James Walsh Yoga

Saturday, July 28, 2018 Woke, slightly later than usual, this morning, and am hitting my mat slightly later than usual. This would be my 3rd practice in Boston, and 2nd practice in my hotel room. Feeling great physically and mentally, and ready to sweat it out.

Friday, July 25, 2018 Woke 15 minutes later than usual this morning, at 5:00AM. I'm in my hotel in Boston still and, so far, yoga has been infused into my trip in wonderful ways. No instructor led class this morning; just me and my mat. " In this system, yoga is the union of the self and the Lord " Kaundinya's Pancarthabhasya on the Pasupatasutra Friday, July 25, 2018 (Part II) I'm on my mat having just come out of Savasana as I type this. Feeling wonderful after a full practice and excited for what the day has in store. Namaste

Thursday, July 26, 2018 Shaping your mind and shaping your body is the intent of this blog. I'm in Boston away from my hometown of St. Louis and working with a large group of clients and coworkers.  A chunk of us went to an instructor led class this morning and, I have to say, I should probably take instructor led classes more often. Every one does poses differently.  Everyone advises differently.  Everyone guides differently and offers different thoughts and analogies to link and yolk; the actual word "yoga" is derived from the root word of yuj  which means to attach, harness, join, or yoke. This morning's instructor led class was great.  Different vinyasas and a different pace of breath (much slower than what I'm used to) but that added to the challenge.  We held certain poses longer than what I'm used to as well and I'm happy for it. In bed now, ready to crash and tackle tomorrow with some more yolking. Namaste

Wednesday, July 25, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning, and can't wait to hit my mat. I fly out to Boston for work today and, like always, I'll have my mat with me. Apparently, there's going to be a collective yoga class when I arrive onsite.  I'm looking forward to that but, most of all, starting each day on my mat to help battle through any stress. Wednesday, July 25, 2018 (Part II) Feeling great after my practice and ready to clean up and head to the airport. Namaste

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning feeling reasonably good and reasonably ready for my practice. I'm on my mat as I type this feeling some eagerness to begin, but not a huge drive.  I'm going to try and amp up that feeling of drive while I practice (usually by pushing myself a little more physically), to see what happens afterwards, and if I feel different. Tuesday, July 24, 2018 (Part II) Like yesterday, I'm writing this on my mat the following morning.  Yesterday's practice was wonderful, and definitely sets the tone for my day. I'm feeling ready to sweat it out on my mat this morning and looking forward to shaping my mind and body. Namaste

Monday, July 23, 2018 After a weekend of fun, friends, and camping/floating on the rivers of Missouri, I'm ready to sweat it out on my mat. All of last week, I maintained a clean diet in anticipation of the poor diet choices I'd be making this past weekend.  The food did not disappoint, and I enjoyed myself immensely.  I woke at my usual 4:45AM to begin the reversal of all that delicious junk-food. Physically, I'm feeling sore and stiff but ready to warm up and sweat it out on my mat. Monday, July 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this post-practice the morning after. I can easily say that, when I start my day with a yoga practice that everything is easier. Stress doesn't seem as stressful.  Insults and jabs aren't taken personally, and problems that seemed convoluted and insurmountable at first become streamlined and easily resolved.  Namaste

Thursday, July 12, 2018 Today will be a simple and easy day.  I'm up at my usual 4:45AM, ready to hit my mat.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018 Woke up at my usual 4:45AM this morning. I don't know what it is about doing things in threes, but I feel that three days back on my mat realigns me back into a standard yoga shape. I have to say that, as I type this, I only have two practices this week under my belt (afterwards, of course, I'll have three), but I already see an enormous change in myself, physically.  The main thing I see after two sequential practices is a "deflating" of my abdomen.  Hitting my mat for a morning yoga practice is the best thing I have ever encountered for assisting in digestion and elimination. I'm going to pray/meditate before warming up and beginning my sequence. Wednesday, July 11, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this second half of the post the morning after, on my mat, getting ready to begin my practice again. I'm so proud of the feeling I get when I get up at 4:45AM to refine myself.  Some practices are better than others (as certain d...

