The Gymnasts Mind Game
The information below is from my Facebook Page ——The Gymnasts Mind Game https://www.facebook.com/groups/755682102731017
It contains parents’ feedback and anecdotal information from some of the gymnasts I have worked with. This group is open to athletes, parents and coaches who are involved with gymnastics. It explores how mental training and specifically how hypnosis can be beneficial to the confidence of the performer.
Gymnastics is ranked in the top three toughest sports to compete in. Along with it comes its fair share of injuries.
Recovery from Injury is when hypnosis can be a positive and powerful intervention. If an athlete's self-talk is the constant worry of a re-injury then the subconscious mind creates pictures of that happening. This negative pattern of thinking is what hypnosis alters. Look at the analogy of the brain and its likeness to a computer. The hypnotist can reprogram the subconscious mind to protect itself from injury, without focusing on the injury. Results can be dramatic and profound, and this sense of confidence can spread to other aspects of the athlete’s well-being.
Hypnosis is a technique that can potentially help a perfectionistic gymnast by addressing the underlying beliefs, thought patterns, and behaviors associated with perfectionism. While individual results may vary, hypnosis can be a valuable tool in promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and fostering a healthier mindset. Here's how hypnosis might be beneficial:
Stress and anxiety reduction: Hypnosis can help gymnasts enter a relaxed state, allowing them to release tension and anxiety. By accessing the subconscious mind, hypnosis can help identify and address the root causes of perfectionism, such as fear of failure or excessive self-criticism. This can lead to a reduction in performance-related stress and anxiety.
Changing negative thought patterns: Hypnosis can be used to reframe negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to perfectionism. It can help replace self-critical thoughts with more positive and self-affirming ones. This can create a shift in mindset, promoting self-acceptance, self-compassion, and a focus on progress rather than perfection.
Enhancing confidence and self-belief: Hypnosis can help build self-confidence by reinforcing positive beliefs and visualizations. It can help gymnasts develop a strong belief in their abilities and trust in their training. Improved self-belief can counteract the self-doubt often associated with perfectionism and contribute to enhanced performance.
4. Promoting enjoyment and a healthy mindset: Hypnosis can help gymnasts shift their focus from solely pursuing perfection to finding joy in the sport. By fostering a healthier mindset, hypnosis can encourage a balance between striving for excellence and maintaining a positive relationship with gymnastics.
It's important to note that hypnosis is not a magical solution and may not work the same way for everyone. It is advisable to consult with a qualified hypnotherapist or sports psychologist experienced in working with athletes to tailor the hypnosis sessions to the specific needs of the gymnast.
Hypnosis can be a valuable tool in helping perfectionistic gymnasts manage their mindset and improve their overall well-being and performance.
What to expect from your free consultation
During the consultation, it is important that the athlete has a chance to discuss their feelings and concerns. In my client experiences, I see that the parents of the gymnasts have a firm grasp of the technical issues that are affecting the gymnasts’ development.
What follows is an example skillset consultation –
Using the kip-cast to handstand, which can be a challenge for many gymnasts, a partial hypnosis dialogue from a typical session is also shared at the end.
First Session
I have the gymnast write down in their own words how they visualize the skill, breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps, and gradually building up to the full completed skill.
During the hypnosis session, I use their familiar vocabulary to heighten and amplify the gymnast’s imagery experience. The athlete feels as though they are truly performing, which enables them to discover areas of concern/difficulty that are challenging them.
This enhances part of what the gymnast does in the gym but without any type of pressure.
The kip-cast to handstand
Upper body and core strength are imperative as well as coordination and technique. Focus, confidence, and the ability to overcome fear and apprehension are needed to perform this skillset.
Typical Problems, not inclusive –
Fear of falling or losing control is a common mental challenge. (Performing any gymnastics skill, especially one that involves going upside down like the kip to handstand, can be intimidating.)
Lack of upper body and core strength (insufficient core engagement).
Timing and Coordination issues.
Maintaining the correct body position throughout the kip to handstand.
