Running since October 2014 and continuing until Spring 2015, Dr.Bali has introduced his Method to an enthusiastic group of students aged 12 to 17. The purpose of the program is for the students to improve their self-esteem, focus, concentration, motivation, and relaxation thus improving their performance and overall well being.
Among the participating schools are John Rennie High, Ecole des Sources and École Secondaire du Chêne Bleu. A big thank you to Nathalie Nauss for helping make the introductions that made this program possible!
Dr.Bali also works with young athletes from Premier Football Academy, the first ever provincial football development program committed to developing student-athletes into tomorrow’s leaders, as part of the Sport-Étude program.
“PFA offers Yoga sessions to student-athletes in their formative years. Dr Bali’s teaching is hugely beneficial for their young developmental minds to achieve overall success in the classroom and playing field and life.” – Michael Burgess, program director.
Below is a note Dr.Bali received from one of the Sport-Étude participants, Tara Santavicca. Tara and Marlyne are both part of the synchronized skating team, Les Pirouettes Junior de Laval. In their last season, they placed 1st in Austria for an international competition against 17 different teams. They also qualified for the World Challenge Cup in Switzerland where they competed against 14 different countries, and placed 5th overall. Marlyne goes to John Rennie High school and Tara attends Vanier College.
“I believe as athletes, we focus so much on the physical aspect and the technique of our sport that we lose sight of what allows us to perform at our best. What really intrigued me was how breathing can re-energize us. I knew it was important for the mechanical reasons, and remaining calm and under pressure but you’ve enlightened me in a whole new way. I find it so interesting how we can learn to gage our energy/fuel so that we’re not drained by the end of the day or exercise… I’ve begun implementing the exercises you gave right away. I actually did it when I woke up, and it made all the difference, I felt more awake and alert.
As well, the poem you gave us struck a cord, and it wasn’t the first time I’d heard those words but the way you encouraged us really digest the words and the meaning behind it was truly significant. We fear standing out of the crowd and shining our light because of judgement, but I’m starting to realize if they judge me, it’s only because they are still afraid to shine their light… and that I can actually help them by being my best self. We need to realize our power, and this is just the beginning.
I feel as if I’ve just seen the tip of an iceberg; I cannot wait to become more aware of my own self and learn to work in sync with my body instead of creating tension. With the practice, I will be able to reach my goals.”
Work is underway to run a study of the students’ progress using concepts developed by Dr Lisa Convoy (who is linked with Harvard School of Medicine in Boston) applied by a Concordia graduate student in sports physiology. Stay tuned on how things develop!
