Hitch Fit Living Magazine Volume 6 - May/June 2016 | Page 26

Time and time again , I find myself discussing the idea of visualization with my clients . I tell my clients that they need to picture themselves living at their goal , whatever that may be for them . I want them to ask themselves , what do they look like ? How do you think it will feel ? What will you be wearing ? How wonderful it would be to successfully complete your goal ? Maybe your practicing a performance before following through with it ? Maybe you ' re recovering from an injury and seeing that it will heal ? The questions are endless but practicing visualization can help us to accomplish the goals we have set our mind to .

To be honest , I experienced the effects of visualization first hand during my very own transformation . Looking back on my first transformation , visualization quite possibly was one technique that got me the results I desired . Yes , I did all the work that was set in my plan and yes , I ate according to my plan but , I have to give credit to the ever powerful mind .

As I recall very vividly , in between naps and feedings for my 8 week old , the last thing I really wanted to do was go downstairs on a treadmill , in my dark basement , with no tv , for another round of cardio or weight training and all I really wanted to do was nap and catch up on every bit of sleep I possibly could . But then as I would lay there rocking my daughter to sleep , I would visually see myself in my own mind what I was going to look like after my transformation . That helped me to get up and go get my workouts done . Once I was in that state of mind , I didn ' t need an entertainment device whatsoever … my mind was just that ! Looking onward , I would use the power of visualization to compete and to this day , I still use visualization to help push me through the toughest of workouts .

So how does visualization actually work ? Visualization repeatedly practiced is more easily transferred to actual actions , it helps us picture things in better detail , and helps construct the reality we want . In fact , “ a study conducted at the U . S . Olympic Training Center demonstrated that 90 % of the athletes and 94 % of coaches used some form of visualization ” ( Murphy , Jowdy , & Durtschi 1990 ). No wonder Michael Phelps imagines himself with webbed hands or how a skier looks so incredibly focused before skiing down a slope . Research has shown that the same neuro networks in the brain are activated when you imagine experiencing something as when you actually do it .

Although it may sound a bit like hocus-pocus , using your mind to create an image of what you want creates a very strong impression on the brain and can help improve performance and obtain results . Visualization may be that one way to help you keep gaining success in whatever it is that you are trying to achieve so try it and see if your ability to accomplish your goals becomes even more successful .

Amy Gipson is a Hitch Fit Transformation Trainer at the Overland Park location . Contact her for training at pinkfanatic @ sbcglobal . net or visit www . HitchFitGym . com