James Walsh Yoga

Marichyasana II / The Pose of Marichi A favorite pose of mine that keeps your spine flexible and supple. This pose aids in digestion and elimination as well.  Tuesday, June 23, 2020 (Part I),  As always, I'm writing this Part I post before beginning my practice. I will take a page from my own book of advice, and focus on keeping my monkey mind still today. To begin keeping "the monkey" still, I'm going to begin with Pranayama/breathing techniques, and prayers.  I usually move from breathing and prayer, into meditation; for me, and my current skill level, and understanding (which is always evolving), I begin meditation by holding the image of something in my head, and focusing on that image.  My attention will wander after just a few seconds, but I bring my brain/"the monkey", gently back to his "chair" and have him "sit" again.  From here, I begin my physical practice. Padma Sirsasana/Lotus Tripod This is an example of prepar...

Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (Part I) One of the best analogies that describes our mind, and awareness, can be found in this short, one minute video. Our mind, and thoughts naturally run around in our head; disobedient, willful, and reactive....we rarely make our brain/mind sit still for any length of time. A goal of yoga, and meditation, is to be able to condition and control your mind (and body), so that you can, on a whim, ask the "monkey" to sit still...and it will obey. A simple method to practice is finding an object (any object will do from a religious item, to the bowl of apples sitting on your table), and holding that image, and that image alone, in your mind.  See how long you hold the image before other thoughts begin to creep in.... Become comfortable with the idea of sitting still, and it can become a habit.  A still mind can discern what's real, from what's fake; a still mind is not depressed, scared, or apprehensive; a still mind is not anxious. ...

The steps leading to full  Urdhva Dhanurasana/Upward Bow Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (Part I),  Today's practice marks the second opportunity this week to rebuild my practice (after a two week, poison ivy hiatus). As always, I'll begin with prayers and meditation before warming up, and beginning my sequence. Time to begin.... Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (Part II),  As always, the Part II post comes after a practice.  Today is the second opportunity I've had this week to rebuild my practice after a two week, poison-ivy-induced, hiatus. Preparation for Urdhva Dhanurasana. Because this pose is challenging, it should be done at the end of your practice, wen you're warmed up. Hands are placed directly under the shoulders... I went through my full, modified Ashtanga Series (a non-traditional sequence, for any yogi who follow this blog), and finished with my favorite/least favorite/love it/hate it/ closing sequence of backbending.  Urdhva Dhanurasana , also...

M onday, June 15, 2020 (Part I),  As the title suggests, the last time I hit my mat was Friday, May 29.   After that practice,  two weeks ago, I joined my brothers for a delightful little camping/floating trip in Central Missouri, only to find my arms, stomach, and legs covered in a poison ivy rash upon my return home. I toyed with the idea of getting on my mat but, as anyone who's contracted poison ivy knows, the oil of the plant can create a gnarly looking, bubbly mess of your skin; you can't shower in hot water, as it'll spread the oil.  Knowing this, I determined it would be best to stay off my mat, as I don't want any oil/sweat getting onto my mat to re-spread at a later date. That's over two full weeks of no yoga!  What's a yogi to do?...... The answer is simple; you rebuild..... Time to begin.... Monday, June 15, 2020 (Part II),  Look at this.....all over.... Even with a two week hiatus from my mat, much of my flexibility, stren...

Friday, May 29, 2020,  Heat will cure what ails you. For me, at least, that's true. Stiff, sore, achy,....you name it; heat will help move it out of your body, primarily, through your sweat. I typically don't practice on the weekend so, until monday.... Namaste

Upavista Konasana - Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend I execute this pose daily (when I complete a full practice), and this is an essential Asana to keeping my back mobile and fluid.   Thursday, May 28 2020 (Part I), With Monday being a holiday, and yesterday's practice being interrupted and incomplete, today (Thursday), was the first full practice I've completed all week.  The last full practice I completed was one week ago and, in that time, enough occurs in life to stiffen up, and immobilize areas of your body, particularly your back and spine. Whether I was running/jogging around my neighborhood, or biking, or lounging on the couch this past Memorial Day weekend, a 4-day hiatus from my mat was enough to regress my spine Padmasana-  Lotus Pose When executing this Asana, don't forget to change legs so you stay balanced.  It's 8:15AM as I type this, and it's time to begin... Thursday, May 28, 2020 (Part II),  I'm writing this Part II upd...

