Polo Players' Edition is the official publication of the U.S. Polo Association. Dedicated to the sport of polo, it features player profiles, game strategy, horse care, playing tips, polo club news and tournament results.
Issue link: https://polo.epubxp.com/i/31965
HUMAN PERF ORMAN CE BY MARK BROWNLEE IMAGINE THAT Don’t wait for a positive vision, create one T o begin the second installment on mental imagery I will briefly review what I wrote about last month. Effective mental imagery uses all the senses, including the kinesthetic awareness of body movement. Mental imagery and rehearsal can be used to aid the learning and practice of new skills and strategies, reinforce developed skills, solve problems, prepare for future events, recreate past successes, detect and correct errors, control arousal and aid recovery from injury. We also know that to improve performance imagery skills must be developed, organized and applied for a specific purpose in a structured program. Aimless daydreaming and fantasizing will not lead to improvement and some imagery may harm performance. British sport psychologist John Syer summarized years of imagery research and application saying, “Like any physical skill, the ability to create powerful mental imagery needs to be taught and practiced regularly if it’s going to improve your performance.” Imagery is a psychological tool and training in how to use the tool is needed before it can do the job of improving performance. Now, how do you use mental imagery to become a better player? First, I must explain why it is impossible for me in this format to offer specific imagery procedures for you as an individual. This is like writing a prescription for your mind without having the necessary consultation and diagnosis. I have found that only about two out of 10 people can undertake a successful self- created and administered imagery program. There are many reasons for this, but a primary one is the difficulty or inability to control negative images. Negative self-talk, memories and outcome images seem to predominate most people’s thoughts. 38 POLO PLAYERS EDITION Learning to control thought patterns often requires outside assistance and is essential to develop useful performance enhancing imagery. Another reason is a lack of commitment to developing and following a program. Knowing how to develop and follow an effective mental imagery training plan is more challenging than practicing physical playing skills. Another factor to consider in prescribing an imagery process has to do with the three parts of imagery: the image, its effect on the body, and the meaning of the image. Mental images are located in a part of the brain that has a direct pathway to the autonomic nervous system. Therefore images affect the physical body by affecting breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, brainwave activity and hormonal regulation. The meaning of images is also important in imagery training. Former U.S. Olympic sport psychologist Shane Murphy experienced this when working with young, elite figure skaters. Previous work with a skater indicated that a powerful image used by that athlete to relax and concentrate before beginning his program involved imagining “a bright ball of energy, glowing golden, floating in front of me, which I inhale and take to the center of my body. There I feel the energy radiate to all parts of my body, golden and warm, bringing me a peaceful attitude and providing me the energy I need for my program.” The same imagery used with other young skaters had very different results. One reported that he had imagined the glowing energy ball “exploding in my stomach, leaving a gaping hole in my body, so I was crippled and unable to compete. Another said that the ball of energy “blinded me, so that when I began skating I could not see where I was going and crashed into the wall.” A third said she imagined inhaling from a golden helium-filled balloon, leaving her with a squeaking voice and causing her to giggle uncontrollably, unable to skate. These are examples of how every person brings their own history, preconceptions and anxieties to imagery experience. Since every person creates and interprets mental images differently, care must be used in selecting and implementing the imagery program. Here are some ideas to help you begin a mental imagery-training program. The ideas are presented in an order and you should follow the steps precisely. Imagery is mental work. It requires a relaxed body and mind, yet alert, focused attention. Your attention will wander frequently. When it does, accept awareness of it and gently bring it back to your purpose. Begin a session in a quiet area, comfortably seated, eyes closed and breath deeply and slowly for at least two minutes. Let yourself become more relaxed with every exhalation. Later, you will be able to employ your imagery skills lying down, while preparing for practice and competitions, and during the match. To develop your ability to use all your senses imagine some simple everyday experiences. You might picture rooms in your house, count the windows and doors, see the lamps and pictures, feel the carpet. Imagine sitting in your car or eating a favorite meal. When you do these your goal is to recreate what you see, feel, hear, touch, taste and smell in as great detail as possible. Make the images clear, bright, and colorful. Take a moment right now and do this exercise. First, read the next paragraph, then stop, close your eyes, sit comfortably, breath fully and slowly five times and recreate the
