|
Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
gymnastics photos articles and products to help you on your way
to success.
Viewing The Journey As The Reward In Sports And Spirituality
By Lisa M. Hendey, Fri Dec 9th
Viewing the Journey as the Reward in Sports and SpiritualityAuthor Interview with Susan Saint Sing, Ph.D., Spirituality ofSport: Balancing Body and Soul by Lisa M. Hendey Whether you are a gifted athlete, a weekend warrior, or one whosimply enjoys reading the Sunday Sports section, you will enjoySpirituality of Sport: Balancing Body and Soul (St. AnthonyMessenger Press, January 2004, paperback, 137 pages) by Dr.Susan Saint Sing. Saint Sing, a gifted athlete and inspirationalcoach, shares her own story of tests and triumphs as she sharesher thoughts on the important connection between mind, body andsoul inherent in all play. In this wonderful book, Saint Sing shares stories of heroism andchampionship – both her own and those of many other talentedpeople. I loved this book for its emphasis on the fact thatone’s journey in life is to be fully embraced and revered – thatthe reward comes not from winning the medal or having thefastest time, but from that wonderful connection of spirit, souland body that gives glory to our Creator through our everyaction. As a back of the pack jogger, I don’t run the race towin – I run to give glory to God through my participation,counting the blessings that give me the good health toparticipate and to share the day with those around me. I wasenthralled by Spirituality of Sport and am pleased to share thefollowing interview with author and Olympian Susan Saint Sing.
Q: Please tell our readers a bit about your background and yourown personal faith journey. A: This would take pages, but briefly, I am from a smallmountain town of Berwick PA. It had great sports teams and I waslucky enough to have had great coaches and friends and verysupportive parents. My brother Bobby and I played catch andfootball and shot arrows, water-skied, hiked, snow skied for ourentire growing-up years. This stuck with me through high schooland college athletics - later led me into coaching. If there was one pivotal moment for me spiritually, it was whenI broke my neck and back in a accident. It changedme. Also, I had a deep religious conversion at a prayer group atPenn State - Bread of Life. Two wonderful priests, Leopold andJoe were terrific spiritual guides for us, and I later went toAssisi, Italy - because of my love of St. Francis, and there Imet Fr. Murray Bodo and Damian Isabel, who welcomed me as“Brother Susie” into their pilgrimage experience. I have been alay Franciscan for over 20 years. Parallel to this experience, I participated in sports and sportwriting and coaching and pursued rowing to the highest level ofthe US National Rowing Team, in 1993. I also coached at XavierUniversity, Kent, and Penn State where we won a nationalchampionship. My athletes inspire me, and I consider it myprivilege to coach them. Q: What is the major premise of the book and what prompted youto write on this topic? A: The premise is sport and spirituality. The book takespersonal accounts of deeply spiritual moments in sport thatcontributed to athlete’s insights, faith, and Olympicexperience. These insights are related to the reader in anon-religious manner - that is to say no one would be offended,as no religion per se is being “pushed” - just the spiritualnature of play, games, and sport. Q: You discuss the Greek concept of “arête” - how does thissense of balance
Recruiting
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d6/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1733252059_08-15-08---Recruiting-Thumb.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>The Big Ten football coaches want you! (08/15/08, Big Ten Football)
Hamm Brothers Talk Competition
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d6/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1670012760_07-15-08-Hamms-Oly-Th.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Paul and Morgan Hamm talk about their goals of winning a medal at the Beijing Olympics and the memories formed in the competition. (Big Ten Gymnastics, 07/2008)
Big Ten Gymnastics Championships - Men's Individual Results
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1490306747_26ee160814f429a14734ca413f00bc58c111e3f7.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>The Big Ten crowned it's individual champions in men's gymnastics on Friday night. (Big Ten Gymnastics)
Big Ten Gymanstics Championships - Men's Team Results
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1490148577_286a690e730b40cb4126e700628f04f3b5dddb4f.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Penn State takes advantage of the home crowd and walks away with the 2008 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championship.
