James Walsh Yoga

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 Yikes!!! 10 days with no yoga and no yoga blogging!! Oh well, I'll rebuild one visit to my mat at a time. :) Truth be told, I do feel bad that I've neglected my practice. I'm not going to beat myself up about it, and I'm going to return to my mat this morning with purpose and understanding. I will not  overdo it this morning (as I've done in the past to "atone" for missing a practice).  This isn't a good practice and is reminiscent of unbalanced behavior. What I will  do is spend extra time in meditation and extra time looking inward this morning. Tuesday, June 27, 2017 (Part II) I hit my mat at 5:45am this morning to dedicate extra time to mediation and prayer. It was definitely worth it.  that 15 minutes goes by quickly.  It's little more than 15 minutes of controlled breathing (usually a 4 count breath), and mentally focusing on my body and mind.  Physically, before I practiced, I felt "strong" b...

Friday, June 16, 2017 Haven't practiced in a week. No, that's not a good show of diligence, but I'm not beating myself up over it.  I haven't jogged or done anything else for myself physically either.  Again,.....not worried about it.  I know that, a few years ago, I would have beaten myself up and gotten too discouraged to continue.  I know enough about myself that, you can turn disappointment into pride by coming back to something and giving it your 100% again. I'll be showering up and hitting the mat this morning for a practice. Friday, June 16, 2017(Part II) Writing this post practice, on my mat, having just awoken from savasana. My practice was fairly routine this morning.  Sometimes, after a hiatus, I'll hit the mat with such ferocity, that I'll nearly injure myself as I push myself into deeper and deeper versions of my standard poses. I pushed myself, certainly, and I moved well through my practice, but I didn't go at it with the fever...

Thursday, June 8, 2017 Woke before my usual time of 5:00AM this morning, as I need to get into my office a little earlier than usual, and dragged it out of bed at 4:45AM. What do I want to be today? What do I want to leave behind me at my work? What is important to me? I want to be holy, strong, honest, kind and beautiful today. I want to leave behind me a day well done.  A day of hard, but balanced work, and a day where I spread the balance and happiness that my yoga practice brings to me, to the people I interact with at work. What is important to me? My relationship with God (this is 1st, always) My Family My career My health I'm going to start my practice and focus on eliminating fear and anger, as I did yesterday. Thursday, June 8, 2017 (Part II) Backbending definitely makes the world go around. I focused on alignment and staying acute and honed in on my practice (my brain will wander around if I allow it to), and I got through my modified primary se...

Wednesday, June 7, 2017 Woke up a little behind schedule this morning and had an hour to myself to collect my thoughts. I'm going to be showering and hitting the mat here; I feel like I have some anger and frustration I need to focus on and burn. Wednesday, June 7, 2017 (Part II) I definitely focused on extinguishing anger and frustration this morning and, I have to say that, even though I was consciously attempting to sift through my thoughts, it was still difficult, at times not to fall into old patterns of thinking. My physical practice this morning was good, but unremarkable in that there weren't any physical revelations or break-throughs.  My vinyasa series was good, and challenging as always, and I ended with a wonderful backbend sequence. I'm going to take the peace and joy I feel now and bring it into the day.  I will no be derailed from my goals. Namaste

Friday, June 2, 2017 Woke at my usual time of 5:00 AM for coffee and contemplation. I'm still slightly  off from my travels last week and I'm still dragging a little bit when I roll out of bed to silence my alarm (my alarm is strategically placed across the room, in my robe pocket, hanging in a closet; I'm forced to get out of my bed and walk across the room to shut it down) I showered this morning before getting onto my mat.  I'm going to go through my full, modified Primary Series this morning.............I'm already sweating...... Friday, June 2, 2017 (Part II) Feel wonderful, as always, after I practice. My backbends were strong and fluid and, even though I haven't completed a full one since Friday of last week, most of the flexibility and strength that I gained is still there. Mentally, I was happy and focused and ready to tackle the day ahead. No fear No anxiety No hate Namaste

Thursday, June 1, 2017 I started this blog in November of 2016 and it's been 7 months of yoga, personal growth, and reflection. I'll say that, I'm still adjusting to the time change difference having come home from Las Vegas last Thursday.  Pair that with a 3-day memorial weekend (where I ate and drank my fill), and I still feel like I was thrown on my head. I woke at my usual 5:00am this morning and it's 6:15 now.  I'll be hitting my mat here in a bit for prayer/meditation and, at least, my Vinyasa series. Thursday, June 1, 2017 (Part II) Felt wonderful, as always after my practice. I feel as though I'm still re-adjusting to the 3 day weekend of partying and, while I haven't partied at all since Monday, the fact that I'm still recovering from it today (3 days later) should be a reminder about the benefits of keeping a clean diet. The physical practice was good, but not spectacular.  I went through my Vinyasa series and fit in a few spinal tw...

