'It was a unique, very personal experience. I am normally a sceptic about these things but it was definitely worth it.'
Alison Wytchwood, Yorkshire Evening Press, July 21, 2007
US shotpoutter Adam Nelson has been talking to the Los Angeles Times about how he has been using hypnosis to prepare for a gold medal at the next Olympics.
Brushing aside nay-sayers who told him that hypnosis was a load of baloney, Nelson has been working with sports hypnotherapist, Pete Siegel, and feels that he is benefiting from the experience. So strongly does he believe in the power of hypnosis as a kind of mental training that he has even allowed this video to be made of a hypnosis session with Siegel in his hotel room.
Have a listen. It is always interesting to see how other therapists work. We are all a little different.
I love working with sportsmen and women. I have worked with many now, from show jumpers to waterskiers to runners. I don't generally get them shouting 'power words' when in hypnosis. I tend to create power 'anchors' that people can use to trigger feelings of focus, success and self-belief.
There are some other funny things I noticed about this video such as the Los Angeles Times' captioning of the video as 'Olympic medalist ritual'. Hmmmm... I had better go and get my ritualistic cloak out of the wardrobe, along with my pendulum and magic wand.
Have a play of the video. (I have been trying to embed it here but it doesn't seem to want to be embedded.) Let me know what you think. I'm off for a swim now.