Georgia at Michigan - Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1450935258_0455c7634cdeec110807ce9d159ab2ae9d3b3aa5.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>No. 4 Michigan knocked off the three-time defending national champion and current No. 1 Georgia on Friday with a season-high 197.600-196.950 victory in front of the seventh-biggest crowd at Crisler Arena. (Michigan Gymnastics)
Minnesota at Michigan - Women's Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1423475404_cf60abc851f9fabe9f4d9c73e990230366eda6eb.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>The No. 5 Michigan women's gymnastics team put up a season-best score of 196.875 to knock off Minnesota (192.675) at the Coaches Care Challenge Pink Meet. (Michigan Gymnastics, Minnesota Gymnastics)
Michigan State at Illinois - Women's Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1423475422_f2d78fe488a904d4a26378193582d8eb45867d83.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>The Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team fell to No. 22 Michigan State by a score of 194.750-194.425 Saturday night in front of 1,059 fans at Huff Hall. (Illinois Gymnastics, Michigan State Gymnastics)
Ohio State at Iowa - Women's Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1414306130_416f64071d0198536e84bddac86208428b7e6e61.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Ann Kreiter of the Big Ten Women's Show brings you highlights of the gymnastics action between Ohio State and Iowa. (Ohio State Gymnastics, Iowa Gymnastics)
Illinois at Iowa - Women's Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1395221459_0fdf1d897826f0127f6bac8c8c251df4b05d2090.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>The No. 22 Fighting Illini Women's Gymnastics team defeated No. 25 Iowa on the road Friday night by a score of 193.650-192.975. (Illinois Gymnastics, Iowa Gymnastics)
Michigan State at Michigan - Women's Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1395221457_576abfca0c03d38ad69bf0870cf4ad26af930437.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>The sixth-ranked Wolverines put up their highest score since last season against the Spartans in a 196.750-194.550 victory over No. 24 Michigan State. (Michigan State Gymnastics, Michigan Gymnastics)
Michigan at Penn State - Women's Gymnastics Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1386385995_db12c4742c6a204b1e9dec0344f0bc827be1525a.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Big Ten competition got underway with a battle between Michigan and Penn State. No. 6 Michigan held on for a 195.275-195.100 victory over No. 14 Penn State. (Michigan Gymnastics, Penn State Gymnastics)
Windy City Invitational Highlights
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1377954615_75c6dd0e66d8f329921c6c668718c5dce8d12f24.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Highlights from the Windy City Invitational, where Illinois took second.
Coach Golder talks Windy City Invitational
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1377954504_f5db2f9dcb0b78293db1171b3b610f6408b67612.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Michigan gymnastics coach Kurt Golder talks abotu Michigan's season so far and their performance at the Windy City Invitational.
Coach Hayasaki on Windy City Invitational
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1377937249_ab732c872671ed352b7571e0f965aa897b4e5272.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Illinois coach Yoshi Hayasaki talks about his team's performance at the Windy City Invitational and looks ahead to conference action.
Lindsey Bruck on Michigan Gymnastics
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1377922815_663fb6a5cc36642d0cadbb3ea302d985c9e4076c.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Lindsey Bruck talks Wolverine gymnastics with Ann Kreiter.
Caray Fagan Talks OSU Gymnastics
<img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d5/unsecured/media/1079018831/1079018831_1377922812_242c44f22a898681de70c4b135f27f5da4a422c0.jpg?pubId=1079018831"/>Ohio State's women's gymnastics coach Caray Fagan talks with the Big Ten Women's Show about her team's season so far, including a big win over Maryland.
of body, mind and spirit translate toathleticism and to spirituality? A: It is a very ancient concept of grace and beauty in strength.I think this quality is lost sometimes in sport in our headlongpursuit of winning, or money. If one pursues excellence – arête- then you win more than just a medal. Q: You describe sport as, "a communion, a sacramentality inseveral layers", and yet many of the serious athletes with whomI'm acquainted shun formal religion. Why is this sometimes thecase? How do you blend the two and how does sport enhance yourown spirituality? A: I don’t think the numbers of athletes that shun formalreligion are any greater than any other group of society. Somepeople just are into religion or any structured worship at all.But for me sport is an extension of the beauty of creation - itcan be the perfection of the physical creation, and that is whatinspires me. Q: For those who are not seriously athletic (or even couchpotatoes?), how can participating in a physical disciplineenhance one's spiritual life? How can someone who is notexercise oriented develop a regimen of balance of physical andspiritual activity? A: Well there are many physical activities even a “couch potato”can enjoy—such as yoga, or reading about mountain climbing (aparticular hobby of mine), walking, gardening, bird watching -all of these can be deeply satisfying life-time activities thatbring one closer to nature and to fun - the essence of play. Q: How do you make time for both prayer and activity with yourbusy schedule? A: I meditate at night—usually when the world is quiet andstill, I play my guitar. During the evening I try to walk on thebeach. Q: What message would you hope that readers would take away fromtheir experience of reading your book? A: I wrote the book hoping to share my privileged insights fromthe World Championships with others who might never get there.The journey to the Worlds was my reward - and I try to encourageothers, especially young athletes to follow their journey andrecognize it as the reward itself - rather than seeking onlymedals and fame. Q: How can we, as families, teach our children to love andglorify God through play and through their experience of nature? A: In the book I talk about this and, in my opinion, play is theessence of freedom and we are to play without fear, at the feetof our Father. I think if parents and kids can play gamestogether, go on hikes, fish, whatever avenue your family enjoysas play, is a great way to make good friendships, enjoy beingoutside, be active. I think there might be too much emphasis onstructured youth sports - to where the element of fun andspontaneity - like just going outside and shooting hoops - islost because people are on the move in vans going to the nextpractice. For more information on Spirituality of Sport: Balancing Bodyand Soul visithttp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0867165162/catholicmomcom Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerousweb sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com andhttp://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholicliterature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for moreinformation.
About the author:Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerousweb sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com andhttp://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholicliterature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for moreinformation.
|
