By Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.

The number one reason mountain bike athletes, coaches, and parents contact me is when their athletes can’t take their training to mountain bike races.

Do you perform like a champion when you train, but choke up in competition?  Does your performance feel tight, controlled, or lack freedom when you compete?   Does your legs feel weak early on in the race? Read the rest of this entry

Step-by-step guide to Using Imagery and Self-Hypnosis

By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com Guide

Research shows that it may be possible to improve sports performance and even speed up healing by using specific mental skills and techniques including imagery and self-hypnosis.

Athletes have many opportunities to try the various imagery or self-hypnosis techniques. From injury recovery to improved sports performance, these techniques are showing promise as a standard part of an athlete’s training program.

Imagery, sometimes called guided imagery, visualization, mental rehearsal, or self-hypnosis, refers to specific techniques often used by psychologists to help individuals visualize or mentally rehearse a desired event. It involves using all of the senses to create an imagined experience that feels real. By using all your senses you create a very real experience of having the desired outcome. Read the rest of this entry