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Relaxation Improves Performance

The Electroencephalogram (EEG measures the brain's electrical signals, which appear as rows of oscillating waves, hence the term "brain waves." Brain waves vary in frequency and correlate with the different levels of consciousness (see “The Four Types of Brain Waves” page).

Beta Waves            14-40               conscious thinking and doing

Alpha Waves            7-14               body at rest with eyes closed, or open in a very relaxed state

Theta Waves            4-7                 dreamy state, characterized by fleeting images

When we are awake, beta waves (14-40 cycles per second [cps]) are the most common pattern. Stress generates excessive beta wave activity, as the brain is literally flooding with electrical signals. This overload of activity has been shown to interfere with clear thinking, decision making and to diminish physical performance. When you try too hard (at physical and mental performance) you jam up because the brain generates too many signals it can’t process fast enough. Athletes have a saying about thinking too much: “paralysis through analysis.”

So the secret is not to overstrain, rather be in relaxed state without consciously focusing mental control. The Japanese, recognizing this fact, have the expression “Mind, but no mind.” The American equivalent in sports in ‘being in the zone.”

Medical research has discovered if the individual is very relaxed, the brain can reach an alpha state (7-14 cps) without the eyes being closed. Researchers testing Olympic sharpshooters found they were able to relax and achieve an alpha state the very moment before they pressed the trigger.  This relaxation technique enables the shooter to calm his nerves and steady his hands, so the shot will be accurate.

Remember, the formula is to be focused and attentive without straining, to be alert without the nervous energy:

1. Take several deep breaths and collect yourself. Breathe easy and feel all your muscles letting go and releasing tension.

2. When your breathing pattern is smooth and even, feel your heart rate and breathing rate slowing down.

3. Focus your mind on the task without tensing the body. Breathe calmly and move comfortably.

Visualizations are used by professional athletes everyday, and are promoted by sports psychologists, to elicit peak performance. Other athletes use visualization to enhance their performance, without realizing it:
A golfer forms a mental map of the fairway, imagining precisely where he will place the ball on each shot.
A high jumper may visualize every split second of his approach to leap over the bar.
A baseball pitcher may run a mental film of the ball from the time it leaves his hand until it lands in the catcher's glove.

A similar principle holds true with mental creativity. Creativity can be found in unlikely places. For example, the “eureka moment” may come not when we’re working for it, but when we're relaxing. The mind is in a calm, alpha wave state (or even a creative theta wave state). The front of the brain (the conscious mind) is focused on lying in bed or relaxing in the bath, or weeding in the garden, an activity that is performed automatically. And the subconscious is free to roam – that’s when the big ideas come. We’ve all experienced times when we’re talking with a friend and we can’t remember the title of that good movie we liked, and, later in the conversion, boom ­– it pops up in your mind. So give your creative mind the freedom it needs, you’ll be delightfully surprised.

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Source: Stress Makes You Fat, Wrinkled and Dead Lewis Publishing Richard Lewis ISBN 0-9664069-0-7 Wikipedia(http://en.wikipedia.org)

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