I believe this problem is focused upon two factors. First, the visualization is not internal and kinesthetic. Second, the athlete is not taught concentration or focusing skills which enhance the visualization. This article will present stepping-stones to help the athlete make their visualizations more internal and kinesthetic.

In order for the visualization to be effective in improving the skill, it needs to be internal. The athlete needs to be able to see, feel, smell, and hear the actions of the athletic skill and the environment as well. One has to turn on all of the senses in order to make this visualization most effective. This is the part of visualization where most beginners begin to lose faith in visualization. They are not able to feel their muscle groups move in the scene, they can not hear the action on the courts, they cannot see the action through their own eyes. Consequently, the visualization does not connect to on court performance.

However, to tell an athlete "just get internal to the scene" is just like telling an athlete to swim faster without giving specific instructions which will help her swim faster. It is hard to add the kinesthetic experience to visualization if it does not come naturally. The importance of visualization being kinesthetic cannot be overstated. This kinesthetic dimension enables the visualization to utilize the muscle groups and thought patterns necessary to help build the mental and physical skills into an automated performance pattern.

However, Performance Hypnosis offers one hypnotic skill which is designed to help the athlete become more internal to the performance visualization. Performance Hypnosis can accentuate this skill. Achieving a trance state through Performance Hypnosis can easily be demonstrated. The athlete knows there has been a change in the way her body is reacting. She can see it and feel it. This experience helps to build belief that what the player is visualizing is helping to create a change in her mind/body connection. The hypnotic skill, which is taught in this exercise, is a self-hypnotic skill and can be used safely by anyone who reads the article and follows the directions.

One effective hypnotic tool that is used to enhance this kinesthetic mind/body connection is called the "Kinesthetic Primer." To illustrate it for the athlete, write it on the white board in a format like this:

When the athlete first sees this on the teaching board it will not make sense to her. It is best to demonstrate the skill to enhance the learning process. State that the exercise consists of two hypnotic components: 1) Decreasing number count and 2) Connection to the kinesthetic mind/body connections. Suggest that the athlete sit in a comfortable position and begin to focus on the three kinesthetic elements.

The facilitator would begin to note the kinesthetic cues, inviting the athlete to "come along." An example is as follows:

I see the ------(table)

I see the ------(lamp)

I see the ------(chair)

I see the ------(my shoe)

I see the ------(tissue box)

I hear the -----(traffic)

I hear the -----(air conditioning)

I hear the -----(music)

I hear the -----(traffic)

I hear the -----(music)

I feel the -----(vibration of my voice)

I feel my -----(hands touching each other)

I feel my -----(feet touching the floor)

I feel my -----(arms resting on the armrests of the chair)

I feel my -----(toes inside my shoes)

Now move to a round of 4. Naming 4 things in each of the categories.

4 things I see (names 4 things in environment that are seen)

4 things I hear (names 4 things in environment that are heard)

4 things I feel (names 4 things in environment that the body is experiencing)

This progression continues until the athlete has completed the round of 1.

This hypnotic exercise accomplishes at least four things: 1) it helps the athlete become more focused upon their mind/body connection, 2) it slows down the breathing, 3) it helps the athlete to block out other distractions, and 4) it enhances the athlete’s ability to visualize and feel bodily sensations while in a trance state.

This author is the performance consultant to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Women’s Tennis Team. The UTEP women’s tennis team faces several unique performance challenges. The biggest challenge, when teaching mental performance skills, is that six of the seven female athletes on the 1999-2000 team are from Eastern European or Scandinavian countries. English is not their native language. Consequently, teaching visualization skills is more difficult because the instructor’s directions (in English) are often being translated by the athlete into their own native tongues. This extra step diminishes the power of the experience. The Performance Hypnosis tool "Kinesthetic Primer" can help to overcome this language barrier.

After demonstrating this tool, the next step of the "Kinesthetic Primer" is to have the athlete do this exercise alone or without external assistance. This enables the athlete to do it in her own language. The repetition and sound of one’s voice can deepen the trance. Using the native language to heighten the kinesthetic experience of the athlete strengthens the mind/body connection.

When the athlete is very proficient with this skill it can be done silently as well. While it is not optimal to do it silently, there are times when the silent experience is helpful. One may be in a stressful situation with people around and it is not possible to do it out loud. If one has practiced this skill well then it is possible to benefit from doing it silently. People around one will not know what process the athlete has used to become more centered.

This is a building block tool for use with the more extensive Performance Hypnotic visualization skills. By enhancing the kinesthetic mind/body connection, the athlete can improve their visualization powers. This is further illustrated by the last step in this skill acquisition. One needs to be able to take this kinesthetic skill to the competitive environment.

Following is an example of the way this visualization exercise is done with the UTEP Women’s Tennis team. (This example is shortened to accommodate space of this article):

1. Use a quick induction to get into a trance state.
2. Begin to focus upon the sights of the tennis court.
1. See the court and notice the color.
2. Notice the lines and the net
3. See where your opponent is standing
4. Notice what she is wearing
5. Notice the racquet in your hand
6. See the tennis balls and notice their color.
7. CONTINUE THIS SECTION UNTIL THE ATHLETE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE VISUAL SENSE
3. Begin to focus upon the sounds of the court
1. Hear the sound of the people around the outside of the court
2. Hear the sound of your opponent moving on the court
3. Hear the sound you bouncing the ball
4. Hear the sound of the ball hitting the racquet
5. Hear the sound of the ball flying over the net
6. Hear the sound of the ball moving past your opponent
7. CONTINUE THIS SECTION UNTIL THE ATHLETE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE HEARING SENSE.
4. Begin to focus upon the sensations of the court.
1. Notice the texture of the court
2. Notice the tightness level of your feet in your shoes
3. Notice the feel of the ball in your hand
4. Notice the feel of the racquet in your hand.
5. Notice the power of the ball hitting the racquet
6. Notice the feeling of running for the ball
7. CONTINUE THIS SECTION UNTIL THE ATHLETE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE SENSATIONS SENSE

Performance visualization is more powerful and useful to the athlete when it can be an internal and kinesthetic experience. The use of the hypnotic skill "Kinesthetic Primer" will help most athletes acquire the building block necessary to move visualization into a powerful kinesthetic athletic experience.

Dr. Keith Wilson is a psychotherapist and performance consultant in El Paso, Texas. He works with local sports teams and individuals. He is certified in clinical hypnosis by the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis.

If you wish to provide a comment to the author of this Wild Cards column, please use this form. Tennis Server will forward the comment to the author.