Page 49 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 150

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #150 July 2025 49

The Breath Beneath It All – Part I

as is the journey for many in the What is Pranayama? begin to touch something ancient
Western world, we are drawn to the Pranayama is the fourth limb of and eternal. In the quiet pause
outer form, rather than the inner. We yoga, traditionally defined as the between inhale and exhale, we find a
The Many Colours of Yoga need not rush to judgment, however, control (yama) or extension (ayama) space that is both still and alive. We

should we find ourselves focused on of life force energy (prana). In discover that the breath is not just
the postures and esthetics of yoga, simple terms, it’s the art and science air — it’s awareness, it’s connection,
for this too, is part of the path, and of breathing with awareness. While it’s life itself. The breath is the vital
if we continue our yoga journey with we breathe thousands of times a day energy that animates all living things
compassion and patience, time will unconsciously, pranayama invites us — the same current that moves
By Jill Hodgson show us that our journey is, in fact, to wake up to each inhale and exhale, through trees, tides, and stars. When
a spiral, and that wherever we may to participate in our own aliveness. we breathe with purpose, intention,
find ourselves at any one point, it will From a physiological perspective, and compassion in our hearts, we
eventually lead within as we move conscious breathing regulates the connect with that current and we add
ever inward, leading us eventually autonomic nervous system — to it. We remember that we are not
to the very heart of our practice - helping shift the body from fight or separate, but part of something vast,
n the vibrant tapestry of yoga the breath - pranayama. The breath flight into rest and restore. Breath rhythmic, and whole.
I— from the grounding browns creates the bridge between body practices can improve lung function, You don’t need to master complex
of asana to the golden threads of and mind, between effort and ease, lower stress hormones, calm breath ratios to start. Begin with
meditation — there is one element between the physical and the sacred. anxiety, and even enhance focus and noticing. That’s pranayama, too —
digestion. But beyond the science,
that colours everything: the breath. In our practice at New Mindset pranayama offers something more the simple act of being with your
In the early years of my yoga Yoga, we seek to honour and support subtle: a reconnection to self. breath. As you move through your
journey, my practice focused heavily each person wherever they find practice — wherever that might
on the Asanas – the postures – themselves on that spiral that they Breath as a Spiritual Practice be on the spiral of outer to inner
At its core, pranayama is more
following the rhythms of my body, might embrace their unique journey than a technique — it’s a spiritual — remember: the breath is always
challenging it, contorting it, striving with compassion, patience, and invitation. When we slow down and with you, colouring each moment,
to reach the next peak pose. Perhaps curiosity. meet the breath with reverence, we shaping each posture, anchoring you
to the present.

Area Senior - Continued from page 33 as a trainer, in his opinion, football watching players skate and pick up this is one level higher than I had
They were all 16-17 years old, and players had the highest level of the little changes that would come ever worked at before. During this
I just looked at them and said, respect for the trainers. He believed with an injury, and he attended game a Colt’s player got a cut on his
“Guys, you know that I don’t know this is because trainers get to know many team practices as well. “I was chin and when this giant of a player
anything about this game, - just do the players more, as they are doing good friends with Mike Piquette came to see me, I could tell that
what you do.” One of the things a lot of pregame stuff like taping and for three years I was the trainer the cut wasn’t very serious, and I
that lacrosse trainers had to monitor ankles and wrists, allowing them for his Midget Royals team. There started to laugh. He asked what was
was players, particularly the goalies to get to know their players. As a were a few times Mike had asked so funny and I told him that none
overheating, with Dean saying, trainer, I attended every practice me to fill in with the Cornwall of the players that I worked with
“The goalies in lacrosse are really that I possibly could. It was rare that Colts if their regular trainer wasn’t had beards. I was able to get some
padded down and with summer I ever missed practice because it’s available. The very first time that I Vaseline on it and stop the bleeding,
lacrosse, some of the old arenas important to know how players were filled in, the Colts were playing in but I went out and bought a trimmer
had a real lack of ventilation. The before an injury. You could either Brockville. I agreed on the condition in case something like this were to
Water Street Arena was a great old spot an injury or see a change in that when we got to Brockville, happen again.” Dean really enjoyed
barn, but you could smell the sweat their behaviour or in their play. You Mike would let the Braves trainer the time he spent with the youth as
as soon as you walked through the became more aware of things, and know that I was a substitute and a trainer, and it gave him a means to
door. I always kept cold spray in it also helped to build trust. You got may need his support. As soon as contribute back.
my trainer’s bag for both lacrosse to learn which players got injured we got to Brockville their coach Contributing to the community is
and football, a shot on the back of easier and which ones wouldn’t approached Mike, telling him that important to Dean, as noted in his
the neck would help to cool a player want to come off the field.” It was their trainer couldn’t make it and active involvement as a Rotarian
down”. Dean went on to mention similar as a hockey trainer, with asked if I could cover their team as with the Rotary Club of Cornwall
that of the sports that he has worked Dean saying you could learn by well. I was shaking in my boots as for the past twenty-nine years.