Sports and the Mind

It's More Than Just Game

5 Tips for Being in the NOW

5 Tips for Being in the NOW

Photo credit to WikiMedia

5 Tips for Being in the NOW

The only moment that matters is NOW. Now spelled backward is WON.

Being in the NOW means you have WON!

Tip #1

 

Have a reminder that consistently brings you into the moment.  For example, the watch in the picture is a great reminder to be here at the moment.  Other ideas: a colored shoelace, a rubber band around your wrist, apps that chime reminding you to breathe and be present( Breathe to Relax), a single painted fingernail, a note posted on your bathroom mirror.

 

Tip #2FullSizeRender 1

Eating Mindfully. Have one meal a day that you choose to eat slowly and taste your food, enjoy the aroma and textures, and notice swallowing. Leave all your social media items in another room or turn them off (television, computer, Facebook, snapchat, etc). Just eat. When your mind wanders bring it back to your food. If you are used to being done in 10 minutes try having one meal where you sit and eat for 20 minutes and just be aware or try eating a strawberry like the picture above!

 Tip #3

walkingWalk to one place and be fully present for the journey. Your mind can wander a million different places during your walk,  but practice bringing yourself back to the task at hand, which is just WALKING. Talk yourself through the steps if that helps. This is such good training for focus and every athlete needs focus. Laugh at yourself. Smile and just walk.

Tip #4

body-scan-meditation2Take two minutes each day to purposely scan your body for tension. Breathe into the spots where you feel the tension. Imagine releasing those spots that are tight. This is great training for mindfully choosing to relax your body. It also is a good reminder to learn where and how you build stress in your body. Releasing it daily helps your overall well-being. Breathe and release.

Tip #5

2014-11-26-gratitude2Be grateful for one thing at the end of each day.

 

 

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About Colleen Hathaway, DC

Dr. Colleen Hathaway is a licensed chiropractor in the state of Wisconsin. Dr. Colleen is a native of Madison, WI and did her undergraduate work at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota obtaining a B.S. in Corporate Fitness Science and Athletic Training. She played basketball for St. Thomas for four years and was the starting point guard on their 1991 NCAA Championship team.
Dr. Colleen completed her chiropractic degree at the Northwestern College of Chiropractic from 1993-1997. She has been in private practice for over 20 years and adores working with people of all walks of life. Her philosophy is grounded in the principles of wellness, balance, support and human performance. She utilizes gentle chiropractic and cranio-sacral techniques, including light touch energy work. Essentially, she works with the body’s innate wisdom by helping to remove blockages of the nerve system. Patient education and home exercise routines are an important part of most care plans. Dr. Colleen also refers and coordinate care with multiple practitioners (massage, medical doctors, etc.) in an effort to accommodate individual needs.
Dr. Colleen is active in numerous chiropractic ventures and her most notable experience was a humanitarian mission trip to Fortelaza, Brazil where she was able to provide chiropractic adjustments to hundreds of people. She is a member of SOTO, a Reiki Master and trained Cranio-sacral therapist through the Upledger Institute.
On a personal note, Dr. Colleen enjoys participating in the American Birkebeiner cross country ski race, rollerblading, hiking, yoga, golfing and all things nature. She was inducted into the Edgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

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