John Wolstenholme MNRAH MNCH (Reg)
NHS Provider No 8GR66
Sports Performance: what do you want to improve?
Over the years I’ve helped many people to improve their sports performance; from beginners through to top world-level competitors, and in sports as diverse as golf, soccer, squash, track events, cycling, diving, sailing, running and many others. Hypnotherapy and psychology are being used more and more in almost every sport; the application of sports psychology, including Hypnotherapy, gets results. Sportsmen and sportswomen are some of the most results-focused people in the world, and they use what works!
A good example is the golfer Ernie Els, who’s hunger for winning started to decrease as he fell under the shadow of Tiger Woods. So, in 2001 he began working with Jos Vanstiphout who helped him to change his negative perceptions. Huge successes soon followed, and Ernie is now well known for heaping praise on Vanstiphout.
A good example is the golfer Ernie Els, who’s hunger for winning started to decrease as he fell under the shadow of Tiger Woods. So, in 2001 he began working with Jos Vanstiphout who helped him to change his negative perceptions. Huge successes soon followed, and Ernie is now well known for heaping praise on Vanstiphout.
Hypnotherapy can help with a range of strategies and techniques to change negative perceptions that are causing problems. Most people who come to me to improve their sports performance have issues within the following areas, and as a starting point it is important to clearly identify these:
- Fears.
- Tensions and nerves.
- Negative thinking and ‘self-talk’.
- Low self-belief in ability.
- Low self-confidence.
- Lack of focus and concentration.
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Winchester Hypnotherapy Practice offers you a free Initial Consultation (around 30-40 minutes) to talk through your issues in more depth and look for a solution.
In 1990, javelin thrower Steve Backley was probably the World’s finest athlete: World Record holder, European Champion and World Athlete of the Year. But a few months later it all went horribly wrong. At the 1991 World Championships, Steve couldn’t even qualify! Previously he’d been throwing 88 metres routinely, but now he couldn’t manage beyond just 78 metres. Afterwards he talked about what had happened: “There was no music. I was playing the wrong record.”
However, a fortnight after this disaster, he threw a new Commonwealth and British Record at 91.36 metres! He said: “In 2 weeks you don’t change physiology... The mind is incredibly powerful and the body follows it”
Steve recognised that initially he wasn’t in ‘The Zone’ - the state of mind needed to improve performance and meet objectives. Think of it this way: there is often little physical difference between sports competitors - the real difference is in the mind. ‘The Zone’ is a state of supreme confidence and focus, often where the athlete has ‘played’ the event over and over in their mind until it becomes routine and seems almost effortless. You too can learn these techniques with me!
However, a fortnight after this disaster, he threw a new Commonwealth and British Record at 91.36 metres! He said: “In 2 weeks you don’t change physiology... The mind is incredibly powerful and the body follows it”
Steve recognised that initially he wasn’t in ‘The Zone’ -
Wigan Athletic Football Club had a meteoric rise to the top of sporting excellence, rising to second in the Premiership. How have they done it on a relative shoestring? You may be surprised to find that a Hypnotherapist, Marisa Peer, has been helping them. She’s helped their top scorer Jason Roberts, and around half the first team. I help a lot of soccer players, particularly when they lose form, and I help them get back into the habits of scoring goals, or saving them!