You are what you think;
The experts say we barely use 10% of our minds. I wouldn't be so sure about that or very proud of it either. What an unexplored area of the body. How many other functions does it do that we are not aware of. What about the mind as a muscle, athletes, businessmen, people of all types are looking into many areas of training - the mind. The latest research shows that the old fallacy of loosing mental powers doesn't have to happen with age. Now they say you can still build new neurons even into what we call old age. It's also discovered that by using the mind just like a muscle we can make it stronger. There are several ways in sports, education and life; using imagery (even before we called it that in high school the coach would say
just think of clearing the bar and you will do it.) relaxation (just relax when you fall skiing and you will get hurt less) and mental clarity exercises is new we think yet it is ancient. There are other ways to strengthen the mind as well; reading, is great, not just the paper, bad news does not qualify. Something that challenges you, something new and difficult like Einstien said: "Imagination is greater than intelegence." Some do cross word puzzles (that works your mind in three demensions), learn a new language, play music or learn to play an instrument.
These are all very powerful ways to increas the minds capabilities. Stop watching so
much TV, I call mindless meditation, well it is and mindless is what you get. So as
long as we work on the body and mind, we will get the best of both worlds. We will
look into all the parts of holistic training which includes; mind, body, nutrition and
spirit.
Lets start with the understanding of the brain. It's the bio-computer of the body. It's
the organ that controls all the bodily functions, systems, muscles, organs, glands,
speech, immune system, imagination, thoughts etc. Well according to many of the
experts it controls more than we are conscious of that's for sure. That may be a
highly debatable fact but let's let that go for another conversation.
So where do we start to fully use this most incredible computer for improvement in
health, performance, ultimatley life and happiness. We need need to learn how to
use it, it just makes sense. However, it takes training practice, observation and
understanding, to be able to use it with control. Some people can just do anything,
others of us need to try them a few hundred times before we get it. It's also critical
to have someone that can really teach you tools to be able to get control of it
yourself. Well even the word control is another debatable concept but it will do for
now. Tools, time, teachers, thinking, transcendence are all needed to get to the
point where we can harness the power of the mind. Some say let go of control,
others say get control, it depends if you think that it is releveant or others that think
it's irrelevent.
Mind training for athletic competition and excellence is not a new concept; In my
opinion the first principles are attitude and heart. Athletic endeavor is a way to tap
into the most deepest parts of our unknown mind and bodies. This can be a great
learning experience, or awakening depending on your wording, but unfortunately
we got lost on the way to the park. We made winning more important than health,
cooperation, friendship, heck peace of mind or just plain fun. We take ourselves
way too seriously sometimes in sports. We need to look at the attitude with which
we approach the sport or life as they are one and the same. Do we love to compete
for competition or do we get upset and stressed if we lose. Are we trying to find
oursleves, are we tying to prove something, all this creates stress and we all know
that stress and success do not work together. We know that the most powerful mind
space for athletic performance is to be able to get in the "ZONE". That means into
that deep state of mind/body where thoughts, trivial emotions, or problems don't
exist. In technical terms the state of Alpha. Many people experience this "ZONE"
the problem is many times we don't have control of when or where we can
experience it.
On the other hand we want to be the best and we train. In joy, we compete hard and
when you lose its ok. You set your goals and you follow them but even more
important you live them. You don't drag the last competition around in your head,
you get free of negative thoughts and focus and imagine a perfect outcome.
Imagery is one of the most widely used tools in sports. The coach use to say, just
imagine clearing the bar, in the high jump. Or close your eyes and visualize making
the basket. This was way back in the fifties and sixties, we hardly knew what it
meant but we knew it worked. The research has been out forever we just need to
keep it simple, and put it to use.
Our self image in competition has a lot to do with our ability when the chips are
down. When you are in the heat of competition, is where the most powerful feelings
and emotions will surface. This is when the practice and mental training will matter
most. We are affected by past emotional occurrences that keep us from attaining
self mastery. At every level and starting with the most basic level outlook. Knowing
who you are is critical to attaining what you want.
Our outlook on the world, positive or negative affects our personal power to create
our own destiny. Ultimately we are the masters of our reality, we have to realize
that we need to take responsibility for all our outcomes. We create our results and
must be willing to accept this fact to be able to master our minds to create other
positive things. If you cannot change who you are, you have to change the things
you want!
Concentration - the Zen of mind training (in all athletic and life activities, is an
important factor in performance of the mind). Learning to quiet the mind for pin-
pointed efficiency has been practiced for centuries, there are many paths to these
great arts. Here are a few to start with;
Meditation; Yes! athletes need to be able to completely relax for top performance.
Why? Because any tension, not only in the muscles but in thought can cause
constriction, loss of coordination or even pain!
There are several meditative types of activities to quiet the mind. The difference
between Zen and other forms of meditation, is Zen is the art of nothingness. In
other words some teachers say to focus on a black velvet picture and then take
away the frame. Other forms such as Hindu, or Tibetan give you mantras which are
chants or yantras which are visual tools to focus on. These still non-moving
techniques where you focus on breathing, visual or vocal exercises, for focus and
concentration are difficult without proper training. Us westerners like the ones with
goals or some sort of focus an A type personalities. We have to drive towards
something, to be in touch with the mind-body communication from most people's
outlook. Or totally surender from others point of views, it's all how you look at it.
