is to maintain a consistent start and stop time. I am exceptionally guilty of breaking that rule, as of late. My normal routine, was a 4:15AM wake up; without fail.  I'd enjoy an hour of coffee and contemplation ( #StrangerThings ), with a 5:15AM start time, on my mat.  My current routine has me on my mat whenever the mood strikes me.... 9:30AM start time?....why not.... Vrischikasana- Scoprion Pose .  With slightly less bent knees... 11:45AM start time?...sure.....that's perfect!... 8:00AM start time?....maybe one more cup of coffee, and one more good meme before I hit my mat.... All in all, my practice continues, but I will be attempting to bring things back to a consistent start/stop time throughout this week.  That means a consistent bedtime, and a consistent wakeup time as well. I'm feeling a bit average this morning; not bad,...

Adho Mukha Svanasana- Also referred to as Downward Dog. A Fundamental Pose that can be a transition, or held for a five count breath. Monday, May 4, 2020, (Part I),  Why is a yoga practice unique? How is time spent on one's mat different from your jog around the block, your Orange Theory class, or any other type of physical work out? For me, I can easily say the incorporation of breathing techniques, and mind control, put a yoga practice into a completely separate category, elevating it far beyond any physical work-out that exists.  Today, I'm focusing on the fundamentals of a yoga practice: Breath Mind Control/Focus Correct Alignment A far superior Adho Mukha Svanasana/Downward Dog. Shown, by the master himself, B.K.S. Iyengar. #yogagoals I'll begin, as always, with 10-20 minutes of breathing exercises/Pranayama , prayer, and meditation; I never jump directly into my Asanas/postures , as I want, and need, to take "stock" of m...

Friday, May 1, 2020, (Part I), The weather in St. Louis continues to be lovely, and it's primetime to get outside, BBQ, lay in the sun, and enjoy warmer weather.  As I've mentioned throughout this week, I notice a marked improvement in flexibility, recovery, and general fluidity of movement, when it's warmer.  Upavista Konasana- The Wide-Legged Bound Angle Pose (complete with sun-burned thighs # Irish ) Most of us are staying at home these days, and aren't able to get to a class anywhere.  If you're feeling antsy, I would say that a yoga practice, is an excellent way to keep yourself in some degree of fitness.  This site is designed for a beginner, a novice, or an advanced Yogi.  This site is also designed to inspire someone who's never gone to a yoga mat before in their life.   Like many people, I was initially drawn to the physical side of a yoga practice; " who are these cool looking people doing all of these cool looking things?!?...