James Walsh Yoga

Friday, March 23, 2018 Woke later than my usual time this morning.  5:45AM is when I woke from my sleep to have coffee and contemplation. What does yoga do for me?  Another way of asking is, " do I act, behave, interpret, etc., my world differently on the days that I've started my morning on my mat?" The answer can be yes and no. I believe that starting your day with physical exercise if almost always a good thing.  It wakes your heart and lungs up and starts your day off on an energetic foot. I also believe that starting my mornings on my mat allows me to turn inwardly and sort through any problems, fears, or anxieties that live inside.  When you feel these things running around, you can gain control of them with your mind and turn them off; you burn them out later with the heat built in your practice. I'm going to focus on the mental aspect of myself this morning while I move and see if I feel any different afterwards. Friday, March 23, 2018 (Part II) ...

Thursday, March 22, 2018 Woke at 4:45AM to have coffee and contemplation, and hit my mat. Physically, when I travel, I don't usually feel run down, but I will say that, if I don't watch my diet, I won't feel good.  I'm not referring to eating ever-present junk/snack food, but more about eating sensibly and balanced (one tends to inhale one's meals when there's limited time to eat). I have a lot to celebrate, so I'm going to shape my thinking into something positive and grateful this morning while I move through my Asanas. Thursday, March 22, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I'm feeling wonderful.  Recharged, refreshed, and wonderful. Life is filled with complications and difficulty; yoga has helped me face those challenges and difficulties with more patience and grace than I would normally have. My physical practice was excellent this morning and I'm very pleased with myself. Time to tak...

Monday, March 19, 2018 Woke up in my hotel room at my usual 5:00AM. Lucky me who gets complimentary starbucks coffee in my room!!! I'm excited about the work day I have ahead of me, but I will be hitting my mat shortly to prep myself for the day. Yesterday was the first morning I'd finished a complete practice in a few weeks.  I went into my backbends at the end of practice with apprehension but moved through them easily and was able to deepen them without any problems. I feel mild soreness/stiffness in my back today because of it. I'm going to meditate and pray before starting my physical practice. Monday, March 19, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off of my mat having just come out of Savasana. I'm feeling great after another full practice this morning.  Backbends, again, were easy and strong so it's making me wonder why. lol  I feel complete and whole and totally balanced.  Time to take this version of myself out into the day to share. Nama...

Sunday, March 18, 2018 Woke up at my usual 5:00AM this Sunday morning and will be hitting my mat before flying off to Dallas for a week of work. I haven't practiced in weeks, I'm afraid.  I'm not angry or upset, but I eager to see what this morning's practice brings. I'm expecting the following: decreased flexibility in my back, hips, and legs decreased muscle strength in my arms and shoulders a feeling of accomplishment and joy afterwards Let's see what happens...... :) Sunday, March 18, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I feel so wonderful and I'm kicking myself for having neglected my practice the way I have.  I feel whole, complete, steady, re-assured, proud, stable, and balanced. I did  have some decreased flexibility in my legs and back and I did  have some "shakey" muscles when I'd hold a pose or move through Chataranga a little slower than normal to challenge myself; I d...

Saturday, March 3, 2018 Went to an instructor led class at Big Bend Yoga Center in St. Louis. I took my two, wonderful Aunts, both of whom have never practiced yoga before; we were led through our class by the wonderful Michael Shabsin . Michael's classes are some of the best instructor led courses I've ever had.  We moved through standard Vinyasas as well as a series of backbends, balance poses, twists, inversions, etc.  When the class was over, we felt wonderful; connected, warm, centered, and wonderful.  I'm going to be practicing again tomorrow morning to re-capture that centered and wonderful feeling. Namaste

Thursday, February 22, 2018 Woke at my usual 5:00 AM this morning and started moving. I got side-tracked by a disorderly kitchen and started cleaning.  I have a tendency to go to bed saying, "it can wait.....".  I believe that's good, at times, because, if my body is saying lay down, I listen to it. After tidying the kitchen, it was nearly 6:00AM and I was ready to hit my mat. It's 6:08AM at the time of writing this so I'm a little behind schedule.  I'll go through my Vinyasa series and take Savasana.  I'll meditate and pray for 5 minutes first, naturally. Thursday, February 22, 2018 (Part II) Great Practice. Namaste

