Who can benefit from mental training? __________________
Mental training is suitable for everyone.
Whether you are an ambitious hobby athlete or a professional dancer, mental training can be applied at all ages and levels of performance to achieve positive effects. Many athletes, dancers, musicians and singers spend a lot of time on their physical or technical training and often underestimate the influence of their mental skills on their performance.
Try the following exercise ...
Recall a moment when you were performing at your very best - whether training, competition or performance. What emotions, thoughts and memories come to your mind?
Now think back to the moment of your worst performance, perhaps a competition where nothing went the way you wanted to. What emotions, thoughts and memories does this moment evoke for you?
Now compare both moments with each other: What differences do you notice between your best and your worst performance?
And how much of these differences can you explain with your physical skills and your
mental skills at that time?
Mack & Casstevens, 2001
Mental training for dancers ______________________________________________________
Mental training in dance is still a relatively young field of sport psychology. However, dancers can benefit greatly from mental training as it can be used in stage dance, in the dance sport field, as well as in the freelance dance scene.
Because who does not know the stage fright before an audition? Or how difficult it is to learn a new choreography when your thoughts are constantly wandering? The doubts after an injury whether you will be able to get back on the dance floor?
Whether it is about solving an existing problem or finding new ways to improve your own performance - mental training supports dancers in many ways during the different phases of their career. Especially with regard to dance education, mental training can make a valuable contribution to creating a positive, supportive motivational climate and thus to promoting the next generation of dancers.
Mental training for musicians and singers ________________________________
Musicians and singers are high-performance artists who have to present their best performance on stage at the right moment. As in sports, it is important to show mental strength and to perform despite nervousness and stage fright.
Many musicians and singers often already have many mental skills that can be refined and strengthened with mental training in order to have the right tools at hand for every situation.
For example, imagery can be used to improve the quality of the artistic performance and to experience flow on stage. Mental training can also support musicians and singers in the strenuous daily rehearsals by creating moments of recovery and relaxation for them through individual routines.
Mental training for athletes ______________________________________________________
Mental training in sport has been around for much longer than in dance or music. However, in recent years there has been a greater awareness of the need for sport psychological support, particularly with famous examples such as Simone Biles speaking openly about her mental health during the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Whether individual or team sport, junior or professional, every athlete can benefit from mental training. Just as strength and endurance must be trained for optimal performance, mental strength and a focused mind in competition also require targeted and regular training. The content and structure of the mental training depend entirely on the wishes and needs of the athlete - from motivation and goal setting to emotion regulation and self-confidence, performance and mental health are individually promoted.
