Page 38 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 151

38 Issue #151 August 2025
The Many Colours of Yoga
By Jill Hodgson
oday’s article will the first of
Tmany exploring the relationship
between trauma and yoga and how
our understanding has evolved. At
New Mindset Yoga we seek to bridge
the chasm between the two. As both
yoga teacher and clinical therapist,
my appreciation of honouring the
traditions of yoga, and yet the risks
woven into strict adherence to those
Continued from page 37
to visit a friend in Windsor,
and I had seen the car for sale
in the Old Autos magazine. We
stopped along the way to see it.
This was of course in the pre- back then! We were married on married on June 5th—the same for my daughter’s wedding!
Internet days. It was a Virginia
car and had come to Canada
a year earlier. It was in great
shape overall, and although it
was a few cubic inches short of
being a GTO, it was love at first
sight! We bought it and drove
it home. I remember being so
disappointed on the maiden
voyage home down the 401 as
it rained the whole time and so I
couldn’t drop the top.
A few friends of mine who
worked at a body shop stripped
the car and painted it the first
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“Gentle Threads: Weaving Trauma-
Informed Practice into the Many
Colours of Yoga”
traditions as it relates to trauma To choose. Rooted in neuroscience For those beginning their journey,
remains flexible, open, curious and compassion, trauma-informed gentle practices like restorative
as our understanding of safety, of yoga recognizes that trauma lives in yoga or trauma-informed chair
diversity, of the unique needs of each the body, often beyond words. As the yoga can offer a safe starting
beautiful being on the mat increases. Cleveland Clinic notes, movement point. Trauma-informed yoga is
For some, what is intended to be a and breath can help regulate the not about fixing what’s broken. It’s
healing and restorative practice can nervous system, offering a path to about remembering what’s whole.
be one triggering fear, nervous system healing that begins not in the mind, It’s about listening to the body’s
dysregulation, and pain. Yoga, at but in the body’s quiet language whispers and honouring its wisdom.
its heart, is a homecoming—a quiet In this practice, healing is not a
In these spaces, there are no
return to the body, breath, and self. commands—only choices. Teachers destination—it’s a rhythm, a breath,
But for those carrying the invisible a moment of stillness where you feel,
weight of trauma, this return can use invitational language, like “if it perhaps for the first time, truly safe.
feel uncertain, even unsafe. Trauma- feels right” or “you might explore,” “Most experts agree that trauma’s
informed yoga offers a softer allowing each practitioner to reclaim
agency. There are no hands-on effects live in the body—and that’s
doorway, one that opens not with why yoga works.”
force, but with invitation. adjustments, no expectations to close
This approach doesn’t ask the body your eyes or surrender. Instead, there — Yoga International, citing Dr.
to perform. It asks it to feel. To notice. is room to be—exactly as you are. Bessel van der Kolk
year I owned it, as we wanted it hasn’t been painted. BTW, for in May. It was amazing to see it
looking shiny and new for our those thinking about doing this, pulling into my yard. I believe I
wedding. I remember getting get your wallet out! teared up! It felt like I was on one
the bumpers rechromed at G&G In 2020 our oldest daughter of those TV shows.
plating and that was $800 each announced she wanted to get We got to use the new ‘ol girl
June 5th, 1993, and we had the date as us. This was my excuse It seems these days we’re
Lemans, a 57 Chevy and a 1976 to set a goal to finish the car. It busier than ever, and I don’t drive
Caprice Classic convertible had already been painted, and I her near as much as I would like.
for the wedding party to cruise had purchased most of the parts I believe you should hang on to
away in. It was an overcast day, over the years: new seat covers, the things that make you feel
but luckily the rain held off for carpet, roof… The car was in young. I hear too many people
our photos. my garage in several pieces and say, “I should have kept that
We used the car in the summer boxes. It was shipped to a friend car!” In the future I’d like to get
for some years. It had always of mine who has a huge passion back into the scene, going to car
been a dream of mine to do a for classic cars, and even though shows and cruise nights when we
full body of restoration. The car he’s a MOPAR guy, he took on can get a handle back on our time.
came off the road for way too the challenge of putting the old It’s awesome talking to other car
long and with the help of many Pancho back together. It was lovers as we all have stories to
people over many years, there January or February of 2021. tell about our rides. Thanks for
basically isn’t a nut or bolt that He personally delivered it to me taking the time to read mine!