James Walsh Yoga

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 I showered and hit my mat before writing a pre-practice post. Had a wonderful vacation day yesterday.  Spent time with my family and ate junk food most of the day. I woke up this morning very  stiff and sore.  I think this might be residual aches from the long training run I did on Friday in combination with the leaves I helped rake yesterday afternoon. Regardless of how I felt (zero motivation), I hit my mat and went through my modified primary series. I must have been fooling myself on Sunday when I practiced and said that my legs weren't stiff and unflexible.....they went numb in about 2.5 seconds this morning while I was warming up with a very  soft plow pose. Went through the rest of the modified series without any issues but did not end with full upward bow.  I'll incorporate that back into the practice tomorrow. Time to shower up and tackle the day. Namaste

Sunday, February 26, 2017 Since I didn't practice for 3 days straight, I'm going to use my day or rest as a day to hit my mat.  I've been too soft with my practice lately and haven't forced myself to be diligent. Before I hit my mat, I can say that, having done an 8 mile training run on Friday, I am expecting extreme tension to have built up in my legs and back.  I'll be doing a fairly robust warm up before getting into my practice. Sunday, February 26, 2017 (part II) A mid-afternoon practice isn't something that I'm used to having but, as I've said before on this blog, I've never regretted hitting my mat. The practice this afternoon was not  inspired.  My legs, however, were not as tight as I thought they were going to be (I've literally had my legs go numb from stretching after too much running).  I didn't have any of that, so I'm pleased and encouraged by that fact. Went through my Vinyasa series and broke a light sweat but d...

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 Woke up at my usual 5:00am and hit the snooze..... Woke up at 5:15am...and hit the snooze..... Woke again at 6:00am...and got up. I came home from Martial Arts class last night and I know that, with the am/pm workouts I'm having twice a day that my body is going to ask for more rest from me.  I'm totally fine with that but it's a change, like any other, that I'll have to get used to. I'm feeling good this morning and ready to tackle the day.  I'm going to focus on meditation a little bit more this morning and see if I can't clear my heart and mind out.  It's very  easy to harbor anger/fear/resentment without even realizing it so I'm going to turn the mirror on myself this morning and focus on cleaning myself out mentally.  I don't necessarily feel  any anger/fear/resentment, but I can sense when there's a bit of turmoil going on and I feel a slight bit of turmoil going on for some reason.  It's nothin...

Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Woke a little later than usual this morning but am eager to hit my mat. I've been incorporating more and more half-marathon training into my life and, while this has strengthened my legs/back, and increased my endurance, it tightens me up after every run.  I have to keep stretching just to maintain the level of flexibility I had to begin with. I'll be going through my standard modified primary series after 5 minutes of meditation and prayer. Tuesday, February 21, 2017 (Part II) The first day back after a couple days rest is always great.  You're limber, you're full of energy, you're feeling great.  The second day back, after a couple days rest, kicks you in the rear...... Today's practice was great but, because of my deep backbends yesterday morning, my running last night, and other things, I was very  sore and stiff this morning.  I treated myself to a longer-than-usual warm up routine on my mat to work out some of the kinks...

Monday, February 20, 2017 Had a wonderful and relaxing weekend where I listened to my body's need for rest and sleep.  I crawled into bed Sunday night (last night) around 5:30pm and was asleep at 6:00pm.  It felt amazing.  Sleep and rest are probably the best medicine. I'm going to tempt fate again and say that I'm nearly  100% over my head-cold that I've had for 2 weeks now.  Hopefully with a few more days of sleep, I can be fully recovered. I'm going to shower up and hit my mat for my modified primary series. Monday, February 20, 2017 (Part II) Had a wonderful practice this morning and finished with my full series of backbends (3 full upward bows).  I felt strong and focused throughout the practice but my brain was a little all over the place. Today is going to be awesome and I'm moving forward with a spirit of gratitude and resilience. Namaste

Friday, February 17, 2017 This hasn't been a great week for my yoga practice. lol  I haven't been getting enough sleep and, in my efforts to compensate for that, have been getting up later in the mornings, showering, and going directly into my office (I woke at 7:00am yesterday.........that's 2 hours past what my normal time is). I'm going to shower in a bit and hit my mat for my usual practice.  I'm feeling well and able for it and I'm ready for this lingering head-cold to go away.... Friday, February 17, 2017 (Part II) I sweat more than I've sweated in the past 4 years of my life combined...... I had an exceptionally wonderful practice this morning.  I felt honed, focused, and powerful.  Having been running and training for a half-marathon for awhile, I've built up leg muscles that need to be broken down and stretched; my legs nearly went numb a few times from the muscle fibers that were being stretched and rebuilt. Going into work feeling wo...

