Athletes Balance Mind, Body & Soul with Body Awareness

By Deborah Ernst

A new age of fitness is upon us, one that incorporates mind and body into workouts and strengthens our sense of self.

World class athletes are trained to listen to the physiological responses on their bodies during workouts and races.  These physical signals from our brain are called biofeedback.  Many athletes, including myself use exercise to relieve tension from stress.  

Our bodies constantly receive messages that we can interpret and respond to, choosing our course of action. Are we always listening?  Think about it.  When we are hungry, we eat.  When we are tired, we rest.   Are there times we choose not to pay attention to these physical cues?

By developing an awareness of our bodies, we can enhance our athletic performances.

As we age, our athletic history manifests in our bodies with muscles and strengths that are absolutely rigid and we find we don’t have full range of motion in any of our joints.  Most sports have repetitive movements that can cause imbalances in our bodies.

Our bodies take longer to erase the physical stress we put on it with exercise, poor posture and limited mobility.  We need to improve our body awareness.  This season, we have designed several clinics to help us be more conscious of what is going on with our bodies and how we can make them stronger to be able to resist the aging process. Body awareness, as well as stretching, and being active in relieving tension from stress are important tools for influencing our health and well-being. 

The muscles in our body tend to hold stress in the form of physical tension.  But remember, not all muscle tension is undesirable.  The muscles tense naturally as part of movement.  Muscle tension that is retained for a long time can cause difficulty.

Today I have more and more aches and pains from running, especially longer distances.  My lower back and hamstring muscles are so tight at times. I have a hard time untying my shoes at the end of a run.  After long x-c skate ski training, my shoulders and arms are tight for a few more days. 

I don’t bounce back or recover like I did in my younger years.  Muscle soreness and tightness linger a little bit longer after each workout.  To relieve tension and improve my well-being, I’ve incorporated stretching and core strengthening as part of my training.

Yoga works really well for me.  It makes me more flexible and improves my breathing and concentration.   It really affects my physical well-being and creates an important connection between my body and my mind.  I feel more energized and also refreshed mentally after practicing yoga.  It cleans my slate.

Apparently many people agree.  Close to 10 million Americans report they do yoga, an exercise made up of a series of poses based on an ancient spiritual discipline.

The word “yoga” as we use it in the U.S., refers to a broad category of some very different kinds of mental, physical and spiritual practices.  If you are interested in starting yoga, you should try an introductory class or drop-in session – an option at many studios and gyms.  Finding the right teacher and the right practice can take time.  Try several establishments and teachers to determine whether you would continue to gain benefits from a constant and continuing practice.

Pilates is another effective practice for rehabilitation and core strengthening.  It works on sculpting the body with long, flexible muscles utilizing and strengthening the core or major postural muscles.  The focus on deep controlled breathing help stretch the muscles giving you a powerful workout without soreness. 

By developing an awareness of your body, you become your own monitor.  If you take the time to check in with yourself, you will find a general sense of improved well-being, ease, and comfort that comes from the release of life’s tensions.

Deborah Ernst, owns In Competition Sports in Green Bay, with her husband Mark.  She is a multiple sport athlete and mother of three young boys.  She is constantly striving to balance family life, work, sports and her mental well-being.

In Competition Sports Body Awareness Clinics

CHI RUNNING® CLINIC
Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 8:00 to 12:30pm
Conventional wisdom says that injuries are a fact of life for runners.
What if this is wrong?  Learn to run more efficiently with proper posture and control to help prevent injuries.

NEW ULTIMATE BODY AWARENESS CLINIC FOR ATHLETES – DATE TBA

Are you eating the right foods at the right time during your training?  Do you have rigid or flexible feet?  Can you visualize yourself at the finish line with a smile on your face?  Want to be more flexible and relieve stress and tension?  Are you optimizing your training using a controlled training program?  Come dress in comfortable clothing and try yoga and pilates.  We will cover numerous avenues to help improve your athletic endeavors by being more aware.

Contact In Competition Sports for more information.  Our website: www.incompetiton.com. 

Our email: incompetition@tds.net.  Our phone: 920-465-1510.

In Competition Sports Body Awareness Clinics:

CHI RUNNING® CLINIC
Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 8:00 to 12:30pm
Conventional wisdom says that injuries are a fact of life for runners.
What if this is wrong?

 

Chi Running® was developed by Danny Dreyer, author and ultra-marathon runner, as a way to run more efficiently and prevent injuries. He contends that running itself doesn’t cause injuries; running with bad form and posture does.

Our instructor: Chris Fuller, the only certified Chi Running® instructor in MN (none in WI) is a convert. "I have been running for over 30 years, but recently I have been injured every time I increased my intensity. At 47, I may have already run my fastest times, but I want to be able to push myself and still stay healthy."

 

Limit to 12 participants. $95 for one-day session.

NOTE: DON’T HAVE THE DATE YET???? - TBA

NEW ULTIMATE BODY AWARENESS CLINIC FOR ATHLETES

Saturday, July 9 or  September 13, 2008 from 8-12pm - $5.00 per athlete

Are you eating the right foods at the right time during your training?  Do you have rigid or flexible feet?  Can you visualize yourself at the finish line with a smile on your face?  Want to be more flexible and relieve stress and tension?  Are you optimizing your training using a controlled training program?  Come dress in comfortable clothing and learn to be aware.

Nutrition – what are you putting in your body?  What are the differences between Gels vs. Bloks vs. Beans?  Breakfast, carbos, race day food, it all can enhance or hinder performance.

Gait Analysis – how do you run?  Find out and make sure your shoes are the right ones for you.

Sports Injuries – learn about the different running, cycling & swimming injuries, how to prevent them and what to do if you find yourself injured.

Guided Imagery – stay in focus during training and race day with tools to help improve your performance and state of mind.  

Yoga & Pilates & Core – Give each discipline a try with quality instructors for one-half hour each practicing core strengthening, flexibility exercises so you can see for yourself the benefits on your body.

Periodizaton – do you know what it is?  We’ll teach you how to set up your training program with it.