As a young gymnast, I trained over 30 hours a week and I understand the rigors of high-level training and the impact it can have on the body and mind. I was fortunate to live 5 minutes away from a gym that girls moved across the country to train in. I had accomplished, knowledgeable coaches. But some pieces were missing for me and despite my struggles, I didn’t have any solutions other than ‘work harder.’
I was frustrated and discouraged when I felt like I was falling behind, and at times lonely because I had to sit out events because my knee hurt, and the only advice I received from coaches and my doctor was to rest. Today, with a clear recollection of feeling stuck and wanting more, I work with athletes of all ages who are motivated to overcome obstacles to better performance and who want to progress in the sport they love. Discovering a Brain-First Approach
In my quest to find new approaches and tools, I discovered that a key piece to creating more profound shifts in the body was to put the brain and nervous system first. By changing the brain, giving it the right inputs, we can change the body, whether it’s to feel less pain, better balance, more range of motion, or helping a difficult sport like gymnastics feel easier. The results can be quick and often surprising because we’re tuning the brain and nervous system, which regulate all aspects of movement and performance. A brain-based approach is helping me answer the questions that drive me as a coach and therapist:
How can I help athletes build the resilience and injury resistance that allows them to remain healthy, in the gym, in the game as much as possible and for as long as possible? How can I help them trust their bodies and move from feeling stuck to feeling unstoppable? What if every turn required 3% less effort and created 3% less impact on bones, tendons and ligaments? What if training just felt easier?
…All so they can progress, so they can continually reach new levels, so they can continue on a path towards big dreams.
