Hypnotherapy is being used more and more frequently in the world of sports to help athletes enhance
performance naturally by harnessing the power of the mind. You too could harness your own mental
ability and improve both physical control and concentration. Whether you want to improve your golf,
apply more focus when you are competing at athletics or alleviate nerves before a competition then
hypnosis could help you.
For an athlete, no matter what sport you play or what your professional/amateur status, the longing
to constantly improve inspires you to be the best you can; but sometimes training alone is not sufficient
to achieve your goals. Mental training techniques are now frequently considered an essential part
of any sportsperson’s regular routine.
Hypnosis could help you get both your physical and mental attributes working together in unison.
To be able to perform at the peak of your ability you need to believe that you can do it. Often
the problem lies in you subconsciously concentrating on your past failures, and what you could
have done differently, rather than visualising your future successes… which is where sports
improvement hypnosis could help!
Hypnosis has been used as an aid in sports for many years. For example:
In 1956 the Russian Olympic team took 11 hypnotists to Melbourne with them in order to help the
athletes with visualization and improved mental clarity.
In 1996 Steve Collins beat Chris Eubank for the World Boxing Organizations Super-middleweight
title, his victory was credited to the focus of attention created by using hypnosis. Collins
was programmed to throw two punches to Eubank’s one and in the bout Collins threw over 600 punches to Eubanks 300.
More recently Tiger Woods has used hypnosis and other mental techniques (NLP, visualisation etc)
to hone his skills, improve focus and enhance his golf game.
Some of the commonest areas where hypnotherapy could prove useful for improved sports performance are
detailed below, however this list is not exhaustive and you may have specific issues affecting your own performance.
Visualisation techniques could help you to:
Deal with anxiety or nerves before performing or competing
Improve confidence, concentration and co-ordination
Improve motivation for training
Polish technique i.e. heighten awareness of movement and body position
Overcome inhibiting thoughts and mental blocks about your performance
See yourself succeeding… winning…
Of course it’s not just sports related problems that might affect your sporting ability, other issues like stress, trouble sleeping,
fears and phobias, excess weight or other emotional issues can all get in the way of your achievements however if you are
motivated to succeed and rid yourself of these issues then hypnotherapy could help with these too.
So whether you are a professional sportsman or woman, or simple have something you want to prove to yourself, why not see if
hypnotherapy for sports performance could help you!
Take running as an example; if you are determined to improve your skills, then hypnotherapy could help you to imagine yourself training and honing that perfect technique, improve your focus and motivation, overcome mental blocks or negativity, reinforce your self belief and, best of all, relax and really enjoy running. Get “into the zone!” See yourself achieving your best time, winning that race and achieving your goals. The same theory applies to any number of different sports - boxing, swimming, tennis, ice skating, golf, martial arts.... if you really want to do it, then hypnotherapy could help you realize your sporting goals. * Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy not an alternative therapy and not an alternative to mainstream medical advice. If you are embarking on a new exercise regime, have not undertaken any exercise for some time or have concerns over your health you should always consult your doctor before embarking on any fitness program.
