Michael Jordan visualized every shot before the game. Tiger Woods used self-hypnosis for his concentration. Novak Djokovic meditates between sets. Top-class sport is decided in the mind – professionals have known this for a long time.
Recently, a tennis player came to me who said: “In training, I play like a professional. In a match, like a beginner. As soon as there are spectators, I tense up completely.” Do you know that? This invisible wall between your ability and your performance?
Sport is 90% mental. Your body has practiced the movements a thousand times. But your mind? It often sabotages at the crucial moment. “Just don’t fail.” “Everyone is watching.” “This has to work now.” These thoughts create pressure, pressure creates tension, tension blocks the natural flow of movement.
In sports hypnosis, we work with the subconscious – where automatic movement sequences are stored. Imagine being able to enter the state at the touch of a button where everything flows. Where time doesn’t matter. Where you are one with your movement.
I use various techniques: anchoring for self-confidence, visualization for perfect sequences, relaxation techniques for competitive situations. A golfer learned to control his nervousness on the first tee. A runner broke through her performance plateau after we worked on her beliefs.
The fascinating thing is: your subconscious does not distinguish between reality and vivid imagination. When you experience the perfect stroke, throw or jump in hypnosis, your brain stores it as an experience. You are programming success.
But it’s not just about performance. Sport should be fun. Many athletes have lost this lightness – under the pressure of expectations, comparisons, perfectionism. Hypnosis can help you rediscover this joy.
Your body knows how to do it. Your subconscious does too. Sometimes we just have to clear the mind that thinks it has to control everything.
Are you ready to take your mental game to the next level? Write to me – let’s see where your blockages lie and how we can resolve them.
Image by Leonardo Iribe via Unsplash“
