Hypnotherapy can be highly effective in creating positive change in sports performance. Taking part in any sport at a competitive level involves a great deal of physical control and mental concentration. While no-one would suggest that mental practice could ever replace physical practice, skills can be enhanced in a quite remarkable way by its studied use. Here is an illustration of the power of our imagination:
The American solder, Colonel George Hall, was held prisoner in Vietnam for a number of years. He was kept in difficult physical conditions where it was hard to stay fit and certainly impossible to play his favourite game, golf. In order to occupy his mind and keep his sanity he played a round of golf over his favourite course back home, inside his head, at least once a day over the five-and-a-half-year period he was held captive. This was in spite of being kept in solitary confinement most of the time in a cell 8½ feet x 8½ feet.
On departing for Vietnam he had played off a four handicap. Five-and-a-half years later, on his return he was asked to play a round with some friends. To their amazement, and in spite of his weakened physical condition, he immediately played to his original handicap. When they (his friends) expressed their amazement, saying that he had not played for five-and-a-half years, he told them that, on the contrary, he had played mentally every day over that period and he knew every blade of grass, every bunker and every shot he had ever played.
Taking part in any sport at a competitive level involves a great deal of physical control and mental concentration. Hypnotherapy has been used by world champions and amateurs alike, enabling them to fulfil their utmost potential. Understandably athletes are not necessarily exempt from the anxieties and depression that affect many of us from time to time. The subconscious mind can store unhealthy beliefs, which only serve to limit our potential. These can manifest themselves in a variety of ways such as anxiety, loss of control and despondency, which can all have a negative effect on our performance. With commitment and effort hypnotherapy can make a positive difference to the way we react by diminishing negative states and developing new patterns of positive behaviour.
Our subconscious mind does not differentiate between imagination and reality therefore positive mental preparation for achievement is invaluable. We all have inherent skills that we develop and commit to memory by practicing them. Often we do not have the time or stamina to physically practice sufficiently to continue increasing our skill. It is now understood that mental rehearsal is as improving as physical practice, the muscles "remember" the action in exactly the same way. The other obvious advantage of mental rehearsal is we can “get it right” every single time!
Whether you wish to improve your running time, your aim, your motivation or concentration, either for competition or enjoyment, through simple relaxation and various other techniques you can become focused on what you really want to achieve.
Hypnotherapy works for people of all ages and abilities. It is a comparatively fast means of having a profound effect on many people, not only in their sport but in their everyday lives as well.
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