Thursday, May 26, 2017 I'm writing this the day after I practiced as the wifi in my Vegas hotel was a little suspicious and I didn't want to expose my laptop to it; I wrote all of the blog posts in Vegas logged into a different work Network that had a secured connection. I woke yesterday, and felt wonderful.  All I had to do was drink coffee, relax in my room, and get ready for my flight back home. My practice was solid, strong, and focused.  Again, I'm attributing a lot of this to my backbends. My forward bends have gone to a new level as well and I'm able to (almost) straighten my legs completely in Padangustasna, all while keeping my back aligned and straight. Today is Friday, May 27, and I have not practiced yet.  I'm going to run (something I haven't done in a while) and then shower up before hitting my mat later in the afternoon (another afternoon practice). Namate

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 Woke up at my usual 5:00am.  Even when I'm out of town, working, I'm still a creature of habit and routine. Had hotel/starbucks coffee, collected my thoughts and took stock of what my day was going to have in and what I wanted to accomplish this morning. I showered, and hit my mat. I'm writing this post-practice a few hours into my day. I had a wonderful and energetic practice again this morning.  I'm attributing a lot of my energy to the back-bends I've reincorporated into my practice. As a whole, my practices have been focused, energized, and purposeful.  I'm going to try and keep this momentum going when I fly back home tomorrow. Namaste

Monday, May 22, 2017 Still in Vegas traveling for work and absolutely delighted that I brought my mat with me. Southwest allows you 2 carry on's, but I smuggled on the 3rd all quiet and sneaky like, and it's been something that I'm looking forward to every morning. I think part of my recent funk had to do with getting out of the exercise routine that I'm generally accustomed to.  I've slacked a lot with running (ran a half Marathon April 9 and have been running with varied degrees of enthusiasm since then). My yoga routine while I've been onsite working has been wonderful.  I go through my entire modified Primary series ending with a full upward bow.  This pose is going to be reincorporated back into the routine, for sure; I feel energized, alive, and balanced after this pose. Time to go out into the world. Namaste

Sunday, May 21, 2017 Traveling for work doesn't mean that I don't bring my yoga mat! I'm in Las Vegas working and brought my bags, laptop, and yoga mat. It's always disorienting landing in a foreign town and hitting the ground running.  I will, almost always, get run down and sick from the flight, the new air, and the general stress associated with traveling. I woke up this morning in my hotel room and, after coffee, I showered, and hit my mat. Went through a full modified Primary Series this morning focusing most on being a conduit of love and kindness as I'm presented with the challenges of my day.  That's something that I've been lacking lately.  I've been having a pity party for myself (as I've been under the weather), and have been sulking (per my last few posts). The practice was intense, controlled, and focused.  I broke a sweat, almost before my Vinyasa A's were done and was sweating profusely by the time my Vinyasa B sequence ...

Friday, May 19, 2017 Forgot to do my Part I  post this morning! I woke, at my usual 5:00am and started on my coffee and contemplation #strangerthingsreference I have been feeling scared, blue, anxious, disappointed, self-centered and off-kilter for awhile now.  Yes, some of the sickness that started two weeks ago still lingers on, but I've found myself being lazy, and ornery when I'm faced with my duty and responsibilities. I meditated and prayed this morning (something I haven't been committed to lately) and that's helped me get into my head and sift apart some of the feeling I've had, determine where they're coming from, and then determine a plan and path for getting rid of them. My physical  practice this morning was excellent.  It's hot in St. Louis (about 80 degrees in my apartment as I type this) and I hold on till the bitter end when it comes to turning on my air conditioning; it's only me living in this space so, as long as I can tolerat...

Monday, May 15, 2017 Had a wonderful weekend celebrating my 32nd birthday and mothers day on Sunday, May 14. I have been battling some sort of sinus infection for the past two weeks and it has put a damper on everything.  I need to stop with the self-pity, and focus on gratitude. I have a lot to be grateful for in my life and want to keep the 4 areas I've mentioned before as my focus today.... My family My job My health  My friends and relationships I'm going to shower and hit my mat for meditation, and a light practice. Monday, May 15, 2017 (Part II) Completed my meditation and warmup sequence and moved directly into my Vinyasa series. Moved through Sun Salute A and B and then into the beginnings of the Primary Series.  While I wasn't able to give 100% effort, due to my head still being congested, I was able to break an intense sweat, which makes me feel better. I'll practice again tomorrow and I'll move through my day today easily and steadily...

