Sports Performance The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

I have had the privilege of working with many sports people sportspeople over the years, helping them to achieve their goals and stay at the top of their game.

Hypnosis in sports has both therapeutic and performance-enhancing functions. Sports performance at a level requires an intensive yet relaxed concentration which is in fact, a state of hypnosis. It’s well documented that high-level performers can go into active trance-like states when performing at their best, often referred to as being “in the zone”.

Concentration, relaxation, self-belief, the ability to accept success, a winning mentality, mental strength and the ability to draw upon physical resources more effectively, are all major benefits achieved through hypnosis for sports performance. Drawing more effectively on the great mental and physical resources athletes possess and being able to hold on to powerful mental images of success and winning, are all part of hypnotic training for athletes. Hypnosis teaches sports people how to achieve this state of heightened focus and concentration, even in highly competitive and stressful situations, learning how to reduce stress while maximising performance. Many successful athletes achieve this state spontaneously and today, sports psychologists, trainers and coaches seek to indoctrinate a success belief in athletes, teaching them to programme themselves to achieve maximum results. Mental health in sports is an extremely important issue, recognised and taken very seriously by sporting bodies and communities. Many sports personalities have ‘come out’ in recent years, openly discussing their battles with addictions, breakdowns and mental health issues. During hypnotherapy sessions, personal issues of any kind can be discussed and worked through, whether related or unrelated to sport. The use of hypnosis in sports offers the following benefits that may help athletes handle personal challenges that would otherwise negatively affect their sporting performance:

• Helps reinforce goals

• Aids athletes to better handle nerves

• Contributes to relaxation

• Helps manage stress

• Controls negative thinking & self-limiting beliefs

• Increases focus and concentration

• Eliminates sport phobia responses (i.e. fear of re-injury)

• Eliminates distractions

• Assists in pain control

• Increases motivation

• Improves physical body awareness