Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Who knew readings could be interesting?



So I don’t know if you know what I want to do when I grow up. Have I told you? I want to work for the AFL, in conjunction with beyond blue, to try and eradicate (or at least really really reduce) the homophobic attitudes that are prevalent in our society, especially in sporting circles. I know that sounds like a pretty big call given that these values seem pretty well entrenched but today I found something that gave me hope. I was reading prescribed article about Yoga and AFL players when I stumbled across this paragraph that validates my dream as having legitimate potential.

“Tim is encouraged by the response
of the players and has seen a change in
the perception of yoga in his community,
since an article appeared in the local
newspaper about the Geelong players
practising yoga. “Most yoga classes are
80 per cent women,” he says. “But after
the article appeared, mothers brought
their sons along to class, or their
partners. Some men came off their own
bat. One woman had been trying for
years to get her partner to yoga, but after
putting the article on the fridge, he finally
came and got lots out of it.” Sometimes,
it takes a sporting role model to help                                                                   
change long held prejudices; but once
this kind of gender barrier is down, men
too, can find that yoga has a lot to offer”

So no guy is going near yoga with a ten foot pole (exaggeration, yes I know) and then a bunch of footballers say how great it is and there is a noticeable shift in the perception of men doing yoga in the community. HOW COOL IS THAT?
It is a terrifying thought that one group can have so much influence, but to use that influence for the betterment of society would be so cool!

Also, I thought you'd appreciate the funny and so thankfully outdated meme.
RICHMOND ARE IN FINALS THIS YEAR!!