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Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Faster, higher, stronger: the motto of the modern Olympic games, and the ever-shifting goal of endurance sports.

In different cultures, physical endurance has long been a symbol of spiritual commitment.  From the Lenten fast and the sacred pilgrimage to the strenuous four-day long Sundance performed annually by many Native American people, so many spiritual paths hold the ability to endure as a way of forming and feeling connection to the Creator.

Being “In the Zone”

That sense of ecstasy and expansiveness is so well known to those who’ve touched “the runner’s high” or been “in the zone”.  There seems to be an overlap between the two experiences in some ways:  both create a sense of going beyond ourselves, and of touching something profoundly freer and deeper.

While being in that space is so often what makes endurance and extended performance possible at all, attaining that sense of going beyond ourselves can be frustratingly elusive to attain at will.

The basic requirements for expanded athletic performance are physical conditioning and preparation; a well-balanced diet specific to your individual needs; a system free from alcohol, nicotine and stimulants such as caffeine.  Once these foundations are in place, your attitudes and thought processes are what give you the edge.

Train Your Brain

Many sports psychologists believe that as much as eighty percent of an athlete’s performance happens in her head. This means using your imagination to visualise, or mentally rehearse, your desired outcome.  Your focus could be on any aspect of your performance.  It might include outcomes of increased agility and co-ordination; improved concentration and technique; releasing inhibiting fears around failure or competition; or increasing your sense of passion and enthusiasm as you perform.

Visualising or “brain training” is effective because your mind reads a mental rehearsal of an activity and a physical rehearsal in the same way – your neural pathways are activated in an identical pattern in both instances.  This means that as you visualise attaining that lead, finishing in that spectacular time, or executing that perfect shot, you will feel some of that same emotional charge and exhilaration, and that tells your body that you’ve achieved your outcome – without moving a muscle!

By stating and visualising your desired outcome over and over again, you affirm your own positive potential.  If your inner voice is working against you instead of for you, you might find yourself thinking “I can’t run a marathon”, “I could never finish in that time”, or any other version of “I can’t”.  The truth is that your thoughts create your reality, so if you think you can’t, you won’t.

Visualise Victory …

Breathe deeply and let your body relax:

Imagine yourself cycling the perfect race, or playing the perfect game.  See yourself act and react, moving perfectly, every muscle in harmony with your powerful, positive thoughts, notice how loose and relaxed you feel, at ease, alert and focussed.  Your reflexes are perfect, you feel great, you see yourself winning the challenge and meeting your goal.

Every stroke, every move is imprinted into your subconscious as a movie clip so that you can re-experience this perfect game or perfect race, reinforcing your ease, ability and enjoyment every time you replay it.

Sharon Lee Plaskitt is a Complementary Health practitioner of various supportive modalities including CranioSacral Therapy, Reiki, Neuro-Lingusitic  Programming and Hypnotherapy.  She has a special interest in the development of human potential; and finds great joy in supporting others as they make positive, empowered shifts in the different facets of their lives.