Improve Sporting Performance

Although not referred to as hypnosis, professional athletes and teams have used an approach called guided imagery, which is much similar to techniques used in sports hypnosis.

Hypnosis is one of several techniques that athletes may employ to accomplish their sporting goals and it is equally beneficial to coaches as well as athletes. Hypnosis may do for the mind what physical activity does for the body of an athlete. The theory behind sports hypnosis is that relaxation is key to improved sporting performance and athletes may perform better if they are able to relax mentally and focus on the task at hand. Hypnosis may help athletes attain relaxation during practise and competition.  Hypnosis may also help to control anxiety and manage stress in athletes. Athletes may develop auto-response to pre-established stimuli which is geared towards achieving optimal performance levels.

The impact of hypnosis on various aspects of sporting performance has been studied. Research has studied the role of hypnosis in enhancing basketball skills, on flow-state and golf-putting performance, its impact on long-distance runners, on archery performance and on flow states and short-serve in badminton 

The use of hypnosis in sports offers the following potential benefits that may help clients handle personal challenges that would otherwise negatively affect sporting performance. Hypnosis:

helps to reinforce established sporting goals

aids techniques to manage nervousness

contributes to relaxation

facilitates stress management

increases concentration

provides the ability to eliminate distractions

assists in controlling pain

increases performance motivation

increases self belief

improves bodily awareness