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 I woke at my usual 5:00AM and am on my mat enjoying my coffee. I'm a lucky person as I have a lot to be thankful for.  I'm going to focus on that today as I move and practice. Tuesday, February 20, 2018 (Part II) I'm on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. We've had an unusually warm past few days (50-70 degrees during the day for the high), and I've opened up windows to sleep better. This means that the air is warmer and more humid; perfect for sweating it out. I hit the mat groggily and sort of unfocused and unlit this morning.  I plodded through my Vinyasa A and Vinyasa B and began feeling better about things by the end of my 4 Vinyasa A's (that's typically how it goes). I'm going to shower up and take this version of myself out into the world. Namaste

Thursday, February 15, 2018 Woke at the usual 5:00AM. No desire to do yoga but that's nothing out of the ordinary. lol. Thursday, February 15, 2018 (Part II) My practice  was simple and abbreviated this morning.  I had minimal Asanas (physical poses) and I focused more on meditation and pratyahara (breath control). I'm going to keep myself light today as I go out into the world. Tomorrow's Friday!! Namaste

Wednesday, February 14, 2018 Happy Valentines day and Ash Wednesday. Now...down to business. I don't know what has caused it, but I'm incredibly sore and stiff this morning.  I'll extend my warm up to ensure I break through it in my practice. Wednesday, February 14, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I need to factor in more time to update this blog after each practice. I'm feeling great.  My practice was strong and focused.  I'm feeling a little bit of digestive issues but that's what backbends and spine twists are for....AMIRITE?!?! lulz Feeling great about the version of myself that I've shaped to bring out into the world. Namaste

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 I ran for the first time in a long while last night.  While this blog isn't about running, and the run I completed was a little baby 3 mile trot around the park, muscles that haven't been engaged for a while were brought back to life. I don't feel too stiff or sore but I feel tenderness in the small, balancing muscles around m lower calves/ankles.  I'll add a bit more pre-stretching to today's routine. Woke at 5:00AM Feeling good otherwise and ready to meditate/pray before beginning my practice. Tuesday, February 13, 2018 (Part II) I'm on my mat having just come out of Savasana. Start to finish, my practice takes about 50 minutes.  While I'm  moving, my brain can be focused or go all over the place.  Today, I had fairly good control while I moved.  Physically, I felt great.  Stiff, but strong in some of the forgotten running muscles. I'm going to shower and take this version of myself out into the day.  I...

Monday, February 12, 2018 I'm going to work on having more patience, kindness, and understanding towards people I encounter.  I've neglected these traits for awhile now and I don't believe they're I had a wonderful weekend, spent with my perfect boyfriend, where we recharged and relaxed while enjoying each others company.  While it's painful to think we're both going back out into the big bad world, I'm going to muster as much courage, and patience and understanding as I can, and keep that with me throughout the day today. Physically, I've maintained some of the cleanest eating habits I've ever had for over a months now.  Nearly nothing but vegetables/fruit/animal protein (no sugar, no starch/bread/potatoes).  I gave in this weekend and ate a bunch of junk.  While it tastes great, I have to remark at how exhausted I felt almost immediately afterwards.  Exhausted is an understatement actually; I was nearly comatose and had to relax on the couch. ...

Friday, February 9, 2018 It's Friday and I've been looking forward to the weekend When the world pulls from you and chips away at you, it can start to effect you without realizing it.  My pride, and self-worth, can be directly connected to how well I'm doing personally, professionally; how well I'm doing with eating properly, and holding to my routines of yoga, Tae Kwon Do, and running.  I do feel torn and confused at times; am I being to full of pride or am I too full of fear and anxiety.  Probably all 3.  The opposites of pride, fear, and anxiety are humility, assurance, and peace.  I smiled just thinking about those 3 old friends.  I can call on them whenever I need them and I'm going to focus on humility, assurance, peace in today's practice and when I bring myself out into the world. Time to hit my mat.....

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 Woke up at 5:00 AM again with little to no interest in hitting my mat. I'm sitting here now, on my mat, and ready to practice. I'm still committed to my practice, and I want to ensure that, despite how I feel, I'm on my mat. Time to pray and meditate and then sweat it out. Wednesday, February 7, 2018 (Part II) On my my having just come out of Savasana. Feeling great.  Ready to tackle the day. The strength in my arms has diminished a little bit, but that's quickly regrowing. Namaste

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 I wrote the title of today's post as a tongue in cheek look at how I was feeling this morning. I keep my phone/alarm across the room, in the pocket of my robe.  I'm forced to physically get up and cross the room to shut it down.  This almost always moves me far enough away from the comfort of my bed to toss on the robe and shamble into the kitchen to get my coffee. I wake at 5:00AM.  I allow myself an hour of coffee and contemplation, and then an hour to practice.  This puts me at the end of my practice around 7:00AM (though depending on when I start, can be earlier or later). I would rather have slept in today, as I did yesterday.  I'm on my mat, however, getting ready to practice.  I will always feel better and more accomplished after I practice. Tuesday, February 6, 2018 (Part II) Always happy to have hit m mat, even when I don't want to. Out the door to face the world. Namaste

