Originally posted in German on 15th October 2023
Table tennis players wanted!
by Heinz Grill
Strangely the word sport is etymologically derived from the old English word “disport”1)Originally from the Latin word disportare – to disport with meanings such as “entertainment”, “pleasure”, “amusement” or even “pastime”.2)https://www.dictionary.com/browse/disport Generally, sport is understood to mean physical exercise and competitive games with performances being compared. Competition plays a relatively big role in many sporting disciplines.
Yoga is not designed for competition or external performance, much more it trains the consciousness and with the physical exercises brings about meaningful shaping processes, that seem both heathy as well as aesthetic. Sport is generally not comparable with yoga exercises. Saying that it is often one-sided when people what to replace any sport discipline that they have previously done with yoga exercises and it is a particular pity when previous sport pursuits become completely forgotten.
The area of Lundo and Naone, which is very natural, offers plenty of fresh air, hardly any electrosmog and mountains and lakes in the most ideal conditions, which lend themselves to many different types of sporting activities. However, it is not competition, that is in the foreground, but more movement that is orientated towards aesthetics and meaningful social encounters with others. In no way is the sport a form of entertainment. It offers much more a further opportunity for aesthetic development, particularly in human interaction.
The following activities can be perused:
- shorter or longer walks in different mountain regions
- summit climbs with some safe challenges
- swimming and encounters with the water element
- cycling and bike tours
Climbing
So far, it has mainly been climbing the rock faces of the Sarca Valley that has developed into a great new and gentle climbing culture. Many climbers who had already hung up their equipment so to speak, took it down again and began to repeat the well-prepared routes that have been developed by us. The climbing has set a milestone for a new way of encountering nature and has opened up many opportunities for communication and encounters.
Table tennis
There are now three table tennis tables amongst our houses, that await more visitors and above all active experts. The decisive opponents are still missing, those who have already really learnt the game and in addition to simple ping pong, would make some nice, long lasting rallies possible. This sport in particular, which a few people in the sun oasis have previous played, can now generate an incredibly beautiful, meaningful, aesthetic way of playing together. Today it is no longer about winning but rather about enjoying the beautiful, shared development of forms of game and types of movement. The social component definitely plays a major role in this sport, as every player has to get to know their opponents well enough to be able to handle the ball constructively with them.
To put it briefly, we are looking for enthusiastic players and people who want to awaken their talents again after many years. Incidentally, the author of these lines bought a racket again for the first time in 45 years and, despite his failing eyesight, has set a few rallies in motion.
