It’s Psychological Well being Consciousness Month and what higher option to acknowledge it than to focus on seven pioneering initiatives spearheaded by Tennis Canada.
Listed below are seven methods Tennis Canada is prioritizing psychological well being and embracing its mission to enhance the wellbeing of tennis gamers throughout Canada.
1. Psychological Well being Technique
Earlier this 12 months, Tennis Canada formally partnered with the College of Ottawa, Personal the Podium, the Canadian Centre for Psychological Well being and Sport, and Sport Plan, to implement a long-term technique for its athletes, coaches, mother and father, and workers.
Tennis Canada is the primary Nationwide Sport Group to unveil a method primarily based on the Nationwide Psychological Well being Technique for Excessive Efficiency Sport in Canada.
Serena Williams makes the MTO signal alongside ballkids on the 2022 NBO
What higher option to uplift somebody’s day than at hand ship them a postcard? Positivity postcards have been one in all a number of initiatives that landed on the grounds of the Nationwide Financial institution Open as a part of the Psychological Timeout initiative supported by Beneva in 2022.
Followers have the chance to attach with their favorite gamers by writing a heartfelt message and even easy phrases of encouragement, which match workers ship to the locker room.
Veteran Andy Murray, who has revealed this season to be his final on tour, additionally acquired many constructive messages of help in 2022. In the meantime, Paula Badosa penned a message to her finest pal on tour, Aryna Sabalenka
3. Constructive Court docket Pledge
One other initiative discovered on the Nationwide Financial institution Open is the Constructive Court docket Pledge. The Pledge is a written promise to create a supportive, secure and nurturing setting.
It’s for everybody concerned on the planet of tennis: those that set foot in a stadium, watch matches at residence or work together with athletes on-line.
The Pledge can also be meant for tennis associations, workers members, media, volunteers and plenty of others.
Signal the pledge right here: Constructive Court docket Pledge
4. Participant Ambassadors
Tennis Canada is proudly welcoming again Canadian tennis stars Bianca Andreescu, Alexis Galarneau, and Rob Shaw as official ambassadors of the Psychological Timeout initiative supported by Beneva.
Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion and former world quantity 4, has spoken overtly concerning the significance of psychological well being in efficiency, and prioritizing self care. She’s additionally a serious advocate of meditation.
The 23-year-old is at present planning her return to motion this season.
Within the meantime, Quebec’s Alexis Galarneau can also be returning to again the initiative. The 25-year-old not too long ago achieved a brand new profession excessive rating of 160 on the planet and has reached 4 ATP Challenger finals in his profession. He additionally received his first profession Challenger final summer time in Granby.
“Elevating consciousness for psychological well being in tennis is one thing that’s very near my coronary heart,” mentioned Galarneau.
“By working collectively, we will proceed to interrupt down the stigmas supporting psychological well being in our sport.”
Canadian wheelchair tennis star Rob Shaw is proudly returning as a participant ambassador. The wheelchair quad athlete is at present rating ninth on the planet, and not too long ago received the twenty fifth ITF title of his profession.
Learn extra: Monday Digest – Shaw scores huge in Japan
5. The Participant Rest Zone
One other addition to the participant choices on web site on the Nationwide Financial institution Open is the Participant Rest Zone, a quiet and serene house discovered on the match web site that may be a strictly player-only space.
The world’s finest gamers could make use of the house by winding down for a nap, meditating, or taking a while away to focus their thoughts forward of their matches.
Diffusors, weighted blankets, therapeutic massage weapons, noise cancelling headphones, and eye-masks are all accessible within the lounge for gamers.
2023 NBO finalist Alex de Minaur spoke of utilizing the comfort zone day by day throughout his match run for a nap, to refresh and recharge.
6. New Wellness Director
Tennis Canada took an vital step final Might, appointing Marie-Josée Bellemare as its Wellness Director. On this newly created position, Bellemare works carefully with athletes, coaches, mother and father, and workers to supply wellness and life-style help whereas serving to implement the broader psychological well being technique.
She can also be serving to to implement a sustainable wellness technique centred round three important pillars: Promote, Help, and Care.
7. Yoga for Followers
As a part of its Psychological Timeout initiative, the Nationwide Financial institution Open additionally presents yoga… for its followers!
Even Canadian Bianca Jolie Fernandez joined followers to partake in some cat cow and downward canine poses on the mat.
The advantages of yoga are effectively documented. It’s not solely nice for enhancing power and adaptability, its additionally a confirmed device to alleviate stress, nervousness, and enhance our total psychological well being and effectively being.
