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Sport Page 2......
Sports Hypnosis
So…..Tell me about Sports Hypnosis
Hypnosis is an extremely effective means of improving sporting performance. For instance, it will enhance motivation and completely concentrate the mind, enabling the individual to stay focused and free from all distractions. But this is only the tip of the iceberg! More and more top competitors are using many variations of sports hypnosis techniques and quite a number of these competitors are, or have been, World champions - Jonny Wilkinson and Tiger Woods being two prime examples.
What does it feel like?
Being in a hypnotic trance has been likened in many ways to being in “The Zone”.
Athletes and Sports persons often talk about being 'in Flow' or 'In the Zone', when they reach the peak of performance. It’s that elusive feeling of detachment of an almost ethereal quality, where everything seems to function “on auto” and without effort and conscious thought. And it’s that very lack of conscious thought that gives us a clue to how to recapture this state……by ensuring we send conscious thought to the background, and play intuitively while communicating direct with the unconscious mind.
How new is the use of Hypnosis in Sport?
Hypnosis in sport has a long history and was often used under the guise of “mental training” back when the public perception of the whole area of hypnotism was much more guarded. These days however, you do not need to look too far in any sport to find great champions using hypnotic techniques to improve performance.
According to Les Cunningham in his book, 'Hypnosport', In the 1978/79 tour of Australia, England cricket captain, Mike Brearley consulted a medical Hypnotherapist. Also in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the Russian team took no less than 11 hypnotists. But hypnosis in sport really came into the public domain with the Collins-Eubank WBO Super-Middleweight title clash in September 1995. Steve Collins had engaged the services of a hypnotist to help with his preparation and utilising a hypnotic phenomenon known as time distortion, he was able to deliver more than twice as many punches as his opponent in the course of the bout. Collins also used the theme music to Rocky as he entered the ring creating an interesting link with Sylvester Stallone – whose work with legendary hypnotherapist Gil Boyne at the time he was working on Rocky in 1975 is well documented.
Yes, I can see hypnosis helping Boxers with the many physical and mental demands of the sport but ...
What about other sports? Can hypnosis help there as well?
Well to return to Gil Boyne - he also assisted US gymnast Mary Lou Retton prepare for performance in the 1984 Olympics where she won gold in the all-round event in addition to four other medals. For her it was visualising a set of perfect routines. But it doesn't end there.....
Sports Hypnosis is used by many top professionals in a wide range of sports such as:
Boxing - Golf - Football - Snooker - Tennis - Rugby - Cricket - Athletics – Gymnastics - Swimming - Cycling - Skiing - Darts - Motor Racing - Table Tennis – Archery – Martial Arts – and many more - the list is almost endless…..
And it is not just for individuals within these disciplines either.…teams in sports like football, rugby, cricket, hockey, basketball, gridiron etc can also benefit from the conditioning programmed during group trancework.
What areas would you be likely to work on?
It could range from the area of technique or performance to confidence, motivation or dealing with distractions. Here is quite a comprehensive list of examples:-
- Relaxation and suggestion prior to events utilising various levels of trance from light to deep with embedded affirmations.
- Reduction of stress and nerves through the use of anchoring and hypnosis
- Use of creative Visualisation and Imagery to enhance performance process and develop new techniques
- Using time-distortion and slow motion practice to e.g run faster or punch quicker, slow down a gymnastics routine or a high or springboard dive
- Using anchoring and hypnosis to enhance concentration levels at specific moments
- Programming a strong and powerful set of inner beliefs and goals
- Enhancing confidence with affirmations and utilising experience of excellent past performance
- Programmed technique modelling of top performers
- Mental rehearsals of physical processes (non physical sporting practice)
- Teaching self hypnosis techniques for use during preparation and competition
- Accelerating injury recovery and understanding pain management through distraction techniques and deep trance programming **
** Both my and your working closely with your doctor and physio here is essential.
Yes but these examples are for pros, surely – what about the dedicated or recreational amateur? Will it help them for instance?
Hypnosis allows you to tap into your true potential.
Every athlete in every sport can benefit with hypnosis training. Using a variety of techniques direct and indirect I have guided sportspersons (both adults and children) towards outcomes that were certainly significant for them :
* A young cricketer’s fear of fast bowling
* A rugby team’s perfect handling in wet and greasy conditions
* A bowler with the yips in cricket
* Guiding a skier’s visualisation of correct form and technique to reduce their falling
* The collapse of a batsman’s limiting beliefs so he could achieve a lifetime’s ambition
* Eradicating a boxer’s debilitating pre-bout tensions
* An amazing half-time intervention of synchronised focus for a rugby team
* Restoring a young cricketer’s confidence and self-esteem from an all-time low
* Improving a rugby scrum-half’s pass with the “weak” hand using mirror-visualisation
* Pre-match calm place visualisation for a young cricket team to reduce nerves and increase focus
* Curing imperfect handling skills for a rugby player….etc etc……
I have worked with many players who have experienced a breakthrough in their game. If you are a serious about your sport, you will want to discover your best potential and perform at the peak on a regular basis …..all the answers are there inside you. I can help you find the key that unlocks that potential!
Here is a short but useful list of books on the subject of using hypnosis and trance to improve sports performance:-
Grace Under Pressure: Martial Arts and Sports Hypnosis By Adam Vile and Jo Biggs
Hypnosport – The Creative Use Of Hypnosis to Maximise Athletic Performance By Les Cunningham
Sport Hypnosis By Donald R Liggett
Unlimited Sports Success – The Power of Hypnosis By Stephen Mycoe
 All are featured on my Recommended Reading Page and available through Amazon
As in Life, Breathing Right in Sport is Vital, Essential.
Is YOUR Breathing Correct?
Read my Breathing Page..............
and Go to The Breathing Store & School pages
Peter Wright Hypnotherapy
Online and throughout South and West England
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