Mile High Sports Magazine
Inside Mental Training
September 2008 Issue
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BE THE BALL
Mental training can improve your golf game
"Just be the ball, Danny." That's what Ty Webb told Danny Noonan in a famous scene from "Caddyshack." The sandbagger's advice for the aspiring, young hacker was to visualize success and become one with the task at hand.
I was a humorous scene, especially after a blindfolded Noonan proceeded to hit his chip shot into the lake (or, the "lumber yard"), but the basis behind Webb's coaching may not have been that wacky after all. Today, there are a growing number of golfers trying to hone their mental approach to the game.
They are on the cusp of making it to the next level. But for whatever reason, they just can't get over the hump. The proverbial "mental block" is standing in their way, as they become their own worst enemy on the course.
Traci Brown, a three-time national collegiate cycling champion, knows this is the case. She came across the same challenges when she was on her bike. Now, as a master practitioner of neuro linguistics, time line and Hawaiian huna, she's helping others unlock the power of their minds to achieve their highest possible level of success.
One of her clients is golfer Audie Dean. For years, he's been struggling to make it on the pro circuit. But for whatever reason, the 50-year-old Denver native couldn't quite break through. Something was always getting in his way. Seeking help, he turned to Brown.
"He needed that extra kick to push him over the edge," Brown explained. "It's one thing to go out there and hope; it's another thing to decide it's going to happen."
Dean and Brown got to work on decoding the mental aspect of the game. They discovered that he's a compassionate guy, a trait that is good most of the time in life but can be a detriment in competition. As a result, Brown helped Dean learn to keep the pressure on his opponents.
"When he doesn't let up, he wins," Brown said. "He decided that it's time to win - not tomorrow, but now. He hadn't made that decision on every level of his being before. Now, he just played in the Super Bowl of golf."
"We worked on managing his emotions," Brown explained, talking primarily about Dean's pre-shot routine. "Now, he's like pond water all the time."
As a result, Brown sees big things for Dean. While the golfer didn't make the cut at the Open, he will continue to play on the Champions Tour. Sponsorship dollars are beginning to come in, creating the type of career on the course that Dean had always envisioned.
"Anyone can do this in any sport," Brown said when asked how other athletes can benefit from the same type of training.
It might not have worked for a caddy at Bushwood, but it worked for Audie Dean. Who knows? Maybe it can unlock your inner Tiger Woods, too.
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THE FAST LANE
Traditional psychology leads to slow results, creating an opportunity for new approaches
The world today is one in search of quick results. Microwave ovens cook a meal in minutes. The internet provides news and information in the click of a mouse. And cellphones keep us connected to friends, family and work at every moment.
As a result, it should come as no surprise that people looking to deal with emotional issues are also hoping for immediate progress. They don't have hours to spend lying on a couch and talking about their feelings; they want to get better, and they want it now.
While this may seem like an unrealistic expectation, there is more and more evidence that it's possible. Instant therapy is suddenly en vogue.
"Traditional psychology doesn't offer everything that's possible to achieve," explained Traci Brown, a master practitioner of treatment techniques such as neuro linquistics, time line and Hawaiian huna. "It can take five to 10 years to treat depression in traditional psychology; my last client took two sessions."
Rather than talk, talk talk, Brown attacks the problem with a physical, spiritual and mental approach. And she's helping folks in all walks of life, working with those who want to lose weight, stop smoking, deal with abuse, improve their relationships and more.
"I help the client neurologically release the problem so they can't ever create it again,"
Brown said about her techniques. And unlike more traditional methods, the results will be rapid.
"For those that are ready, I'm going to help them,"
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UNLOCKING THE POWER OF THE MIND
Traci Brown helps athletes and everyday people overcome mental obstacles
During her 12 years as an elite amateur and professional road racer, Traci Brown learned that what was going on in her mind was the primary factor in determining her success. As a result, finding a way to overcome potential mental obstacles intrigued her.
Today, she's combined her experience with rapid mental change - namely neuro linguistics, time line and Hawaiian huna - and her time working with a Fortune 100 company to create amazing programs where clients create rapid and permanent change for themselves.
"Every day, I am lucky enough to assist people in overcoming whatever is holding them back," Brown said. "Many of my clients are athletes, looking to overcome whatever is holding them back and perform at their best by unlocking the powers of their mind."
No matter your struggle, Brown can help. She works with clients individually and in groups. For more information, log on to www.tracibrown.com.
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12,100,000
The number of results that come up when "mental training" is searched on Google