Thursday, May 11, 2017 Woke up a bit too late to practice this morning so will be showering and going to my mat for 5 minutes of pranayama and pratyahara .

Tuesday, May 9, 2017 Woke up at the usual 5:00 AM this morning and began my rituals of coffee and contemplation. I haven't hit my mat in a while so this will be interesting.  I'm finally able to breathe out of my nose enough to practice. To give extra motivation and "omph" to my practice, I'll shower to slough off the fatigue and to help make myself more alert. Part II (..ish)- writing this fresh out of my shower.  I'm still groggy and feel like I could fall asleep on my mat.  I'm going to meditate and pray for 5 minutes to start to build energy and begin my practice. Tuesday, May 9, 2017 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat having come out of Savasana . While I'm still not feeling physically 100%, I'm happy I came to my mat today to sweat it out and to practice.  I wasn't able to execute breath of fire  due to sinus congestion, but I'm feeling like that will come back within a day or so. Physically, I went through my Viny...

Friday, May 5, 2017 Still way too sick to practice or even breathe properly. Happy Cinco De Mayo! Namaste

Thursday, May 4, 2017 Have been sick since Monday. :( I may practice again in the A.M. tomorrow but I've been away from the blog since Sunday. Namaste

Sunday, April 30, 2017 Woke up at 6:45 to the sounds of drizzling rain outside my window.  I love days where there's no schedule and I'm free to go at my own pace. It's been raining in St. Louis since Friday and, while I don't mind rainy days, it sucks when you can't get outside to enjoy life and have to remain cooped up indoors.  I've been eating more junk food than I care to mention and feel like I need to do some sort of aerobic exercise (run/bike, etc.) to get my heart rate up and raise my metabolism. I'll be showing and hitting my mat this morning for a full practice.  I haven't done a full practice in a while so I'm interested to see how I do. Sunday, April 30, 2017 (Part II) On my mat having come out of Savasana. Had a wonderful practice where I moved with strength and fluidity.  I've been interested in the Chakra system recently and, while I don't know how much I believe in its attributes, it provides interesting imagery to ...

Friday, April 28, 2017 Took a day off from work and have slept in. I'm listening to my yoga track and contemplating some meditations before I hit my mat. Friday, April 28, 2017 (Part II) I won't say how much I believe if the Chakra System, but it can be a nice visualization.  Check out an interesting infographic here . Mild headache from the wine I had with dinner last night, but my practice was beneficial, as always.  I'll be showering up and enjoying this lovely drizzly day. Namaste

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 I tranced myself yesterday by listening to some yoga tunes (click here to get trippy-tunes, bro). I'm fresh out of a shower and ready for my mat.  While I will  try to recreate the trance-like state I was in yesterday, I'm going to allow things to flow naturally; yoga, like all things, will be great some days, and not great other days.  Focusing on my duty of practice is the ultimate goal. At least 5 minutes of prayer/meditation before I begin.... Wednesday, April 26, 2017 (Part II) Had an excellent practice and excellent warm up. I tranced myself a little bit, but nothing like yesterday; like I say above, some days the "yoga-gods" come and take over, and sometimes they don't. Sweated it right out, however, and had a great time warming up, meditating, and moving through my Vinyasa series.  Like yesterday, I extended Vinyasa B to the endurance limit of my arms.......there's only so much they can take. lol I won't be p...

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Woke at my usual 5:00am for coffee and contemplation. To help set the mood this morning, I'll be showering before I hit my mat and will be play some music (something that I don't typically do).  Check out some yoga tunes here ! I've been writing this blog for nearly 6 months now and, in that time, I've rarely gone back to read what my posts are; I did  go back this morning to read some of the posts from early April.  I noticed while reading that, reliving old sessions on my mat can help encourage me to get onto my mat again........I'm my own cheerleading system!!! (#puke). I'm going to keep the yoga tunes going while I shower so the mood stays set when I get out of the shower, ready and eager for my mat and my practice. Tuesday, April 25, 2017 (Part II) I'm still tranced from my practice. The music that I linked above honed me in mentally which helped hone me in physically. My practice was unbelievably rejuvenating. Ph...