WellcommATX [07.07.25]

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[HIGH FIVE] We gave a High Five to Trent Nivala, Operations Manager for Black Swan Yoga in Austin, TX

WellcommATX: Where do you work…out?

Trent Nivala: For strength training, you can find me most at Korrect Fitness (formerly known as Onnit Gym), and I also will train with Todd Cline and drop in with him at Central Athlete and Austin Bouldering Project. For martial arts, I have trained most at Fight Factory Jiujitsu. For pole dancing, I practice at soFly social and Inner Diva. For spirit and recovery, I do contrast therapy (sauna + cold plunge) at Kuya. And of course for yoga, I practice at Black Swan Yoga.

WATX: What does wellness mean to you?

TN: To me, wellness is about having an integrated relationship with yourself. It's the commitment to treating yourself like someone you care about. To honor the commitments that you make to yourself and to understand that being your best self is not simply an act of indulgence or selfishness, but rather, a moral obligation to all of the people that depend on you to fulfill your responsibilities. Put simply, it's about being intentional about what you put into your body, how you move your body, and being mindful about what you do to foster the spirit that inspires your highest self, and then acting with intention from this place of integrity.

WATX: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

TN: Spiritually, my goals are to deepen my relationship with breathwork (Wim Hof and somatic breathwork primarily), and incorporate these practices more into my use of the sauna and cold plunge as contrast therapy. Physically, I am always looking to grow into new modalities of movement, which at present is expanding my calisthenics and strength skills, and incorporating these skills into my pole dancing pursuits. Due to the demands of my career, I haven't been training as much jiujitsu over this last year as I would like to have been, so I intend to have more consistency in my martial arts practice.

WATX: Who are some people who inspire you, motivate you, or keep you accountable when it comes to your wellness?

TN: I aspire toward personal wellness primarily as an act of service to be the best version of myself for the people around me. In my personal life, I would say that I'm most inspired by my fiance Hailey Ennen-Lawson, since I wouldn't be the man that I am without her love and support. Professionally, I'm inspired by my fellow leaders at Black Swan Yoga, Patsy Montoya and Alex Earle, who have served as mentors to me since becoming operations manager for BSY, as well as all of the teachers and students that I serve in the BSY community. In the greater wellness community, I try not to put any single public facing person on a pedestal, as even individuals with rather large platforms are only human. Instead, I try to have an open mind and take into account all information and perspectives offered in the wellness industry when it comes to training, habits, diet, and lifestyle. I test these ideas through my experience to see what resonates with me.

WATX: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

TN: Changing your wellness routine starts with asking yourself difficult questions. What is it that you desire? How is it that you'd like to feel? What are the qualities that you find inspiring in others, be it physical, personal, or spiritual? Once you can answer these questions, the hard part is done. From there, it's really just about having commitment and vision. It's about showing up, and putting the time-in-consciousness to become the person you want to be. It won't happen overnight, and there will be ups and downs in the process. The nature of perception is that it is not continuous, but rather, discrete. You don't see changes on a day-to-day basis. But then, all of a sudden, one day you have an awakening and realize that you have become the person that you aspired to be. It's important to understand that meaning and happiness comes not from the achievement of a goal, but the pursuit of it. Rejoice in the process of becoming!

Know a fitness instructor in Austin who deserves a High Five? Click here to submit your nomination so we can consider them for a future WellcommATX High Five profile!

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Go For It,

Your WellcommATX Team (@wellcommatx)

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.