James Walsh Yoga

Thursday, December 19, 2024 Feelings and emotions (in general) are things that I advise anyone to be aware of, but to never let them control you (a feeling isn't real and an emotion isn't real either, despite what Pixar and Inside Out, etc. all have to say to us about emotions).   The emotion/feeling of being "good enough" can work for us and against us (some days we feel more than good enough and some days we don't); whether "good enough" is working for us or against us, it should still be observed, but never focused on much.  I woke up not feeling "very good" and or "good enough" and or blah blah blah...... I am happy that I'm on my mat, and beginning my practice as I know I will feel better afterwards.  Time to begin... Part II: As always, I write the initial post before my practice, and I write the Part II immediately after I've concluded my practice.   My perspective and outlook has changed so much from a few hours ago.  ...

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 I haven't practiced in a while and I have a theory that, with the other physical trainings I've been undertaking (for running, and other competitions), my body has stiffened up (especially the corset-like muscle groupings of my back/torso).  I believe this could be affecting my mental acuity.   Mind over matter is something we hear a lot but is the reverse ever true; does our physical body (the "matter"), ever get the upper hand over the mind?  I believe it can (unfortunately) and has and it is up to oneself to reverse and un-do this so that the mind is always in control over the body.  Enough chit-chat....time to begin... Part II: Writing this update post-practice.  I have a lot of things to work through physcially but, the mind is superior.  Always.  Namaste

 Monday, November 4, 2024,  A line from one of the latest Disney/Pixar films, " Inside Out 2"  is the title of today's post.  I'm not trying to drag Pixar and Disney into the dirt, but their overall approach to content over the past decade or so has led to multiple satires of their work (watch SouthPark's season opener "the pander-verse" to understand more).   The actual line from the "Inside Out 2" movie is, "... I've learned that all emotions, are good.." .  This really isn't true.  Contemporary approaches to emotions and mental health are heavily flawed (in my humble and untrained lay-man's opinion).  Are emotions good?.....Are all emotions good?  Absolutely not, and what a thing to say and suggest.    My say is that emotions (of any kind) are actually not good.  Emotions, above everything else, should be ignored and have minimal influence on one's thoughts and actions.  If eating a meal or drinking a glass of...

Wednesday, October 23, 2024,  Human Nature is something one hears a lot.  It can be a blanket response to anything a human does actually, and can also be dangerous to label our actions/words as " that's just human nature".   One could argue that, while all humans are bound into their physical bodies, are our bodily driven desires (food, breathing, sleep, etc.) "human nature" or are they "animal nature"?  Any animal craves the same things of abundant food, sleep, mating partners, etc., but are we, as humans, meant to bring ourselves beyond this bottom tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs? Time to begin today's practice... Part II: Great practice, but it's time to enter the world (thinking about my flawed and imperfect human nature). 

Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Haven't hit the mat in awhile as other physical pursuits have been taking more of a "center stage".  Let's see if I can get back in the groove of things.... Part II: A soft gentle practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Wednesday, July 31, 2024, It's 5:23am, and it's time to begin... Part II: It's 7:23am (on the dot), and I'm done with today's practice.  Namaste

Tuesday, July 30, 2024,  24601.......just kidding (little Les Miserables joke for ya there....).  In seriousness, asking oneself " who am I" , can be an interesting exercise in self-reflection.  First and foremost, in the spirit of humility (which is grossly lacking in our world), one should initially answer, " I am no one". The response of " I am no one", meaning you're a nobody from nowhere, doesn't minimize you as a person, but it implies that you're humble and realize that you're nothing special (because you're not and neither am I).   Time to begin today's practice....  Part II: Great practice.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Monday, July 29, 2024 5:32am, and time to begin... Part II: 7:25am, and my practice is over.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Monday, July 22, 2024,  Late to the mat, time to begin. Part II: I'm unwell, so spent today's time on the mat rolling around, moving softly into stretches, etc. and it was marvelous.  Namaste

Wednesday, July 3, 2024, There's a great line from an Anne Murray song (or from an old Religious song that Anne Murray did a cover of), that alludes to what will occur when we die and, if there's an afterlife, what our initial thoughts/feelings and experience, in general will be, when we pass. " when my feeble life is over" No one, myself included, wants to view their life as feeble but it's important to remember that, if Religion is correct, what we're planning for ourselves and structuring for ourselves in this world (careers, aspirations, 401k amounts, etc.) are feeble and will ultimately disappear; they'll disappear if there's an afterlife or not actually. Given that fact, I try to remind myself everyday to extinguish my feeble will, my feeble wants, my feeble thoughts and feeble plans......they're all made by a feeble and flawed mind.  Extinguish your will, wants, and desires daily and align yourself with the Divine.   Time to begin today'...

Tuesday, June 25, 2025, Behind schedule (it's 5:36am) and it's time to begin...

Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Tuesday yoga....5:19am and it's time to begin...

Thursday, June 13, 2024, On the mat a little behind schedule (at 5:27am).  I'm up at 4:15am for coffee and contemplation but, for whatever reason, getting on the mat at 5:15am sharp is difficult.....time to begin today's practice... 

Wednesday, June 12, 2024,  Late to the mat (it's 5:28am) and it's time to begin...

Tuesday, June 11, 2024, It's 5:23am, and I'm late to the mat.....time to begin...

Saturday, June 1, 2024, Today is the first full day back from a lovely two week stay in Grand Cayman (partly for work, and partly for fun). I took my mat with me, as I always do when I travel, and I actually got in a fair amount of practices (of the 14 days I was gone, I think I hit the mat 5 or 6 times).  The reason I'm on the mat this morning, on a Saturday, is primarily due to the fact that, while on the for-fun portion of my trip, I overfed myself with a lot of delicious tropical IPA beers, pizzas, and other tasty convenience foods (I think we even enjoyed some Wendy's in the airport). All that to say.....a goal of today's practice is to help move some of this up and out of my body. Time to begin.... Part II: Great Saturday practice; time to enter the world (still slightly over fed).  Namaste

Thursday, May 9, 2024,  On the mat a little later than I should be (at 5:30am), so won't post much but the atrophy is reversing. Time to begin... Part II: Behind schedule. Time to enter the day.  Namaste

Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Back on my mat at my usual time of 5:15am-(ish).  Reversing atrophy. Part II: Behind schedule, but a great pratice; ended with the full backbend sequence.  The atrophy is being reversed.  Namaste

Monday, May 6, 2024, Anything will atrophy if neglected (anythign physical, emotional, mental, etc.).  I haven't hit my mat in a few weeks due to a half-marathon training and other elements of life that have gotten in the way of my practice, but neglect is a bad habit to get into.  Good news is that it can be turned around, like anything else.  Time to begin... Part II: Great practice.  Behind schedule.  Time to enter the world.  Namaste

Friday, April 19, 2024, A simple, but very charming and reflective, song by Billie Eilish is titled "What Was I Made For".  Used in the 2023 "Barbie" film, the lyrics, like most of Billie's songs, are quietly spoken in an understated, almost "whispery" tone.  The message the lyrics convey is one of mild confusion at that very high-level question of what is one's purpose?.....what is one supposed to do with one's life?.......what were you made for? The best way to reduce the troubling and anxiety building question of "what was I made for" is to surrender and extinguish your own will.  Eliminate your own desires as much as you can; "empty" yourself.  This is difficult as the modern world is constantly attempting to fill one's brain/thoughts with ideas and "what-ifs", so finding silence and peace to contemplate one's life is already an up-hill climb (how can I find silence when I have my iphone at my fingertip...