There is actually a third one, just live your life, driving or surrender leave a lot of
room for conflict. Like my friend Roger says; "Just live your life to the fullest". Since
we can't cause things, trying just keeps us in conflict.
Of the more moving forms of meditation, there is tai chi, or Qi cun, which I highly
recommend for athletes and all people alike, for the power and softness it teaches.
Slow movement for learning total body balance and awareness. Most of all, learning
the unseen and sometimes untapped inner power called chi, or mana. In ancient
times the athletes were like warriors, saints, or heroes, for they worked with a
mighty force. This is what ultra performance is about the high many athletes are
addicted to. It's amazing sometimes we forget our mind and follow the body around
and do silly stuff because of the intensity of this energy. The women could say it's
our testosterone, but I know female athletes who are even more intense than men.
To be able to call on this inner source of power, beyond the physical when you hit
the wall is the name of the game.
Yoga for flexibility and quieting the mind. A body that is soft pliable, movable, and
still strong will allow the mind to perform much better. I'm also talking about a
flexible mind. If we are a type A athlete, it's stressful enough to just train and live
on this planet. If you're obsessed, pushing the body and mind only leads to
breakdown at some point in time. Patience is a great tool for athletes, and this is
achieved through the integration of MIND/BODY. Once the balance is there, we can
ignight the flame of spirit. The other part of the equation, not necessarily religion,
or anything so mysterious, just our own form of spiritual feeling. Whatever gets us
in the "ZONE", that is the key to be able to tap into at will.
We must train our wills, scientifically and spiritually we have the best of all worlds.
We have the most up-to-date information available to us, as well as all the ancient
ways for ultimate balance. All the sports psychology, sports programs, doctors,
magazines and not to mention races, marathons, triathlons, bike races, basketball,
you name it, we are going nuts with sports. Sports training, mind training, health
foods, there is an explosion of information these days take advantage of it. Great!
what a blast we are having, with all that is available to us. It must be working right!
if not, what it all boils down to; If you can't apply the tools to achieving your
results, change the tools, or change your mind. The key is you have to plan to get
anywhere. Bucky said it's 75% planning and 25% doing.
So just a brief summary;
( I ) Set your our goals (for you mind training) short term and long term. Write it as
if it's already happened.
(2) Purpose what you want to get out of it, very clearly stated. The nut's and bolts,
should be conected to what you want and do in life, or your life purpose.
(3) Priorities a list of all the steps you need to take -if you have been doing the
same thing and getting the same results you need to do different things. It may look
like this:
My attitude needs to change with not just affirmations of positive statements as
really there is no change of attitude it's just find your attitude (being conscious
every second of the day is incredibly difficult, yet very simple).
Relaxation exercises starting with 3 times a week working to every day at least 1/2
hr. Try laying down
and starting with your feet and working up to the head empty your body of any
tension or sensations of stress. Very detailed, very focused, take your time. Maybe
a new attitude to competition or something you want to do different.
Changing
some attitude that you think that you can do without, you can't stop it as in that you
are still in conflilct with it. "Don't think of a pink elephant". What does that mean?
Well you can't change an attitude by trying to stop it, just adopt a new one you
want. The old will fall away on it's own.
4) Taking a class or several seminars in yoga, martial arts something different and
following through. Work on your music and art, take a dance class, read more
books, break out of your normal easy habits. Well unless you are totally happy and
just love your life, if not! Who is driving the boat?
(5) The material needed are: tapes, books, personal trainer or counseling, a group
to work with. Do your research, you can try out a couple of different programs
before you commit. BUT COMMIT.
(6) What are your rewards for your perseverance and dedication to yourself? Don't
put them out there to chase after as you will never catch them, you can only start by
living those things and embody them in your life.
This is the most beautiful part of getting serious about anything in your life. Part of
our mind training overlaps into body training of course, but spirit is the prize. Later
you find nutrition is very important to mind training as well, my see story on
nutrition or read any well known good book on basics like Dr. Andrew Weil's books.
They are great, suffice to say that what you eat too, is what you think.
With patience
and perseverance your mind training will be as important as your sport, physical
training program, it will add to the quality of your life and will keep you healthy in
body, mind and spirit.
see molinamassage.com molinamassage.com for more information and other articles.
Othon Molina has been involved in the health field as a massage therapist, manual therapist and personal trainer for over thirty five years. He was one of the first therapist to teach in the University of Hawaii and had one of the first licensed massage schools in Hawaii.
He has studied with some of the top doctors and healers of our times. Like The Touch for Health foundation, Bernard Jensen DC., John Christopher ND., Everts Loomis MD., Ram Dass, Tony Robins, Rolling Thunder, and many more to list here. His specialty is treating sports injuries, back problems, and teaching others how to improve their health or athletic competition using nutrition and other fitness technologies.
Some of his specialties are Kinesiology, Polarity therapy, Reflexology, Iridology, Nutrition, herbs, Native American Indian Medicine, Neuro-Lynguistics and sports medicine with an emphasis in body mechanics. He has been an athlete and runner all his life, and competed in many triathlons, 5k's, 10k's and marathons, competing at an elite level gave him the experience to train others.
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