mentally tough riding
 

Mentally Tough skills are the keys to access your unlimited potential. Once you understand how to unlock productive ways of thinking and acting, you are on the road to learning easily, accomplishing your dreams and having more fun than ever before. This training is easy to understand and apply. Below is a visual model for the Mentally Tough program. Look at it as you would view a road map. Start at the left side of the model and work to the right.

The Mentally Tough Training Model
         Mentally Tough Training Model
 
Your Guide To Understanding the Mentally Tough Training Model

Emotions Run the Show
Emotional state is a primary indicator of your potential to perform at your best at any given moment. The goal is to feel the emotions of the Ideal Performance State (IPS) as outlined in the black circle.

Performer Self
The way you need to feel to achieve IPS and perform at peak levels on demand is the Performer Self (top row of model). Performer skill development allows you to reach IPS on demand no matter what is going on around you.

Performer Self Skills
- Act as if IPS is happening through control of your eyes, breathing and posture
- Train mentally through imaging, scripting and utilizing power phrases and questions
- Create rituals by combining thinking and acting skills to trigger IPS

Real Self
The way you actually feel is called your Real Self (bottom of model). Notice that Life Skills form the foundation of the entire training. Health, happiness and balance in life are vital to being a consistent rider. Through this training, you develop a natural ability of achieving the emotions of IPS.

Life Skills
- Seek stress to strengthen yourself
- Make waves to maintain balance and harmony
- Train recovery to recapture your energy

The Training Log
A systematic way to plan, develop self-discipline and track your progress for the ongoing training required to achieve IPS in performance and life.

The Ideal Performance State (IPS)
The result of Performer Skill and Life Skill training is developing the skills to achieve IPS on demand in performance as well as in your daily life. By doing so, performing consistently in any situation plus leading a happy and productive life is within your reach.

 
Here's some training examples:
  Performer Skills
"Act As If" Tip
When you ride, show only strength on the outside. No matter how bad it seems, never show weakness physically during performance.
 
 
"Train Mentally" Tip
Every morning take a few minutes of quiet time to reflect on a mental picture of the rider you want to be. Keep the vision alive as truth in your mind, and your body will make this image become a reality in form.
 
"Create Rituals" Tip
Consider what empowers you prior to your ride. Design a personalized 15-30 second ritual that keeps your thoughts focused and your body ready. For example, say to yourself, "I'm ready. My mind is focused, my body is relaxed and free. Chin level, shoulders open. Let's go!"
 
Life Skills:

 
"Seek Stress" Tip
Get tougher physically by monitoring how you're doing in your workout program. Keep a record of your progress by creating an exercise-only monthly calendar. Log what you do each day using the initials "F" for flexibility, "IA" for interval aerobics, "S" for strength training and "A" for abdominals. Be clear about how much exercise you are truly doing, by keeping weekly and monthly totals.
 
"Train Recovery" Tip
Eat healthy. For example, at a Mexican restaurant, consider chicken fajitas, 26% fat calories, as opposed to a chicken burrito with 36% of its calories coming in the form of fat. Lay off the guacamole and sour cream.
 
"Make Waves" Tip
Start with an activity you feel comfortable with. Then, stretch the activity to include doing something you are not comfortable with. Experience success at the stretch and then return to your comfort zone. Repeat the cycles and watch your comfort zone expand.
 

There are several ways to be trained in Mentally Tough riding. Click here for more details.

 
 
 

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