Tuesday, July 10, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. Feeling wonderful this morning, and not terribly sore at all.  There's a bit of stiffness in my back from yesterday's backbends, but that's to be expected. Ready to sweat it out on my mat. Tuesday, July 10, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off my mat, already showered up for my day. I love going to my mat.  The physical challenge alone is reward enough, but, while I've said it many times before, the mental and spiritual adjustments that one can make are priceless.  Physically, I already see a difference in my body.  Arms are still re-building their stamina, but the twists and forward bends I incorporate are already helping with digestion and elimination and the general "deflating" of my body and G.I. track (TMI, I'm sure, but this is one of the main physical reasons why I practice). Mentally, I feel prepared for anything that comes my way today and fe...

Monday, July 9, 2018 It's been two weeks since I've hit my mat. No worries about that break in the practice; I will always return to my mat. In the past two weeks, I just haven't been able to get up at my normal 4:45AM.  Without that, I don't have enough time in the morning to dedicate to my practice. I've kept myself physically active with running and tae kwon do, but the mental shaping of my yoga mat cannot be replaced with anything. I'm looking forward to sweating it out on my mat this morning though I'm expecting to have lost some strength and flexibility.  Whatever is lost is quickly re-gained. Monday, July 9, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this having finished my practice, and showered up for the day. Today's physical practice was excellent.  The Papa John's Sausage and Pepperoni pizza I had for dinner last night was still in the way (#noshame #junkfoodlover) and, when I inverted or attempted forward bends, the softness I've a...

Friday, June 22, 2018, Woke at my usual 4:45AM feeling wonderful. I'm on my mat as I type this, ready to begin my practice. I notice that I hone in on myself for some practices, and then not as much on others.  I don't force myself into anything on my mat (as I believe one of the primary benefits I learn is being ok with how things are on any given day) but, that aside, I do want to challenge myself a little more today and focus myself mentally. The mental challenge as I understand it, is to shut down your mind and your thoughts as you practice.  This is nearly impossible to do for longer than 4 seconds; try it and you'll see!  You'll start thinking about your life, bills, responsibilities, fun activities you have planned...you'll bring yourself back and then focus on not focusing on anything...long story short, your brain and thoughts are running around doing whatever they want and part of the challenge is to control and shape them.  Controlling your body is...

Thursday, June 21, 2018 I'm writing this on my mat, at 6:27AM.  For some reason, I didn't wake up at my usual 4:45AM this morning to practice. I won't have time for a full Primary Series, but I will have time for prayers, meditation, and a warm up. Thursday, June 21, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the next morning, on my mat for another practice. While I wasn't feeling well yesterday morning, and didn't do a complete practice, the meditation, prayers, and warm up were still enough to shape myself into something.  Every day... Hit the mat... No excuses... Namaste

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 I didn't practice yesterday as I woke at my usual 4:45AM and couldn't get up. For whatever reason, I slept for nearly 12 hours on Monday night (passing out on the couch right after dinner and then shambling over to bed to sleep until 6:30AM Tuesday morning.  That's very unusual for me, and I don't know what caused it. I did celebrate a lot over this past weekend, eating and drinking, and I feel like that may have played a role in it all.  My diet's been 75% clean, and 25% not  clean (healthy breakfasts/lunches and then incredibly unhealthy dinners), and I believe that's contributed to the sluggish and bloated feelings I'm having. I am up, as usual, this Wednesday morning at 4:45AM to sweat it out and hit my mat.  I'm looking forward to what's in store. Wednesday, June 20, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the following morning, as I leapt up from my mat yesterday after I practiced to go and get ready for my day. ...

Monday, June 18, 2018 Woke up at my usual 4:45AM feeling good for a Monday morning! I recharged myself on Sunday with a schedule of doing nothing, and allowed myself to lay around and relax.  I had a wonderful weekend of celebrations and partying, so I'm happy to sweat it out on my mat this morning. Physically, I'm feeling a little sore in my back and hips, but that's nothing new; special attention to those areas, and a luxurious warm-up will help move things along.

