How to Coach Yourself and Others Better Coaching Through Visualisation | Page 146

9. Guided Imagery
9.1 What is Guided Imagery?
Guided imagery is a program of directed thoughts and suggestions
that guide your imagination toward a relaxed, focused state. You can
use an instructor, tapes, or scripts to help you through this process.
Guided imagery is based on the concept that your body and mind are
connected. Using all of your senses, your body seems to respond as
though what you are imagining is real. An example often used is to
imagine an orange or a lemon in great detail-the smell, the colour,
the texture of the peel. Continue to imagine the smell of the lemon,
and then see yourself taking a bite of the lemon and feel the juice
squirting into your mouth. Many people salivate when they do this.
This exercise demonstrates how your body can respond to what you
are imagining.
9.2 Guided Imagery Related to Stress Management
When she needs relief from the grind of delivering major proposals,
Dana Marlowe, 33, of Washington, D.C., makes some noise. "I
cruise right into my toddler’s playroom, and I just jam out with his
toys -- the xylophone, the baby piano. I almost have 'Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star' down," says Marlowe, a technology
accessibility consultant. This kind of casual music-making can shortcircuit the st &W72&W7