Can thinking fit help us get fit?
This is not a sales ad for the latest quick fix fitness plan - I'm sorry, you can't simply lay on the couch thinking yourself to a fitter, healthier you! But what if there was a simple strategy that could potentially help you maximise each and every training session?
The way you approach a training session can have a huge impact on the final outcome (both as a coach and as a client). Let's face it, there are times when you or your clients don't feel like training/coaching. It's these moments when you can make a difference through PRIMING. Have a try the next time that you don't fancy training/coaching.
Spend 5 minutes just thinking about your final goal, how great you will feel when you achieve it. You will have a better training session, guaranteed.
If you are coach you can influence how well your clients/athletes train by simply priming them before and during the session.
Make use of those snippets of conversation during a training session to reinforce the benefits of the training they are undertaking (be a bit subtle about it!) all you are trying to do is put your client into a 'fit' frame of mind.
If you are interested in reading a bit more about the effects of priming, pick up a copy of Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell.