It is so important as an athlete to know how our body feels in terms of fatigue, not only physically but also mentally! We train a lot, and we train hard. Whether it’s in the gym, on the court or running up (and rolling down) sand dunes, every day we are pushing ourselves to our mental and physical limits. To the point where I can honestly start to question myself and think “I don’t know if I can do this anymore”.
You may be surprised to hear such words from “Never say die Sharni”, but it’s important to remember that as athletes, we are still human and we have human thoughts! However it’s what we do with that thought that creates our strength.
When I hear a negative voice inside my head, I know to question it. I now understand that because I’m having that thought, it doesn’t mean it’s the truth. So I push the thought aside and find an extra gear. You would be surprised how many gears you can find inside your engine of a body. It’s about teaching your mind to allow it to question a negative thought, however this takes practice. You must train your brain, like you would train your body to build muscle. If you don’t know how to zone into how your body is feeling, then yoga is good place to start.
I started yoga three and a half years ago and the improvements not only to my body, but also my mind, as an athlete has been invaluable. Originally I was too embarrassed to go to yoga because I was so inflexible. I’m 187cm tall and would barely touch my knees when asked to try and touch my toes. I just thought it wasn’t for me. Little did I know it would be the best thing for my mind, body and soul and a turning point in my performance!
The best part of yoga is that you’re not comparing yourself to anyone else; you are just getting the most out of you and your body. When you hit a challenging pose, you will notice that you try and talk yourself out of it! And then you can think, where else in life do I talk myself out of things? By learning to hear and understand that naughty little voice inside your head, you can then start to let them go. You can then start to apply this technique in everyday life! Yoga has taught me to let go of resistance (negative thoughts) and just be in the moment with my body, which is what I have to do when playing sport.
I do my yoga at Egg of the Universe in Rozelle, NSW. During the season I do Yin Yoga, which consists of staying in a relaxing pose for minutes at a time and stretches out the body, but out of season I would do Vinyasa, which is more of a workout tied in with breathing techniques, so it’s important to find one that’s right for you.
It is so important in today’s hectic world that you take time out for yourself every week, to slow your mind and be in the moment. You don’t have to be spiritual, but by taking just one hour out of busy week for you, will make the world of difference in your energy and productivity! I know it’s made a huge difference to my performance and mindset and is especially important in having these skills in high-pressure situations, like playing a Grand Final on the weekend!!
Namaste and Go Swifts!