Sunday, January 28, 2018 I'm writing this from my hotel room in San Jose. I practiced on Monday and Tuesday of this past week.  I'm proud of that, but I want to increase the cadence and frequency of my practice. I'm going to shower and hit my mat for meditation and prayer before beginning my Asans . Sunday, January 28, 2018 (Part II) I love practicing in new locations.  I don't know why, but I'm guessing that it has something to do with the universal nature of yoga and your mat.  It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you have your mat, you can practice. Reverse Warrior pose This mornings practice was wonderful. As I moved through my series, I noticed how quickly my muscles went from stiff, heavy blocks of lead to fluid, heated, flexible things. I move through 4 Sun Salute A and 2 Sun Salute B I modify my Sun Salute B to include a few other variations of poses in it to make it a bit more challenging on my arms; Reverse Warrior pose, sho...

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Re-building a routine is hard. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning and did not want to get out of my bed. I'm on my mat as I write this, however, and will be beginning my practice shortly.  I've found that, like most habit changes, the 3rd day "hump" is usually the most difficult; get past that, and you're golden. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. As always when we push ourselves through something we don't want to do, it feels good when it's done and over with.  I'm feeling wonderful, connected, and ready to address the challenges the day might throw at me. Namaste

Monday, January 22, 2018 This is my first post of 2018, but not the first time I've hit my mat. While not the first time practicing, I haven't been diligent with my practice lately and I do feel bad about that. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning.  I'm enjoying my coffee and contemplation #strangerthings, and I'm going to begin my practice in about 30 minutes after I have my prayer and meditation. Monday, January 22, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I love the title of today's post; "Re-Building".  We have to do that so many times in our lives.  It's work and can seem daunting and complicated.  How does anything get done?  One-foot-in-front-of-the-other.  Never despair (though we all do and we all will).  When I despair, I turn my thinking around by focusing on that concept of one foot in front of the other; that is the only way to rebuild something. My physical practice was excellent this ...

Thursday, December 28, 2017 I'm still enjoying schedule-less days and the soothing effect they have on a persons mental well-being.  I typically live by a schedule, so it's interesting for me to abandon this way of living and allow myself time to drift, float, and be structureless. It's 10:30AM as I type this and I'll be showering and hitting my mat here shortly. I'll be focusing on a strong physical practice, but I'll also be dedicating a lot of the intention of today's practice to my mental focus.  Keeping my brain and thoughts quiet as I move, is more of a challenge than any physical asana. Thursday, December 28, 2017 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. My practice was focused and strong this morning, and I was able to continue my observance of honing my mind and my focus. Now that I'm out of Savasana, I'm going to try and maintain this focused, un-rushed pace throughout my day. Namaste

Wednesday, December 27, 2017 I'm enjoying a wonderful holiday break where I can go almost completely schedule-less.  Because of that, I'm waking up later than my usual time, and sipping my coffee longer than normal. I will hit my mat in a little bit, but I have to say that, even with just one practice yesterday, I feel better about myself.  Good things happen and bad things happen and, if there's nothing that can be done, then there's no need to stress and worry (waaaaay easier said than done). I'm going to shower before I hit my mat again (a luxury that I afford myself whenever I've got ample time), and shower afterwards (of course).  Bathing/showering before a practice is one of a few interesting yoga tips that I abide by if time allows. Wednesday, December 27, 2017 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. I put more focus on my mental acuity today.  One of the principles, and ultimate goals of yoga and meditation ...

Tuesday, December 26, 2017 I'm writing this, on my mat, at 10:30 AM. I'm enjoying the schedule-less holiday break that I'll be on until January 2, 2018, and taking this opportunity to return to my mat. I'm going to enter my practice with an open spirit this morning, and push myself in a very mindful way, being careful not to overdo anything.  I'm going to focus on keeping my mind and heart open and offer up any negative thoughts and feelings that arise to God.   I'll be showering before beginning my practice; clean going to you mat, and clean after being on your mat. Tuesday, December 26, 2017 (Part II) Physical - I felt strong and solid in my practice this morning.  I focus on keeping my legs straight in any forward bend (as I have a tendency to soften my knees) and I'm incorporating the same straightness in my arms for any pose where I use them for support (Downward Dog, predominately).  This focus on my arms moves my poses into inte...