James Walsh Yoga

Friday, April 29, 2022, Its 5:25am as I type this.  I noticed that, throughout this week, my posts have been brief, and have had titles/headers that simply have the day of the week and the word "yoga" in them.  I may be in a bit of a lull.  Physically, my practices this week have been strong and complete.  However, I've felt a little "under the weather/run-down" through out this week, and have been trying to be gentle with myself.  Enough chit-chat.....I can feel slight fatigue in my body.....and too much warmth in my face (this is generally a sign to me that I'm "run down"); knowing and saying that, I'm going to go through my normal routine this morning and let my body do what it wants.   Time to begin.... Part II: Full practice.  I'm late.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Wednesday, April 27, 2022, On my mat, at the usual 5:15am-ish.  Time to begin...  Part II: Great practice; time to enter the world.  Namaste

Tuesday, April 26, 2022, On my mat for the first time this week.  I will take things slow, and not push myself.  One's post-weekend body can be full of little kinks, soreness, and stiffness that weren't there on Friday. Time to begin... Part II Late, but did a full practice this morning.  Namaste

Thursday, April 21, 2022, Nothing to say....time to begin.  Part II: Full sequence this morning (including backbends), but I'm late!   Namaste

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 Nothing much to say; back on my mat after a little hiatus.  Part II: A great practice, but my mind was all over the place.  Full backbend sequence was completed.  Time to enter the world.  Namasate

Friday, April 15, 2022, In Catholic/Christian tradition, today marks the anniversary or Good Friday; the day Christ died.   Catholics/Christians around the world will observe this day as a day of prayer, fasting, abstinence from meat (as all Fridays in Lent), and reflection. The line of, " Earn This ", comes from a scene in "Saving Private Ryan" where, towards the end of the film, all of the effort, work, sacrifice, comes to fruition, with the last of the Ryan brothers (played by Matt Damon) is saved by a group of soldiers in WWII.  Tom Hanks, after toiling through the movie, facing death in the face at every turn, passes away on the battlefield, secure in the knowledge that he has done his duty, he has saved Private Ryan, and he can now pass; his last words, as Matt Damon holds him in his arms are, " Earn This ". It's a weighty thing to bear (whether we're talking in the confines of Saving Private Ryan, or the principles of Christianity); the deat...

Wednesday, April 13, 2022,  It's 5:14am as I type this.....time to begin... Part II: It's 7:03am as I type this part Part II, and I'm on my mat, having just come out of savasana.  It's time to enter the world.  Today's title was actually changed after completing my practice (the original title of today's post was "Wednesday Yoga", which is a sure sign that I'm not feeling inspired by anything. Today's inspiration came on my mat, as I focused my breath, body, attention, etc. on my meditation, prayers, and imagery (I hold an image in my mind as I move through my physical practice, and attempt to hold that image in place, without having additional thoughts creep in, while moving through my sequence......I can hold it for about 3 seconds (after 10+ years of practice).   As I was focusing, my thoughts, and demeanor changed; the phrase, " always be humble and kind" , popped into my head.  This will be what I focus on as I move through the w...

Tuesday, April 12, 2022, First practice of the week.  Looking forward to the version that comes off the mat at the end..... Part II: Great start to the day, great practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Friday, April 8, 2022, When I was a teenager, I never took any issue with violent, gory films; in fact, I think I really enjoyed them.  For whatever reason, I can't look at anything like that in my current state, and quickly turn my head whenever something vulgar, disgusting, or gory shows up on a screen.  Recoiling from ugliness is something that may have developed with age ( #iam36) .  I mention this in today's opening because, for whatever reason, images of gory/unpleasant/ugliness were flitting through my head this morning (could have been the cheddar bratwurst I had last night before bed that gave me bad dreams......).  In any event, the lesson I take from it is that the less ugliness you "consume" (with your eyes and your mind), the smaller your memories reservoirs are for ugliness; the inverse of this is true as well so make sure you encounter peaceful and beautiful images as often as possible.    Time to begin.... Part II: I started each day this we...

Thursday, April 7, 2022,  The title of today's post is actually the 5 tenants of Tae Kwon Do.  All 5 are lovely tenants to live ones life by, but the tenant of "perseverance" pops up as a key one.  For a multitude of reasons, I got knocked off the horse of my routine for the past few weeks; I'll spare the details, but I actually had to make a trip to the ER a few weeks ago.  Both before, and after that trip to the ER, I was unwell, and was continuing to try and incorporate the routine of my practice into my mornings (I am up at 4:15am and on my mat by 5:15am under normal circumstances).   I've been struggling to find motivation but, as I've said for years, motivation comes and goes and it's better to continue on with your routines even when you don't "feel like it".  That, for me, is the nature of perseverance.  On that note, it's 5:36am, and I'm behind schedule.  It's time to begin..... Part II: It's 7:13am as I type this, an...

Wednesday, April 6, 2022, "Mojo" was first coined by Austin Powers (I believe), but I take the word "mojo" to mean one's vibe/spirit/energy, etc.  For whatever reason, my "mojo" has been flat for awhile.  Nothing too terrible, but just a bit out of whack.  I've learned that, like weather, this can change very quickly, and one can get right back to feeling their mojo again (for no rhyme or reason). I would say that, when one is not feeling their "mojo", that they continue doing their daily routines (even if their heart isn't in it), because this will keep you conditioned; whether that routine be part of your professional life, your exercise routine, or your responsibilities to your family.   Enough chit chat....time to begin. Part II: As always, I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  Happy I started my day with a practice, and feeling differently/improved about not having "mojo".  Mojo will come, a...

 Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Woke yesterday at my usual 4:15am but, for whatever reason, couldn't get myself motivated enough to start my day on my mat......I shamefully headed back to bed at 5:15am (after an hour of coffee), to snuggle, rest, and watch YouTube videos of Judge Judy.  This morning, I'm on my mat, and looking forward to a practice.  For whatever reason, there is heaviness in my chest again (didn't I just deal with this?), and I'm praying it doesn't develop into anything worse as it did two weeks ago. Time to begin...... Part II: It's 6:49am as I type this, and I'm on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  An interesting practice this morning.  I was able to move out some of the "heaviness" I feel in my lungs, but I'm still wheezing, and coughing slightly.......I also have a stiff right knee (#iam36), and I was able to move out some of that stiffness as well.  Time to enter the day. Namaste.

Friday, April 1, 2022 For whatever reason, my illness has lingered.  I got over the worst of it last week/weekend but I'm still feeling fatigued, short of breath, and not 100%.  For those reasons, when my alarm sounded at 4:15am this past Wednesday and Thursday, I couldn't get up....... Days without yoga are always inferior to days that start with yoga.  In my opinion, it has nothing to do with anything other than the days that start on my mat, with a practice, simply get a better version of myself throughout the day.   On that note, it's time to begin... Part II: As always, I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  I get in my own way sometimes by trying to do too much; I believe I did that to myself earlier this week when I was feeling well enough to practice on Monday and Tuesday.....I don't believe I was well enough.  Today, (knock on wood), I'm feeling well enough again, but I'm going to be a bit more mindful about where I exp...

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Waking, with ease, at my 4:15am time, as usual.  It's 5:32am as I type this, so I'm about 15 minutes behind schedule. Time to begin...  Part II: Great practice.  it's 6:53am and it's time to enter the world.  Namaste

Monday, March 28, 2022, Since Thursday, March 17, I have been battling some kind of illness......I'm negative for COVID (both in the at-home test, and a test administered at a hospital), so that's good news, but I went from mild upper respiratory symptoms, to severe upper respiratory symptoms, to mild G.S. issues, to severe G.S. issues......all culminating with a trip to the E.R. last Wednesday in the early A.M. due to my inability to hold down any kind of liquid (medication, etc.).   Having said all of that, I'm back on my mat now with a bit of curiosity as to how today's practice will flow.....we'll see.... Part II: I'm writing this post-practice update on my mat, having just come out of Savasana.  A weak, but complete, practice this morning.  Time to enter the world.   Namaste

Monday, March 21, 2022 This past Thursday morning, I posted that I wasn't feeling so great, but that my practice was still a good one.  Little did I now that, just a few hours after that post, I would come crashing down into full blown illness.  I spent the latter half of Thursday afternoon, and the entirety of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, recuperating from full blown illness.  Head, ears, body aches....the kind of illness that can only be helped with doses of Dayquil and Nyquil. Today is the first day on my mat since Thursday, and I'm going to take it very easy....  Part II: A very light and easy practice.  My body is not ready for an physically taxing practice.  Even so, I'm always better off for having started my day on my mat. 

Thursday, March 17, 2022, Went to bed, and woke, feeling mildly unwell.  Weather changes, diet, sleep patterns, etc. can all lead to a light feeling of illness.  I will sweat it out on my mat, and feel better.  Time to begin..... Part II: I definitely moved around, and moved out, some of the illness (sinuses opened up, etc.), but going to take it easy.  Practice was lovely, as usual.  Namaste

Wednesday, March 16, 2022,  Monday's post was about Pixar's charming coming of age film, "Turning Red".  I won't belabor this pre-practice post, but everyone, myself included, "turns red" at one point or another.  I happen to be "red" at the moment, for some reason; everything irritates me.....irritation/redness and other angry emotions should be ignored (for the most part) and, like all emotions and feelings, they should be observed, but not paid any mind or attention (for the most part).  Emotions, and feelings (like anger and irritation), come and go with the wind, sleep, blood-sugar-levels, etc. In that vein, I shall practice what I preach, and burn out some of the "red" through a physical practice.  Part II: It's 7:14am as I type this and I am very late.  Great practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Tuesday, March 15, 2022, For the past week, I've been getting on my mat around my usual ~5:15am time every morning, but I've been writing sooooper long pre-practice posts and that's put my practice behind schedule.  I'm probably going to have to get onto my mat a little earlier if I want to keep a good start/stop yoga routine (which one should) and still have time to finish out the rest of my morning without blitzing around the house.  In that vein, it's time to begin.... Part II: It's 6:50am as I type this, and I'm on my mat having just come out of Savasana.  It's time to enter the world.  Namaste

 Monday, March 14, 2022, The image shown in today's post is from Disney/Pixar's delightful film, "Turning Red".  For those who haven't seen the movie, let me first say that it's one of the best animated films made in recent years, primarily for its non-sugary story line.  The main character learns that she has to keep her emotions (both good and bad) in check; if she doesn't, and she has a strong reaction to something, she instantly morphs into a red panda, and has to hide until she's calm again, when she morphs back into her human form.  While watching the movie, I was impressed by the film in how it showed the merit and values of restraint and self-control (very often, the message shown in children's movies is the opposite of this, and entertainment encourages children to allow their emotions to "flow" and be "free").  In addition to showing the merits of restraint and self-control, "Turning Red" also focuses on the ...