James Walsh Yoga

Friday, April 23, 2021,  Why does one douse certain foods in Sriracha when one knows it's going to upset one's stomach.  Why does one pop another White Claw when you  know you're already getting contrary, and you've had enough.......Why does one procrastinate?......Why is one lazy?.........Why is one selfish, angry, *fill in the blank*. I write, very often, about the act of practicing yoga, and bringing you closer to the realization, and acceptance, of our human imperfection.  This is good, humbling, and natural to be aware of.  As stated earlier this week, " we're evolved-apes encased in a meat-suit".  We will, therefore, always live alongside our own ugliness, and imperfection; don't think that a yoga practice will keep you above it...it will not.  It can however help you discern between choices in your life that are good, and choices that are ugly.  Even then, one will never get it right 100% of the time.  Why do I do that?..........becaus...

Wednesday, April 21, 2021,  Yoga could be practiced and studied for a lifetime, and one would only begin to scratch the surface; a practice is continually expanding, continually evolving the practitioner, and continually refining.  Personally, a practice of 10+ years has yielded imperfect physical poses (Asanas), imperfect breathing techniques (Pranayama), and inconsistent meditation abilities from a disobedient mind that will wander off as soon as I sit it down.   You make peace with your imperfections, however and, through your practice, you begin to extinguish the frustrations that come from noticing your own imperfection.  No, I do not give up saying, " I'll never be able to do XYZ, so why even bother * opens Dorito bag*" .   I do, however, have a more humble nature from the acceptance of imperfection.  This acceptance helps you understand at least a sliver more of truth; continue to practice and, sliver-by-sliver, one begins to accept, and un...

Tuesday, April 20, 2021,  Since day lights savings time (nearly a month ago), I've never fully adjusted to my usual 4:15am wake up call.  Having practiced my routine for many years, I know that I go in quarterly spurts of " I don't feel like it" *hits snooze button on phone alarm*.  I don't think anything catastrophic occurs when one says, " I don't feel like it" , and doesn't follow through with their routine; however, I'll say that, without a quick course correction, one can slowly begin to form a new habit.  Breaking a new habit, can be more difficult.  With some variance, I have been waking up at 4:15am for the past few weeks or so and, even after I've had my hour of coffee and contemplation, I can sense that I don't "feel" like hitting my mat, and going through my morning practice.  I'm on the couch in a lovely warm robe and a lovely warm blanket on top of that; I don't feel like getting up, preparing my mat, ch...

Tuesday, April 13, 2021,  On the mat at the usual 5:15am with nothing interesting to say. 

Monday, April 12, 2021, Starting off the week on the right foot, up at 4:15am and on my mat at 5:15am........with nothing interesting to say.  Time to begin...

Thursday, April 8, 2021 Third time this week getting up at the usual 4:15am for an hour of coffee and contemplation before hitting my mat.  Nothing inspirational for today's post (and that's perfectly ok), as routine maintenance is a part of every hobby, pursuit, relationship, etc.   Delighted, as always, to have made the effort to practice this morning, as it sets one up for the best day possible.  Namaste

Wednesday, April 7, 2021, Part I On my mat at 5:23am after an hour of coffee and contemplation.  Time to begin.  Part II Writing post-practice.  This is the second morning I've gotten up at my usual 4:15am and practiced.  I'll say that the brief hiatus from my mat wasn't good but, coming back after a period of non-physcial yoga practice does allow you to re-evaluate your body, mechanics, and how you approached asanas/physical postures.  Time to shower up and enter the world.  Namaste

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, The word "impertinent" isn't used much but, as a human, I believe we're all driven to feel a natural impertinence about ourselves at times.  " Aren't I grand.......those silly people who aren't like me.......I'm so lucky to have the answers"; thoughts like this will inevitably flit through a person's head at times.  To counteract this, one of the gifts your mat, and a consistent practice, can give to you is clarity and a humble nature.  One is not grand....bow to everyone.