Sports Psychology: How To Improve Concentration, Focus And Strength With Hypnosis

Can your mind affect your body?

Can you train yourself to become physically stronger by changing the way you think?

What kinds of techniques can athletes use to build their confidence, focus and physical strength?

New data based on research with approximately one thousand athletes show that 85% of athletes who learn a simple technique improved their strength performance by an average of 15%.

Collegiate athletes, Olympians, high school athletes, elite athletes and weekend warriors were given a strength test.

The athletes came from a wide variety of sports including baseball, basketball, track and field, wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing, football, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, figure skating, gymnastics, soccer, golf and hockey.

Some of the athletes included in this study were professionals. Others were athletes from middle schools, high schools and colleges. Weekend warriors were also included in this study.

After the pre-test, the athletes were given some basic, simple training in self-hypnosis, meditation, guided imagery and visualization. This technique takes less than fifteen minutes for the athletes to learn.

The athlete/subjects then had their strength measured again. As was noted above, the average change for most athletes showed an increase of 15% higher on the posttest.

Some athletes improved by more than one hundred percent.

The data are impressive because they indicate that a brief amount of mental training can enhance athletic performance and help athletes to improve on their strength, confidence and focus as their ability to enhance their strength was due in part to their ability to increase their confidence and their focus on the task at hand.

Moreover, this simple exercise helped these competitors, coaches and parents of athletes to better understand the mind-body relationship.

While most athletes believe that they can improve their performance by getting psyched up in some manner. This study showed athletes that they can impact their ability to perform in a manner which is measurable.

The athletes get proof that how they think and perceive impacts their ability to perform well on a physical task.

There are two important mind-body concepts that all athletes need to understand:

First, your body believes what your mind tells it. If you tell yourself you are weak, nervous or incapable, your body is likely to believe this.

Conversely, if you communicate confidence, positive imagery and successful thoughts, feelings and experiences to your mind, your body is apt to believe that you are strong and capable of doing some great things.

Second, you will become what you imagine. Positive thoughts, daydreams and night dreams can set the tone as to what you will accomplish in your athletic life.

SUP Yoga - The Way to Enlightenment (and Great Workout!)

These asanas are carried out on the paddle board out on open water, and by practising Yoga on a SUP, it can reinvigorate you and push you to become an even better practitioner of yoga (yogi) than you thought possible - all while breathing in fresh air, taking in the sunshine and enjoying the natural splendor of floating on water. What makes SUP yoga more intense than doing it in a studio is the fact that the constant motion of the water fires up your core muscle groups - this can't be done practising yoga on land. You want a strong sense of balance and posture - for instance, during downward dog, if you have more weight on one side, your board will let you know and you'll more than likely end up in the water! With SUP yoga, it's all about working the midsection. The power necessary to balance on the board and generate power and movement while paddling stems from these core muscles - from the deep transverse abdominis to the rectus abdominis and obliques. Including yoga asanas further helps you to test your stability, and builds both strength and flexibility through your entire body. The best stand up paddling board for SUP yoga should be wide enough to be able to keep balance whilst you practise your asanas. Thirty one inches (31") is a great width to look at. Most paddle board lengths will suffice, but something over ten ft (10') will provide you with extra buoyancy in the water. For a rigid paddle board, The Greco 11ft Stand Up Paddle Board is a great place to start. Inflatable SUPs are also very great for practising SUP yoga. Because they have a softer surface area, they can be more comfortable for laying down on, but still be sturdy enough to hold you through all yoga poses. The Tower Xplorer Inflatable paddle board or Isle 10ft Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board are both definitely worth having a look if an inflatable SUP is what you're after. If you would like try it on your own, start with a few seated asanas, as they will give you a feel for the paddle board without having to try and maintain your balance too. This will also enable you to feel the motion of the water under your paddle board. Don't forget to take deep, mindful breaths (from your diaphragm). Once you are feeling more comfortable with these, move to some standing asanas. The Mountain Pose is amongst the easiest standing asanas to move into. Something to be ready for is a few falls, as it can be a strange sensation to feel the board moving underneath you when trying to stand. Do not worry about this, as just about everyone who starts SUP yoga for the first time ends up in the water! After a while though, you'll get a feel for the board. Remember: the movement of the board whilst you practise yoga is what makes it so effective. If you've never attempted stand up paddle boarding before, it will be advisable to take a beginner SUP class to gain more experience in the correct paddling technique and stance. Additionally, if you have never tried yoga before, it would be worth taking a class or two to get a feel for the asanas, prior to trying them on a paddle board. Yoga roughly means "Union", and SUP yoga undeniably brings together your mind, body, and the outdoor conditions in a comprehensive, but soothing, workout.

