Page 9 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 146
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www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #146 March 2025 9
and meet them there. Continued from page 8 Beyond the wins, Shayler
recognizes the profound impact of
There was a time when yoga, as a
team sports on personal well-being.
practice and philosophy, seemed to
“Football, like any team sport,
carry this energy of immovability creates connection and community,
and rigid commitment to the you never know what struggles
The Many Colours of Yoga
importance of unwavering a teammate might be facing, or
adherence to yoga philosophy, the how much those nights together
eight limbs of yoga, and to strive mean to them.” He underscores
FPO
only to practice asanas (poses) in the importance of support, both on
their purest forms. It was, and still and off the field. “When things get
is at times, not uncommon to attend intense, it’s crucial to be kind and
By Jill Hodgson a yoga class where instructors supportive.” FPO
offer frequent verbal cuing and Trevor Shayler’s journey, from his
correction as well as physical early years with Black to his current
adjustments, insisting that our stint with Stolli, is a testament to the
incredibly diverse bodies shift and enduring power of passion and the
“Meeting People Where They’re contract and contort to fully enter a importance of community. His story
At” pose and receive its benefits. While inspires, proving that age is merely
at heart, the purpose behind this to a number, and that the spirit of
Several years ago, I was Submitted Photo
promote the wellbeing, internal competition can thrive at any stage
working on some courses in
and external growth and discipline of life. His legacy is not just about
Ecopsychology; the marriage of
and “stretching” of the practitioner victories, but about the connections
psychology and nature to promote
in beautiful ways, the outcome forged and the love of the game that
whole person health and wellbeing. he’s always ‘locked in physically,
for many has been the feeling continues to drive him forward.
Craig Chalquist, who was at that mentally, and emotionally.’
of inadequacy, of discomfort, of
time also the editor of the online
failure, and unfortunately, a fear
Journal, “Ecopsychology,” made a
of ever returning to the mat. The
statement in one of his papers that
being on the mat has not been
struck me so deeply, I have carried
met where they are at. In recent
it with me as a guiding principle in
years, with increasing emphasis
my own personal journey, in my
on trauma informed yoga (a topic
journey as yogi and yoga teacher,
we will explore more fully in
and as therapist. He was discussing
future articles), awareness of body
the challenges of promoting
diversity, of visible and invisible
environmental and ecological
disabilities, and simply of varying
awareness, and the intimate
anatomy, teachers have begun
connection between humans and
shifting, embracing dynamic and
the natural world. He suggested
flexibility in the studio and on the
that efforts to engage others in
mat, opening space for unique
environmental awareness often fall
expression and interpretation of
short because the approaches used
poses, and allowing yoga to become
often seek to engage individuals
truly accessible. I am honoured
at a level beyond their readiness
to be able to say, that within our
or capacity for understanding at
beautiful community, rich in an
that moment in time, and as a
equally rich diversity of yoga
result, risks turning people away.
teachers, yoga, in our community,
Chalquist suggested, that to truly to
exemplifies what it means to “meet
create change, engage others, and
people where they’re at,” creating
to encourage them to accept our
safe and accessible spaces and
invitation, rather than insist they
ensuring that yoga continues to
meet us where we want them to be,
touch the lives of many.
we must honour where they are at,