Thursday, June 14, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM for coffee and contemplation. I'm feeling pretty sore this morning, and a bit groggy for some reason. My mat will rectify all of that.....

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 I'm always amazed at how much a morning practice can change the course of a day by keeping you resilient, focused, and honed. I can't tell you how many times the day's mojo just wears off (usually after lunch), and how your outlook can change when this happens.  I notice that, with a morning practice under my belt, this is minimized greatly and the mojo flows from morning to night. I'm feeling great this morning, after waking at my usual 4:45AM, and I have to say that the additional 15 minutes of time I give myself really makes a difference (I used to wake at 5:00AM). Physically, I'm feeling well.  I feel strong and solid, but a bit sore from yesterday's practice, and last night's Tae Kwon Do class.  Additionally, I'm still working on eliminating the wonderful array of junk food I enjoyed over this past weekend so I'm paying close attention to forward and back bends to help speed that along. Time to sweat it out....

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 New week, new yoga practice. The last time I hit my mat was last Friday, 3 days ago.  I'm interested to see where I'm at physically as I had a fun weekend spent outdoors hiking around outside.  I'm feeling slightly sore from the weekend of fun, but eager to break through that soreness on my mat. Tuesday, June 12, 2018  (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having come out of Savasana about 10 minutes ago. I'm feeling wonderful, as always, after I practice.  I focused on honing my thoughts and emotions this morning (something that gets easier the more you practice it).  While it sounds totally  hippy-dippy, you can  gain a kind of control over your thoughts and attitudes, and help shape yourself with the practice of yoga. Physically, I felt fine this morning.  Not perfect or completely satisfied with my Asanas, but definitely happy that I'm keeping with my standard routine.  My arms were strong and stable (for ...

Friday, June 8, 2018 Woke feeling a little strange this morning as I had some funky dreams and my stomach's behaving a bit strange. Regardless of how I feel, I'm on my mat, and will be sweating it out shortly. Friday, June 8, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having come out of Savasana about 30 minutes ago. Why do I keep coming back to my mat? Why do I wake at 4:45AM when I'd rather sleep half the time? Why do I practice yoga? The answer is because it shapes me.  The title of this blog is "shape your mind, shape your body", and my yoga practice does just that.  It gives me an opportunity to focus on my thoughts and emotions, judge and measure them, and then shape them into something that is useful and positive for me. I'm going to have a wonderful day today, and I'm looking forward to taking this version of myself out into the world to share. Namaste

Thursday, June 7, 2018 After taking that hiatus from my mat, I always feel wonderful when I come back and reform my routine. I do feel guilty when I don't practice with diligence, but I don't beat myself up over breaks from my practice (even though self control and diligence with a practice is always best). Physically, I'm feeling a little  bit sore this morning, but nothing like I was on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Looking forward to sweating it out! Thursday, June 7, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this the morning after my practice as I felt so good yesterday after closing out my sequence that I hopped up from my mat and played around for 20 minutes before getting in the shower. Can I get a "Namaste" to that! lol

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 Woke again at my usual 4:45AM and finally feel  like I'm getting back into my yoga groove. When I'm fully in my groove, the alarm goes off at 4:45AM and I have no problems hopping up out of bed to start my day.  When I'm not  in my groove, the alarm goes off on the other side of the room, and I stand there, after turning it off, doing a 50/50 split in my head about crawling back into bed for "5 more minutes". We all  know that "5 more minutes" becomes an hour almost immediately. Delighted this morning to be on my mat and eager to see what's in store as I begin my practice. Physically, I'm feeling a little stiff from running and Tae Kwon Do, but I know that the remedy for that is burning through myself physically to heat things up and loosen any stuck areas. Wednesday, June 6, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this part two post the morning after  I practiced. I felt wonderful yesterday after hitting my mat and a...