Insufficient swing: a kip requires a powerful swing to generate momentum.
Example of a session
“As I continue to talk I want you to understand that it is not unusual to be challenged with the kip-cast handstand.
You have accomplished it once before, so feel really good in knowing that you can physically do it.
Feel confident that you will do it again and understand that once you have mastered it, which you will, then there will be another skill that you will need to master——— and once again be Challenged.
Being a high-level athlete means embracing these challenges and goals ————-and looking forward to how you are going to push and motivate yourself to the next level.
If this whole experience was easy, then you would not feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with succeeding.
I want you to see yourself performing the kip-cast to handstand.
Break it down into parts and truly understand what muscles are being used to move from one part to the next.
See yourself in as much detail as possible as you go through each part of the routine.
(The following is how the gymnast described to me how she sees the skill.)
1. ‘Jump and grab the bar and fully extend your glide.’
2. ‘See yourself bringing the shins to the bar but not touching it.’
3. ‘Push up to front support, keeping your toes in front of the bar.’
4. ‘Cast and lean over the bar and push into it——At the same time bring your butt up in the air and then snap your legs together vertically.’
Now see yourself performing that sequence of skills perfectly. As you perform them be aware of what your body is doing in space, feel the bars on your hands———what are the noises you hear from the apparatus.
Shortly, I’m going to stop talking—————— and all I want you to do is just to focus on this sequence of skills. —————Once again see yourself doing them correctly and each time you do it feel your level of confidence increasing.
Repeat this skill inwardly 10 times.
When you have finished you can open your eyes————— ready for whatever challenge is in front of you.
Remember this feeling of confidence when you go into your next training session. And see your gymnastics experience as a journey. ————Every person accomplishes this journey in their own time ——and you will also.
— Enjoy.”
If the gymnast reveals an elevated level of fear and discomfort, I can bring this level down, so that they can feel more secure in their ability. This reduction of the fear level can be part of every level of the performance until fear levels are modulated, creating an emotionally productive experience.
Just as you would celebrate small achievements during a regular practice, I have the gymnast feel those emotions during hypnosis.
Like any skill development, the process of hypnosis receptiveness is a personal journey. Some people must work a little harder than others, but everybody can experience profound accelerated change with practice.
Please note that this is not a substitute for skill and strength training, nor is it intended to be a substitute for positive and constructive coaching.
Parent Feedback
"Both my husband and I see a big difference in Janet's general attitude. Her anxiety levels have been significantly less, her confidence is growing, and she is generally more active and more motivated than we have seen her in some time.
Her confidence is growing in ways we didn't expect - more so outside the gym---Her independence is growing at the speed of light.
I asked her if she thought it was maybe time to transition away from your sessions and I got a very adamant NO. She listens to your audio's more nights than not. She finds comfort and motivation in the work you two are doing together. So if you are good with it, we would like to keep going until she is at least fully back to practice and able to fully implement all she has learned. Then we can revisit the go-forward plan.
Let me know if there is anything you need from my end"
Thanks, Barry,
My Response
"So glad to hear the changes your family is seeing in Janet. Thank you for the feedback. I integrate self-development throughout my sessions! For me, this work is about the whole person and what I can teach them to help the individual take responsibility for their own happiness. In this viewpoint, Janet's experience on the beam is the symptom rather than the cause, so my focus is teaching her to see and feel herself taking a role in the challenges.
Throughout the sessions, I emphasise that there will always be challenges. Once she has succeeded at one, she will be on to the next. I structure my words very carefully so she feels it is her choice for success in whatever she does.
She is a joy to work with, so as long as you feel she needs me, I remain present for her".
Cheers!
Parent Feedback.
"I am so pleased with the positive impact the sessions are having. She listens every night to your recording and it seems (although I"m not always there) that she is taking more ownership and advocacy for herself at the gym.
We are heading to Seattle on Friday returning on Tuesday so I will reach out and see if the following weekend is good for another session - especially if we identify any new needs after the meet.
Thank you again for all your hard work. Enjoy your weekend"
Parent Feedback.