How Sports And Fitness Can Unite A Community

All individuals would want to be healthy. Know that there are several routines that can be performed in order to achieve a healthy and fit body. For some, they adhere to a certain diet while some comply with an exercise routine. But most health experts say that proper diet and exercise can greatly help you achieve the body you want. For other people, they hire personal trainers who can guide and assist them reach their fitness goals. These individuals believe that by getting help from experts, they can become fit and healthy in no time. No matter what kind of fitness routine you want to comply with, the bottom line is for you to have self-discipline. Most health and fitness professionals say that engaging in sports can help you reach your fitness goals. Apart from that, sports can greatly influence you to have a positive attitude towards health. Indeed, sports can greatly influence any individual. In fact, there are already countries that treat certain sports like football as their religion. It is also through sport competitions that people with different beliefs and convictions unite. Perhaps you have also noticed that more and more movies and stories are portraying that people all over the world find a common ground in their enjoyment and love for different games. With this, more and more people build their strength as a community. Certainly, you got a lot of options in terms of sports - you can play golf or tennis, or maybe you can become a gymnast or swimmer. But if want to join in a social and physical game, consider playing netball. This is indeed a game that is so easy to be involved. You can join such game as an individual player or perhaps recruit your friends and form a team. Choosing to play netball will do lots of wonders in the different aspects of your life. In order to prime yourself physically, you can always take great advantage of the different sport facilities. Also, you can gather your workout buddies or friends at a gym and form your own team. Instantly, your social life as well as your health will be improved. Most importantly, you will be able to feel a great sense of belongingness along with a positive contribution to the community. This in turn will help you become one member of the community that give emphasis on achieving a fit and healthy body.

Why Are Athletes Paid So Much

People have been debating why professional athletes are paid so much for a long time now. Yes, players of professional sports are paid a high premium, but it's not always the fault of the player. It's a matter of just trying to play the game and get the most for their hard work. Consider the following reasons why many players get paid so much.

Professional athletes do not just come out of the womb with amazing skills. Yes, some have God-given talent, but the majority of players have to work very hard for many years in a disciplined fashion that most people do not work with. Those that love the game are many, but those that are disciplined to work out daily with the mindset of a professional athlete are rare, and they that dedicate their lives to the game beyond being a fan get paid their due. An expert in any field demands a high paycheck, and with rarity and scarcity comes higher yields. Consider that there is only one Michael Jordan, only one LeBron James. And then consider the amount of effort they put into playing one game, to the maximum of their abilities, and you start to see why they are getting paid so much.

The second thing to consider is the system that is in place to purchase top-tier talent. There is a certain lottery system placed in regards to top talent, and the highest bidder usually gets the most yields. Much like paying top dollar for a rare car or comic book, players are treated as commodities that are valued in monetary senses. Yes, it seems like a meat market; but then again, it is what it is.

Another thing to look at is the stress and position that is placed on a professional player. If a player is paid a large sum of money, even over the course of several years, it's important to understand that the demands on them are far higher than people realize. A professional athlete is paid a big amount because they are responsible for putting butts in the seats. They sell tickets; one player can transcend even a team sport. Yes, people want to see the Miami Heat, and the Yankees, but they want to see A-Rod and they want to see LeBron-to boo or to cheer, but they want to see individuals. Even if you disagree, consider the fact that there are individual stats and awards given to the best players. If it really is a team sport, why are some players on the worst teams in MLB given such high paycheck? Consider Ichiro Suzuki, for instance, he commands a huge paycheck in Seattle-why? He hits well and he draws international fans to the stadium on a regular basis, and when he travels, many follow. There are far more demands on their time, and it's not always physical, and they are definitely not as "free" as some of us no-name people are.

Don't get the premise wrong; the cushy life of a superstar is not enviable. However, a highly-paid athlete is not sitting on a couch, eating popcorn, watching others. He is commanding a great deal of fanfare, a great deal of money is given to him in order for the team and the franchise to leach off their talent and continue supporting the game at all levels. A player that does not work hard is lazy, and lets himself go, ends up getting cut, traded and eventually abandoned from professional sports. There are a lot of mediocre players in professional sports, and guess what? They don't demand a high paycheck. Those that demand and get high pay also perform under high scrutiny, and are required to bring top-tier statistics to the table.

Sports Psychology: How To Improve Concentration, Focus And Strength With Hypnosis

Can your mind affect your body?

Can you train yourself to become physically stronger by changing the way you think?

What kinds of techniques can athletes use to build their confidence, focus and physical strength?

New data based on research with approximately one thousand athletes show that 85% of athletes who learn a simple technique improved their strength performance by an average of 15%.

Collegiate athletes, Olympians, high school athletes, elite athletes and weekend warriors were given a strength test.

The athletes came from a wide variety of sports including baseball, basketball, track and field, wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing, football, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, figure skating, gymnastics, soccer, golf and hockey.

Some of the athletes included in this study were professionals. Others were athletes from middle schools, high schools and colleges. Weekend warriors were also included in this study.

After the pre-test, the athletes were given some basic, simple training in self-hypnosis, meditation, guided imagery and visualization. This technique takes less than fifteen minutes for the athletes to learn.

The athlete/subjects then had their strength measured again. As was noted above, the average change for most athletes showed an increase of 15% higher on the posttest.

Some athletes improved by more than one hundred percent.

The data are impressive because they indicate that a brief amount of mental training can enhance athletic performance and help athletes to improve on their strength, confidence and focus as their ability to enhance their strength was due in part to their ability to increase their confidence and their focus on the task at hand.

Moreover, this simple exercise helped these competitors, coaches and parents of athletes to better understand the mind-body relationship.

While most athletes believe that they can improve their performance by getting psyched up in some manner. This study showed athletes that they can impact their ability to perform in a manner which is measurable.

The athletes get proof that how they think and perceive impacts their ability to perform well on a physical task.

There are two important mind-body concepts that all athletes need to understand:

First, your body believes what your mind tells it. If you tell yourself you are weak, nervous or incapable, your body is likely to believe this.

Conversely, if you communicate confidence, positive imagery and successful thoughts, feelings and experiences to your mind, your body is apt to believe that you are strong and capable of doing some great things.

Second, you will become what you imagine. Positive thoughts, daydreams and night dreams can set the tone as to what you will accomplish in your athletic life.