winning athletes train their minds as well as their bodies

Look at the faces of athletes right before competition. What are they thinking about? Chances are, they are visualizing the upcoming event, and focusing on peak performance. Successful athletes train their minds, as well as their bodies. They practice mental exercises to keep distracting thoughts from interfering with their performance, and to allow the parts of the brain responsible for peak performance to be uninhibited by anxiety or fear.

Everyone can benefit from learning visualization exercises. Visualization exercises improve any type of performance. And they help us turn down the volume of that constant "mind chatter" that can get in the way of problem solving and clear thinking.

The benefits of visualization:

Visualization exercises can be used for many purposes. They improve our ability to concentrate on one thing at a time, and can thus be used to enhance the quality of our work. And you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to use visualization to improve sports performance. We know that thinking often gets in our way. It's difficult to deliver a powerful tennis serve if all the while you're thinking, "I'm too old for this." The learning and execution of motor skills is inhibited by distracting mental monologues. Instead, visualize the successful performance of a motor skill before playing. Then put all of your attention on the activity at hand, without the distractions of mental verbiage. This technique is what some sport psychologists have termed "playing out of your mind." Such practice results in better progress and performance.

Visualization can help us make a commitment to positive behavior change, such as exercising regularly, choosing healthful foods or quitting smoking. When we set behavior change goals and visualize ourselves achieving those goals, our motivation and chances of success improve.

One of the most important benefits of visualization is the formation of a more positive outlook and self-concept. Visualization can change the way we talk to ourselves, see ourselves and perceive events around us. This, in turn, affects our behavior and helps us take better care of ourselves, and communicate more effectively with others.

Since visualization techniques calm busy minds, they decrease feelings of stress and promote good health. Some people take advantage of these relaxation effects and use visualization to assist the body's natural healing processes. They focus on images of healing, like immune cells engulfing foreign invaders. People coping with chronic pain use visualization to induce relaxation and reduce pain severity.