Hello!
"Yesterday, Annabelle got her series on the high beam with a bunch of mats but nonetheless, she still did it!!! She says it’s different than doing it with no mats and I know it is, but she still could’ve not gone for it and she did…..something she would have never done recently even WITH mats. So, that’s a win! If she wants another session this weekend, when do you need to know by? I wanted to see how she was feeling on Friday if possible".
Thank you!
Parent Feedback
"Mara's meet went well in Texas. She hit her best bar routine of the year at level 8 (9.375). She competed and stuck all 4 events. She was disappointed however that with the fierce competition from national gyms that she only placed 4th on bars and 7th all around. She completed a Yurchenko timer instead of a full Yurchenko on the vault".
Here’s a Parent Question –
“Maybe this is a crazy idea, but If I were to obtain a video of Jackie’s bar coach providing verbal cues while spotting her through each movement/part of the skill, can we connect the dots between her mind and body through hypnosis? I may even ask if I can schedule a private lesson with her coach and have you FaceTime in. Then you can pick apart the context and intent of the verbal cues in connection to the expected movement with the two of them, if you think there is value there.”
This is a great question from a parent, and frankly, outlines how hypnosis can work to improve a skill.
When a gymnast is stuck with a specific skill, this typically is because one of those ‘dots’ (components) is not making a connection with the next dot.
The issue is not that the gymnast does not understand the directions, but they are unable to connect one of these dots.
Prior to any hypnosis session that is skill specific, I have the athlete break down the skill, how they perceive it, in their own words. I always tell them to write it down as though they were going to teach somebody else that skill.
During the hypnosis, I then suggest imagery specific to the skill and use their own vocabulary. Using their words speeds up the connection of the dots, manifesting itself as a completed skill.
Why Hypnosis is Safe
Hypnosis is a safe technique when conducted by a trained and licensed practitioner. Follows is a list of several ways that professional hypnosis practice has proven safe and effective:
Non-Invasive: Hypnosis is a non-invasive technique that does not involve the use of medication or invasive procedures. The hypnotist uses techniques such as guided imagery and suggestion to induce a state of relaxation and focused attention, without causing any physical harm or discomfort.
Collaborative: Hypnosis is a collaborative and client-centered relationship between the client and the hypnotist. The individual client actively takes part and engages in a level of control over their own thoughts and behaviors. The hypnotist cannot make the individual do anything against their will, and the individual can choose to end the session at any time.
Individualized: Hypnosis is tailored to the individual's specific needs and goals, and the hypnotist considers the individual's personality, mindset, and medical history when developing a treatment plan. This individualized approach helps to ensure that the technique is safe, effective, and specific for each client.
Supported by Research: There is a growing body of scientific research supporting the effectiveness and safety of hypnosis for a variety of conditions and purposes, including pain management, anxiety reduction, and smoking cessation.
Overall, when conducted by a trained and licensed practitioner, hypnosis is a safe and non-invasive technique that can be used to help individuals achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.
How Hypnosis Can Help a Gymnast’s Performance
Hypnosis can potentially help a gymnast in several ways, including:
Reducing performance anxiety: Hypnosis can help a gymnast overcome their fears and anxiety about competing or performing. Studies have shown hypnosis reduces interference in gymnasts’ ability to perform at their best.
Increasing focus and concentration: Hypnosis improves the gymnast’s ability to concentrate and stay focused during training and competitions, improving overall performance.
Enhancing visualization skills: Hypnosis assists gymnasts in developing their ability to visualize their routines and performances. Lucidly detailed visualization of routines improves muscle memory as well as mental and emotional confidence.
Improving confidence and self-esteem: Hypnosis builds gymnasts’ confidence and self-esteem by expanding the gymnast’s skills and personal tools. Detailed attention to performance goals addresses and overcomes self-doubt or negative thoughts.
Overall, hypnosis can be a useful tool for gymnasts looking to improve their mental game and perform at their best. However, it is important to note that hypnosis should be used in conjunction with other training and preparation techniques.