James Walsh Yoga

Friday, April 29, 2022, Its 5:25am as I type this.  I noticed that, throughout this week, my posts have been brief, and have had titles/headers that simply have the day of the week and the word "yoga" in them.  I may be in a bit of a lull.  Physically, my practices this week have been strong and complete.  However, I've felt a little "under the weather/run-down" through out this week, and have been trying to be gentle with myself.  Enough chit-chat.....I can feel slight fatigue in my body.....and too much warmth in my face (this is generally a sign to me that I'm "run down"); knowing and saying that, I'm going to go through my normal routine this morning and let my body do what it wants.   Time to begin.... Part II: Full practice.  I'm late.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Wednesday, April 27, 2022, On my mat, at the usual 5:15am-ish.  Time to begin...  Part II: Great practice; time to enter the world.  Namaste

Tuesday, April 26, 2022, On my mat for the first time this week.  I will take things slow, and not push myself.  One's post-weekend body can be full of little kinks, soreness, and stiffness that weren't there on Friday. Time to begin... Part II Late, but did a full practice this morning.  Namaste

Thursday, April 21, 2022, Nothing to say....time to begin.  Part II: Full sequence this morning (including backbends), but I'm late!   Namaste

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 Nothing much to say; back on my mat after a little hiatus.  Part II: A great practice, but my mind was all over the place.  Full backbend sequence was completed.  Time to enter the world.  Namasate

Friday, April 15, 2022, In Catholic/Christian tradition, today marks the anniversary or Good Friday; the day Christ died.   Catholics/Christians around the world will observe this day as a day of prayer, fasting, abstinence from meat (as all Fridays in Lent), and reflection. The line of, " Earn This ", comes from a scene in "Saving Private Ryan" where, towards the end of the film, all of the effort, work, sacrifice, comes to fruition, with the last of the Ryan brothers (played by Matt Damon) is saved by a group of soldiers in WWII.  Tom Hanks, after toiling through the movie, facing death in the face at every turn, passes away on the battlefield, secure in the knowledge that he has done his duty, he has saved Private Ryan, and he can now pass; his last words, as Matt Damon holds him in his arms are, " Earn This ". It's a weighty thing to bear (whether we're talking in the confines of Saving Private Ryan, or the principles of Christianity); the deat...

Wednesday, April 13, 2022,  It's 5:14am as I type this.....time to begin... Part II: It's 7:03am as I type this part Part II, and I'm on my mat, having just come out of savasana.  It's time to enter the world.  Today's title was actually changed after completing my practice (the original title of today's post was "Wednesday Yoga", which is a sure sign that I'm not feeling inspired by anything. Today's inspiration came on my mat, as I focused my breath, body, attention, etc. on my meditation, prayers, and imagery (I hold an image in my mind as I move through my physical practice, and attempt to hold that image in place, without having additional thoughts creep in, while moving through my sequence......I can hold it for about 3 seconds (after 10+ years of practice).   As I was focusing, my thoughts, and demeanor changed; the phrase, " always be humble and kind" , popped into my head.  This will be what I focus on as I move through the w...

Tuesday, April 12, 2022, First practice of the week.  Looking forward to the version that comes off the mat at the end..... Part II: Great start to the day, great practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Friday, April 8, 2022, When I was a teenager, I never took any issue with violent, gory films; in fact, I think I really enjoyed them.  For whatever reason, I can't look at anything like that in my current state, and quickly turn my head whenever something vulgar, disgusting, or gory shows up on a screen.  Recoiling from ugliness is something that may have developed with age ( #iam36) .  I mention this in today's opening because, for whatever reason, images of gory/unpleasant/ugliness were flitting through my head this morning (could have been the cheddar bratwurst I had last night before bed that gave me bad dreams......).  In any event, the lesson I take from it is that the less ugliness you "consume" (with your eyes and your mind), the smaller your memories reservoirs are for ugliness; the inverse of this is true as well so make sure you encounter peaceful and beautiful images as often as possible.    Time to begin.... Part II: I started each day this we...

Thursday, April 7, 2022,  The title of today's post is actually the 5 tenants of Tae Kwon Do.  All 5 are lovely tenants to live ones life by, but the tenant of "perseverance" pops up as a key one.  For a multitude of reasons, I got knocked off the horse of my routine for the past few weeks; I'll spare the details, but I actually had to make a trip to the ER a few weeks ago.  Both before, and after that trip to the ER, I was unwell, and was continuing to try and incorporate the routine of my practice into my mornings (I am up at 4:15am and on my mat by 5:15am under normal circumstances).   I've been struggling to find motivation but, as I've said for years, motivation comes and goes and it's better to continue on with your routines even when you don't "feel like it".  That, for me, is the nature of perseverance.  On that note, it's 5:36am, and I'm behind schedule.  It's time to begin..... Part II: It's 7:13am as I type this, an...

Wednesday, April 6, 2022, "Mojo" was first coined by Austin Powers (I believe), but I take the word "mojo" to mean one's vibe/spirit/energy, etc.  For whatever reason, my "mojo" has been flat for awhile.  Nothing too terrible, but just a bit out of whack.  I've learned that, like weather, this can change very quickly, and one can get right back to feeling their mojo again (for no rhyme or reason). I would say that, when one is not feeling their "mojo", that they continue doing their daily routines (even if their heart isn't in it), because this will keep you conditioned; whether that routine be part of your professional life, your exercise routine, or your responsibilities to your family.   Enough chit chat....time to begin. Part II: As always, I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  Happy I started my day with a practice, and feeling differently/improved about not having "mojo".  Mojo will come, a...

 Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Woke yesterday at my usual 4:15am but, for whatever reason, couldn't get myself motivated enough to start my day on my mat......I shamefully headed back to bed at 5:15am (after an hour of coffee), to snuggle, rest, and watch YouTube videos of Judge Judy.  This morning, I'm on my mat, and looking forward to a practice.  For whatever reason, there is heaviness in my chest again (didn't I just deal with this?), and I'm praying it doesn't develop into anything worse as it did two weeks ago. Time to begin...... Part II: It's 6:49am as I type this, and I'm on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  An interesting practice this morning.  I was able to move out some of the "heaviness" I feel in my lungs, but I'm still wheezing, and coughing slightly.......I also have a stiff right knee (#iam36), and I was able to move out some of that stiffness as well.  Time to enter the day. Namaste.

Friday, April 1, 2022 For whatever reason, my illness has lingered.  I got over the worst of it last week/weekend but I'm still feeling fatigued, short of breath, and not 100%.  For those reasons, when my alarm sounded at 4:15am this past Wednesday and Thursday, I couldn't get up....... Days without yoga are always inferior to days that start with yoga.  In my opinion, it has nothing to do with anything other than the days that start on my mat, with a practice, simply get a better version of myself throughout the day.   On that note, it's time to begin... Part II: As always, I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  I get in my own way sometimes by trying to do too much; I believe I did that to myself earlier this week when I was feeling well enough to practice on Monday and Tuesday.....I don't believe I was well enough.  Today, (knock on wood), I'm feeling well enough again, but I'm going to be a bit more mindful about where I exp...