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 (Part I),  For those who continue a 6 day, or even 7 day practice, good for you. For those of us that don't practice on the weekends, #badyogi, we come back to our mats with a body that needs work, but a mind that doesn't want to obey. With warmer weather here to stay (I hope), the extra heat will help reconnect my body and brain; currently they're not holding hands.... Tuesday, May 26, 2020 (Part II),  A strong, but simple practice today.  No time for yoga picz; Until tomorrow... Namaste

The man | The myth | The legend B.K.S. Iyengar   Thursday, May 21, 2020 (Part I) Align your body, and you will align your mind. It seems odd that a physical practice of something (yoga, running, tennis, Zoomba....whatever you do), can have an effect on your mind; " my mind and body are unrelated and unconnected" , one says.... Through a daily practice, which will be beautiful on some days and less beautiful on others, one starts to realize the alignment and control you can gain over your mind/thoughts through the alignment and control of your body and breath. A practice helps you discern between things that are real, and things that are fake; many fake things are in our own heads and our disobedient minds run around thinking, dreading, contemplating, fantasizing, planning, anticipating, etc.  A practice helps you stop the spiral of uncontrolled thoughts and emotions.  Control your thoughts, and you control your reality.  This doesn't mean only good things ...

Pranayama/Breathing Exercise Hands in Namaste with thumbs pressing gently in and up into the space between my eyebrows.  You'll feel your sinuses drain while doing this.  Complete a 4-count breath sequence (explained at right), while holding your hands in this position.  Change hands to be over your heart and press in/up while repeating the 4-count Pranayama technique.  Side-bar: if that mop keeps growing...we'll have full man-bun come summer. Wednesday, May 20, 2020 (Part I),  Like many, I was initially drawn to the visual side of a yoga practice. " Who are these yoga-bros",  I'd ask, " and how do I become cool like them, and learn how to balance on my head while juggling?". Like many, being interested in the physical poses/Asanas isn't a bad thing at all; however, there are Eight Limbs of Yoga   with the physical poses/Asanas, only being one of those limbs. You could study each limb of yoga for a lifetime, and only begin to scratch the s...

Adho Mukha Vrikshasana/Downward Facing Tree I can hold this puppy for about 10 seconds before allowing myself to fall out of it.  Always have space around you to fall; both forward and backward falls...don't practice this around your Christmas ornaments.... Tuesday, May 19, 2020 (Part I),  Pushing yourself to do something that makes you uncomfortable should be a daily goal. The discomfort you're bringing on yourself doesn't need to be Earth-shattering, and leave you in recovery mode for hours/days afterwards, but pushing yourself into doing something you don't want to do refines you as a person, and reminds your disobedient brain that you're in charge; not the other way around.  You control your thoughts and actions; they don't control you.  This means that, with practice, you can conquer fear, worry, anxiety, depression, dread, doom, malaise, you-name-it!.. I begin my mornings on my mat.  Very often, I don't want to begin my mornings this way; how...

Monday, May 18, 2020 (Part I),  I am a big believer that there are certain impurities that can only be eliminated through the action of sweating. Heat purifies things , as you can read about in the April 7, 2020 update so, when you're feeling like you need to "detox", crank the heat, put on a hoodie and a double layer of t-shirts, and become active.  You'll be able to retox afterwards! Do you ever "detox to retox"?  Weekends are meant to be celebrated, and enjoyed so, when Monday rears its ugly head, begin with a detox......soon you'll get to retox!! Monday, May 18, 2020 (Part II),  Today was the first practice since last Thursday.  I will almost never practice on the weekends (Saturday is observed as a day of rest in Yoga), but I have zero excuses for missing Friday's practice other than I was celebrating the day before!....in other words, I retoxed to detox. #notsorry. Today's practice definitely felt clunky, in that I was full or jun...

Thursday, May 14, 2020 (Part I),  Why does one have a practice? What keeps a person coming back to their mat, when they don't really " feel like it ", on any given day? In the time I've learned, studied, and practiced yoga, I've learned that there is a marked difference in the version of yourself that exists before you practice, when compared to the version of yourself that exists after you practice; this site's Part I and Part II updates can attest to that. Having said that, the version of yourself that exists when you wake up is uncultivated, unrefined, and raw.  That's a good thing, as it means you have the opportunity to make something beautiful out of yourself before you skooch out the door and into the fray, chaos, and discord of the world. Pickle Rick (Season 3/Episode 3) of Rick and Morty gets chastised by the family therapist as she explains why he would be bored senseless by therapy, as he would view it as maintenance, cleaning, a...

Tolasana/Scale Pose First put yourself into Padmasana/Lotus , then lift; can also be done on the knuckles.  T uesday, May 12, 2020 (Part I),  Second morning with the new 6:00AM wake-up routine being established. It's a chilly, cloudy, and somewhat dreary day in St. Louis Missouri today; I'll go through my normal routine/house-keeping/maintenance today, and will leave it at that. Time to begin.... Tuesday, May 12, 2020, (Part II), I'm writing this Part II update, post practice, as always. The difference in emotions, thoughts, feelings, and general demeanor before and after a yoga practice is remarkable. Before I practice, I don't feel bad, or good, or anything,....I simply feel flat.  There's something about getting your heart rate up, and sweating out the Doritos and wine from the weekend, that really makes you feel accomplished. I'm still rebuilding some of the strength, flexibility, and stamina that was lost from my impromptu vacation las...