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Woke at my usual 5:00am and began my routine.  Can I still be recovering from sickness that's over a week old now?......the answer is yes.  I've been trying to take great care with myself and not wear myself down to nothing, but I'm still not fully over the head cold that I got last Tuesday morning. This blog is not  about me complaining about life, however, it's about yoga!  I'm going to hit my mat in a little bit for, minimally, my Vinyasa series.  I haven't had a full practice in a week or more.  I'm not beating myself up, as I haven't been physically able for it, but I don't like to go so long without doing strenuous poses.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 Passed out around 8:30pm last night and woke at 5:30 for 9+ hours of sleep.  I'm feeling nearly 100% again from being sick last week, though I do have stuffiness and a deeper voice that I normally have (#whiney complainer). While I've been conscience of it, I've tried, and failed a bit, at keeping my mentality framed up to be one of gratitude.  I have a lot  to be happy about and grateful for.  I'll be focusing on that this morning. I may go through my prayer/meditation and warm-up routine this morning instead of doing a prescribed physical practice.

Monday, February 13 2017 Groggily woke at 5:00am this morning.  I've had coffee and I'm on my mat but may not do a physical practice this morning. Monday, February 13 2017 (Part II) Did prayer/meditation on my mat and went through my standard warm-up routine.  That's all I have in me.  I'm going to move through my day slowly and with care and come home to crash in my bed. Namaste

Friday, February 10, 2017 Still feeling a little under the weather but, with an astonishing amount of food being consumed, and 9+ hours of sleep a night, I've muscled through it and paced myself well. This blog is not  about me being a whiney little complainer; it's about yoga!!!! I'm happy that, in the midst of my physical discomfort, I can use yoga/prayer/meditation to help me move through it.  I hope this blog helps you find the healing abilities that exist and within reach to all of us. I will shower again this morning to heat myself up before hitting my mat. Friday, February 10, 2017 (Part II) Heated myself up thoroughly in the shower and got immediately into my yoga gear (a running shirt, to wick sweat away, and a hoodie to trap heat).  Needless to say, I was hot when I hit my mat and continued to build heat and sweat throughout the practice. I still can't breath 100% out of my nose but, with intense focus on forward bending and downward dog, I was abl...

Thursday, February 9, 2017 Still under the weather with the same head/throat/body congestion that I woke with Tuesday morning.  I crawled into bed around 7:00pm last night, however, and treated myself to another restful and quiet night of sleep.  Woke up even earlier than my usual 5:00am this morning (4:30am, if you can believe it), and had my coffee and contemplation time. I calculated in enough time this morning to have a wonderfully hot shower before I hit my mat.  I'm fresh out of that as I type and on my mat with my hoodie pulled up to retain some of my warmth.  I'll meditate/pray for 5 minutes and move slowly and deliberately through my practice. Thursday, February 9, 2017 (Part II) I never look back and say, "golly, I wish I hadn't practiced this morning". lol After my 5 minutes of prayer/meditation, I did an extended warm up routine (which consists of rolling back and forth with a rounded back and other select movements like Karnapidasana , pictu...

Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Woke up at my usual 5:00am this morning.  I did the same thing yesterday but I am not feeling well.  I have not been getting adequate sleep for the past few days and it caught up to me finally. I crawled into my bed at 7:00pm last night and conked out by 7:30/8:00ish.  That equals 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep that I desperately needed. Woke up feeling pretty decent this morning (congested and stuffy paired with the sore throat) but I feel like the glorious amount of sleep I got last night put me on the road to recovery. I'm going to hit my mat here for some very  light yoga and then shower up.  I'm moving with the utmost of care and gentleness today. Wednesday, February 8, 2017 (Part II) Took the hottest shower I could stand before hitting my mat.  I moved only through Vinyasa A and then into my forward bend sequence before entering Savasana; that is all that I'll be challenging my body with this morning.  I feel weak, ...

Saturday, February 4, 2017 The weekend is finally here.  This time last week I was taking an instructor led class (something that I do not do with much frequency).  I'm still feeling positive effects from it (mostly mental) that I incorporate into my solo practices (the imagery of seeing yourself in a mirror and imagining the mirror becoming golden in color was amazing). I'm going to take a quick shower before I hit my mat this morning (a luxury that I typically don't afford myself during my weekday practices). Saturday, February 4, 2017 (Part II) Had a quick, but wonderful practice this morning.  My body has definitely changed shape in the past two months.  My legs, back, and shoulders in particular. I incorporated the same mental image of me in a mirror and the mirror turning golden, then red hot, then white hot with the heat that I was building in my body.  I meditated on that image and the thought of the fire burning the mirror being fanned by the wi...

Friday, February 3, 2017 Woke up at my usual 5:00am.  Got wonderful sleep last night so I'm feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day.  I'm going to hit my mat for my usual prayer/meditation and sweat it out. Friday, February 3, 2017 (Part II) Had a wonderful practice and realized that I hadn't done full upward bows for nearly a week!  I ended with a sequence of 3 upward bows/wheel poses to finish things out.  I'm happy to say that I did not regress at all in my backbending. My forward bends have never been my crowing glory.  I push myself into them and put more effort into them but they're continually uncomfortable and, for lack of a better word, "un-fun".  Incorporating running into my practice has kept my legs/back strong but I have to continually counter-act the muscle growth/destruction that comes along with endurance running.  Long story short, I have to run and run (pun intended) to just stay in the same place. Time to shower and tac...

Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Went to bed last night at a wonderful 8:30pm and woke up around 4:30am this morning feeling wonderfully refreshed and happy. The first day of February.  I have a feeling it's going to be a wonderful month. Time to hit my mat for, at least, 5 minutes of meditation and prayer before I practice.  I'm proud of myself today so I'll be practicing humility today as I did yesterday. Wednesday, February 1, 2017 (Part II) Had a wonderful practice this morning.  Built heat and fire with my breath and bandhas and utilized a method of meditation that my Saturday morning class at Big Bend Yoga center with Michael Shabsin .  Michael's instructions were to, " while you practice and move, envision seeing yourself in a mirror....envision your reflection as something beautiful....and then envision your reflection turning golden in color.... ".  I'm paraphrasing it horribly, but the effect this had on me in Saturday's class was so prof...

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 I'll say that it's been two months of reporting to this blog every morning to think, reflect, and, of course, hit my yoga mat.  It has had a wonderfully positive impact on my life. That being said, I have zero motivation to hit my mat this morning.  I got up at my usual 5:00am and started on my coffee, but, now that it's 5:53am (and nearing the time I need to get to my mat if I want to practice and leave my house at a reasonable hour), I don't wanna do it. lol I'll get changed in the next few minutes and push through all the "lazy" that I'm feeling, however.  I know I'll feel better about myself afterwards.... Tuesday, January 31, 2017 (Part II) Happy and fulfilled, as always, after a yoga practice.  I went through most  of my modified Primary Series and focused on my strength/endurance and alignment.  I've been slowly incorporating running back into my life (now that the weather in STL isn't blisteringly c...

Saturday, January 28, 2017 Had a yoga date set with an old student of mine this morning where we both went to Big Bend Yoga  Center in St. Louis and took an instructor led class by the wonderfully talented Michael Shabsin  (Attorney by day and Yogi master by night). lol This was my second time taking a class of Michael's and he has an extraordinary ability to "lead you and not lead you".  I know that sounds sugary and ridiculous, but, as he moves you/corrals you/leads you, he leaves margins for your own practice and your own body to be the ultimate guide that must be followed (meaning that you're not pushing yourself into something that's dangerous or unsafe for your ability level). The class incorporated vinyas flow into the later half and we went through a series of wonderfully challenging vinyasas incorporating a jump from chatturanga into crow (displayed at left), into a headstand, back to crown, and then a jump back into chatturanga.  Video here of a ...

Friday, January 27, 2017 Didn't wake up yesterday until 7:15am.  That is exceptionally  late compared to the usual 5:00am wakeup call I observe.  Needless to say, I didn't practice yesterday. Woke up at the usual 5:00am this morning and am looking forward to hitting my mat. Friday January 27, 2017 (Part II) Had a great practice this morning but, mentally, I was all over the board.  I'm preoccupied with something that keeps creeping into my head and causing me a bit of anxiety.  Anxiety, stress, aggression, fear, you-name-it, will always be a part of life, however, and I used the practice to focus on something else. My forward bending was a bit regressed (due to running), but my backbends are beautiful and effortless.  Earlier in the week I felt very  acute pain in my right hand and was concerned that I would be out of commission for a while.  That acute pain has dwindled down to almost nothing (though I am still mindful of chaturanga and u...

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 It was hard to wake up at my usual 5:00am this morning.  I've been doing a lot of physical activity and I've read that, the more one works out, the more you need to sleep.  I believe that and some of the most sound sleeps I've ever had have been post-run/post-workout. The purpose of this  blog isn't to go on about my sleep schedule however, it's about shaping your mind and shaping your body. As I approach the 2 month anniversary of this blog, I'm proud but also have increased diligence with my practice.  You can change/shape yourself with practice and patience.  You can become something different if you're persistent and mold yourself a bit every day.  I'm not saying that I'm  the King of persistence (back-track through this blog and you'll find days that were missed or days that I didn't get up on time, etc.), but I am  saying that, as long as you keep at something, you'll more than likely achieve your go...

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Feeling motivated and energetic this morning.  Yesterday, being Monday, was a little bit of an eye opener from my yoga-less weekend. lol I woke at my usual 5:00am this morning and have been online viewing images and articles on meditation and other men who have a strong yoga practice that they remain dedicated to; it's not always  bad to be motivated by the success of others as it can push you to refine yourself to reach the level they're at. Now that I'm freshly inspired, and made totally envious by some images of incredibly talented yogis, I'm going to hit my mat. lol  Again, I'm poking fun at where I've drawn my inspiration from this morning but, I don't believe it's always  a bad thing to compare yourself to those more talented than you; it helps you aspire to their level. Tuesday, January 24, 2017 (Part II) Feeling fantastic after a fantastic practice.  Went through my modified primary series, as per usual, starting...