Clean Run - January 2012 - 21

Harmony in My Head
Using Hypnosis for Mental Management in Sports
By Elayne Fletcher, CH, SH Hypnosis conjures up all sorts of reactions in people. Most are fascinated or interested to know more but some are skeptical, and others outright fearful. In reality, hypnosis is a natural, relaxed, focused state of mind that we all slip into and out of many times during the day. If you’ve ever been setting bars at a trial and had someone yell at you to fix a bar that’s fallen right next to you because your mind was elsewhere, then you’ve experienced a light state of hypnosis. If you’ve arrived at agility class yet can’t remember a good chunk of the drive or if you’ve been engrossed in a compelling book or movie, then you’ve also experienced a trance state. You’re always in control when you’re in a trance state; a hypnotist can’t make you bark like a dog unless you really want to. There are a number of studies that support the effective use of hypnosis for a variety of problems, and the American Medical Associated approved its use back in 1958. Many famous athletes have used hypnosis to improve their mental game including Tiger Woods, Mark McGwire, and Jimmy Connors, to name a few. However, all is not lost. The trance state that we go into during hypnosis sends the critical factor away for a bit and allows new suggestions to enter the subconscious and cause the internal change that we’re hoping for. It’s this bypass of the critical factor and acceptance of the new information by the subconscious mind that makes hypnosis effective and unique, especially in the field of sports performance and mental management.

© KA REN H PHY OCKER PHOTOGRA

How Does Hypnosis Work?
The subconscious mind controls our emotions, fears, habits, creativity, and permanent memory, while our conscious mind controls our rational and analytical thought processes. Standing between the subconscious and conscious mind like a wall is what many hypnotists refer to as the “critical factor” of the conscious mind. The critical factor acts like a filter. It checks in with our subconscious and stops any information that is incongruent with our self-image and world view from reaching the subconscious. As an example, when I was a kid, my family would joke a lot about how clumsy I was. This started from an incident that happened when I was three or four years old and wasn’t even a result of my own clumsiness. But my family stuck the label on me and every time I tripped or dropped something, they’d make a joke about it; so the idea that I’m inherently clumsy got stored permanently in my subconscious. As an adult I can rationally understand that I’m not inherently clumsy, but no matter how much I visualize myself moving smoothly through an agility course, or tell myself that I’m graceful as a ballerina, the information never makes it to my subconscious. This is because the critical factor checks in with the subconscious which says, “No, you’re clumsy,” thus consequently blocking the new information from creating a change at a deeper level.
January 12 | Clean Run

Can Everyone Be Hypnotized?
Anybody with the motivation to change, the ability and willingness to follow the hypnotist’s directions, and an IQ above 70 can be hypnotized. Even strong-willed people and the highly analytical can make good hypnotic subjects. I have an M.S. degree in structural engineering as well as my professional engineering license, with 16 years of experience in the field. I’m a highly analytical, scientifically minded person and my brain is always buzzing; yet, I’m easily hypnotized. Highly intelligent and creative people often make good subjects because they have strong imaginations and a good ability to concentrate. Sports enthusiasts typically make great subjects and are successful with hypnosis because
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Clean Run - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - January 2012

Clean Run - January 2012
Contents
Editorializing: Why Can’t You Be More Like My Last Dog?
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
Teaching Your Dog to Bend
Harmony in My Head: Using Hypnosis for Mental Management
The New Obstacle Performance Standards
Training to Your Weakness: Exercises for Dogs with Straight Rears
Agility Bloopers
Power Paws Drills: Obsessing on Four Jumps
Agility Mind Gym: Passion, Excellence, and Dreams
Analyze This!
Fit to Be Tricked: Feet on Feet
Why Knowledge Equals Speed
What’s in Your Toolbox?
Building Blocks: Equalizing the Value of Food and Toys as Reinforcers
Hip Luxation Treatment in the Agility Dog
Letters
Clean Run - January 2012 - 1
Clean Run - January 2012 - 2
Clean Run - January 2012 - Contents
Clean Run - January 2012 - 4
Clean Run - January 2012 - Editorializing: Why Can’t You Be More Like My Last Dog?
Clean Run - January 2012 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - January 2012 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - January 2012 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - January 2012 - 9
Clean Run - January 2012 - 10
Clean Run - January 2012 - 11
Clean Run - January 2012 - Teaching Your Dog to Bend
Clean Run - January 2012 - 13
Clean Run - January 2012 - 14
Clean Run - January 2012 - 15
Clean Run - January 2012 - 16
Clean Run - January 2012 - 17
Clean Run - January 2012 - 18
Clean Run - January 2012 - 19
Clean Run - January 2012 - 20
Clean Run - January 2012 - Harmony in My Head: Using Hypnosis for Mental Management
Clean Run - January 2012 - 22
Clean Run - January 2012 - 23
Clean Run - January 2012 - 24
Clean Run - January 2012 - 25
Clean Run - January 2012 - The New Obstacle Performance Standards
Clean Run - January 2012 - 27
Clean Run - January 2012 - 28
Clean Run - January 2012 - Training to Your Weakness: Exercises for Dogs with Straight Rears
Clean Run - January 2012 - 30
Clean Run - January 2012 - 31
Clean Run - January 2012 - 32
Clean Run - January 2012 - Agility Bloopers
Clean Run - January 2012 - Power Paws Drills: Obsessing on Four Jumps
Clean Run - January 2012 - 35
Clean Run - January 2012 - 36
Clean Run - January 2012 - 37
Clean Run - January 2012 - Agility Mind Gym: Passion, Excellence, and Dreams
Clean Run - January 2012 - Analyze This!
Clean Run - January 2012 - 40
Clean Run - January 2012 - 41
Clean Run - January 2012 - 42
Clean Run - January 2012 - 43
Clean Run - January 2012 - 44
Clean Run - January 2012 - Fit to Be Tricked: Feet on Feet
Clean Run - January 2012 - 46
Clean Run - January 2012 - 47
Clean Run - January 2012 - 48
Clean Run - January 2012 - 49
Clean Run - January 2012 - Why Knowledge Equals Speed
Clean Run - January 2012 - 51
Clean Run - January 2012 - 52
Clean Run - January 2012 - What’s in Your Toolbox?
Clean Run - January 2012 - 54
Clean Run - January 2012 - 55
Clean Run - January 2012 - 56
Clean Run - January 2012 - Building Blocks: Equalizing the Value of Food and Toys as Reinforcers
Clean Run - January 2012 - 58
Clean Run - January 2012 - 59
Clean Run - January 2012 - 60
Clean Run - January 2012 - Hip Luxation Treatment in the Agility Dog
Clean Run - January 2012 - 62
Clean Run - January 2012 - 63
Clean Run - January 2012 - Letters
Clean Run - January 2012 - 65
Clean Run - January 2012 - 66
Clean Run - January 2012 - 67
Clean Run - January 2012 - 68
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