Monday, May 11, 2020, (Part I, Janusirsasana/Head to Knee Pose Tuesday of last week, I posted a real lofty goal of " getting up every morning at the same time"..... what a dweeb... With absolutely zero apologies, I took an impromptu Spring-time vacation down to Southern Missouri the following morning.  It was a vacation with all the trimmings of good food, family and friends, and a completely unscheduled pattern to each day.   Today is the first day I'm on my mat since last Tuesday.  My body is a bit out of whack from jumping on a trampoline, and my digestion is a bit out of whack from the marvelous vacation/road-trip foods, so I'm going to let today's practice be what it wants to be.  Something to be proud of is that I set, and responded to, my 6:00AM alarm (as a former early riser who set the alarm for 4:15AM, getting up early usually makes me feel better about myself).  I had my hour of coffee and contemplation (#strangerthings), and ...

Vrischikasana- Scoprion Pose Tuesday, May 5, 2020 (Part I), Part of a good practice, and routine, is to maintain a consistent start and stop time. I am exceptionally guilty of breaking that rule, as of late. My normal routine, was a 4:15AM wake up; without fail.  I'd enjoy an hour of coffee and contemplation ( #StrangerThings ), with a 5:15AM start time, on my mat.  My current routine has me on my mat whenever the mood strikes me.... 9:30AM start time?....why not.... Vrischikasana- Scoprion Pose .  With slightly less bent knees... 11:45AM start time?...sure.....that's perfect!... 8:00AM start time?....maybe one more cup of coffee, and one more good meme before I hit my mat.... All in all, my practice continues, but I will be attempting to bring things back to a consistent start/stop time throughout this week.  That means a consistent bedtime, and a consistent wakeup time as well. I'm feeling a bit average this morning; not bad,...

Adho Mukha Svanasana- Also referred to as Downward Dog. A Fundamental Pose that can be a transition, or held for a five count breath. Monday, May 4, 2020, (Part I),  Why is a yoga practice unique? How is time spent on one's mat different from your jog around the block, your Orange Theory class, or any other type of physical work out? For me, I can easily say the incorporation of breathing techniques, and mind control, put a yoga practice into a completely separate category, elevating it far beyond any physical work-out that exists.  Today, I'm focusing on the fundamentals of a yoga practice: Breath Mind Control/Focus Correct Alignment A far superior Adho Mukha Svanasana/Downward Dog. Shown, by the master himself, B.K.S. Iyengar. #yogagoals I'll begin, as always, with 10-20 minutes of breathing exercises/Pranayama , prayer, and meditation; I never jump directly into my Asanas/postures , as I want, and need, to take "stock" of m...

Friday, May 1, 2020, (Part I), The weather in St. Louis continues to be lovely, and it's primetime to get outside, BBQ, lay in the sun, and enjoy warmer weather.  As I've mentioned throughout this week, I notice a marked improvement in flexibility, recovery, and general fluidity of movement, when it's warmer.  Upavista Konasana- The Wide-Legged Bound Angle Pose (complete with sun-burned thighs # Irish ) Most of us are staying at home these days, and aren't able to get to a class anywhere.  If you're feeling antsy, I would say that a yoga practice, is an excellent way to keep yourself in some degree of fitness.  This site is designed for a beginner, a novice, or an advanced Yogi.  This site is also designed to inspire someone who's never gone to a yoga mat before in their life.   Like many people, I was initially drawn to the physical side of a yoga practice; " who are these cool looking people doing all of these cool looking things?!?...

Wednesday, April 29, 2020 (Part I), Alternate Nostril Breathing- A Pranayama Technique When we think of "yoga", we typically think of physical postures.  We think of a zen'd out room somewhere where groups of people come to work out their bodies. The physical side of yoga is important, and is a vital element to a complete yoga practice.  However, physical poses, formally called Asanas , are only one limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga . Pranayama is another limb, of the "yoga tree" and, before I begin my physical poses/Asanas, I dedicate the initial 10-20 minutes on my mat to meditation, prayers, and Pranayama . A person could study each limb of yoga through their lifetime, and continually find new ways to interpret their meaning, and their effects but, as today's update states, Pranayama, is a " fancy word for fancy breathing".  An easier way to think of it is that it simply means controlling your breath.  I've learned that, when you co...