Enhancing Sports Performance: Mental Training for Athletes –Practice Smarter Not Harder, by Using Visualization!
Sara Gilman, focused her Doctoral studies in Sports Psychology, she utilizes visualization, guided imagery, and self-hypnosis, with all of the athletes she works with.
Enhancing Sports Performance: Mental Training for Athletes –Practice Smarter Not Harder, by Using Visualization!
A winning state of mind, is what athletes call a “flow state,” or the “zone.” In this state, the internal dialogue of the mind is turned off, and all the practicing you have done kicks in, it feels easy and effortless. However, a lot of effort has gone into training yourself to perform at your flow state, your peak performance! It is widely known now, that it is the combination of the mental and physical training that produces this flow. Psychological tools can be utilized to enhance performance, and you don’t even have to move your body to practice them. This can be useful during down time, when the body needs to recover.
Using your imagination activates the right side of the brain, which deals with creativity, imagery, and abstract concepts. The right side of the brain is highly underutilized by most people. Most of us rely on the left side of the brain, which deals with logic, reason, and structure. Getting the whole brain involved in your training will improve your skills, and help you perform consistently. Learning to properly visualize frees the creative right side of the brain, so you can think through things, without any need for words. This allows you to connect deeply with your inner energy.
“Before the Olympic trials, I was doing a lot of visualization. And I think that helped me to get a feel of what it was gonna be like when I got there.”
Michael Phelps, 14-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer
UNLOCK YOUR FULL POTENTIAL BY USING THIS VITAL TOOL — VISUALIZATION
Researchers have shown that elite athletes use visualization at a much greater rate than other athletes. Why? Because they have learned how valuable it is in producing top-level performances year after year. Visualization is a process of using our imagination, recreating experiences in our minds, with information we already have in our memory banks. When we visualize the perfect pitch, or 3-point free throw, or any aspect of a successful performance, we create an internal blueprint. A popular acronym used in sports psychology is, WYSIWG, it means, What You See, Is What You Get! Using visualization and imagery is a skill that must be developed and practiced. It is a very specific skill, with great precision that applies to your sport. The timing, colors, sounds, emotions, and body sensations, are all important elements in this type of imagery. There are at several types of visualization. For example; there is visual internal — where you visualize as if you were actually performing, visual external — where you are watching yourself as if through a camera, and kinesthetic — where you recreate the physical feelings of your performance.
If you can visualize…you can actualize!
Learning how to choose which type of visualization for a particular outcome is important. For example, researchers have shown that using a form of external kinesthetic visualization is best for learning and retaining new sports skills. Visual-internal imagery has been shown to aid the kinesthetic sensations.
Ask your coach, and fellow athletes what they do regarding the use of visualization. There are also many resources out there to help guide you. Choosing a Mental Skills Sports Performance Coach is another way to efficiently learn visualization and imagery skills specific to your needs and goals. Once you have learned and practice with your performance coach, you will be a cut above your competitors when it matters most…when the pressure is on.
Here are a few resources you might want to check out to guide you a long the way:
Inside Sport Psychology, by Costas Karageorghis & Peter Terry
Mental Skills Sports Performance Coach — Diane Ulicsni, www.DianeU.com
Sara Gilman
CEO, Founder, President
Coherence Associates Inc.
www.coherenceassociates.com
(760) 942–8663