Each summer, we pack up and head to my in-laws for a couple of weeks. They live by a beautiful lake, and, for 10 fleeting days, we “get back to nature”, which for me means lying prone in a hammock reading trashy bodice rippers and true crime novels. One of my favorite things about The Lake is…. my run. I’m not even kidding! There’s a road that winds down past a marina, with barns dotting the landscape, and ditches erupting in wildflowers and bunnies. It is glorious.
I don’t know what comes over me when I set out on my daily slog (slow jog), but suddenly I DESPERATELY need to listen to 1990s era self help audiobooks. I know. I’ve meditated with Deepak, prophesied with James Redfield, organized my life with Julie Morganstern, and awakened my inner giant with Tony Robbins. But the author that really gets me to the I CAN DO ANYTHING AND I AM MANIFESTING MY ULTIMATE DESTINY RIGHT NOW place? Dr Wayne Dyer.
Wayne Dyer was a prominent figure in the magical thinking movement of the 1990’s, alongside Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, and the like. One of the principles he built his philosophy on was the idea that, if you want something to materialize in your life, you need to visualize it: you’ll see it when you believe it.
Now, whether you subscribe to Dr Dyer’s take on the world or not, he really nailed this one idea. It’s certainly not a new concept, but it is one that we often overlook. Take circus, for example. You didn’t just spontaneously teleport into a circus class one day; you heard about it, maybe saw a show, or it popped up on Groupon. To one degree or another, you *saw* yourself there; it began with a thought.
What You Think About Expands
Speaking of thoughts, I know what you’ve been thinking. You’ve been out of the studio for a hot second, and you’re preeeeeety sure your skills have gone the way of the dinosaurs: your grip is le poo, and you probably couldn’t haul your ass over your head without chanting and sacrificing a virgin.
Now. What if I told you that you could regain some lost ground, and train without even touching your apparatus? No, I’m not talking about conditioning in your living room, doing cardio, or even sweating through your cousin Shirley’s bikram yogilates class. I’m referring to (….drumroll please….) the magic of visualization.
Wut?
I know it sounds a little woo woo, but there’s legit science behind it! From this article:
“Physiological effects can also occur with regular visualization: Researchers at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation observed increased muscle strength among subjects who performed “mental contractions” of specific muscle groups without actually doing the exercise. How was this possible? EEG monitoring during the mental training revealed elevated cerebral cortex output signal which has been linked to the control of voluntary muscle contractions. This means that visualization triggers areas in the brain that activates the muscles and consequently improves strength.”
If you Google “visualization helps muscle strength”, you’ll find oodles of articles and links to studies that suggest that simply *thinking* about training or being in front of an audience can improve your performance. Now, this doesn’t mean we can abandon our regular physical training, but it DOES mean that your brain plays a super important role in your circus work that you might be overlooking.
Taking It from the Nowhere to the Now Here
How do you do it? How do you train circus with your brain? Well, chances are pretty good you’ve already been doing it!
- Start with the big picture. Why did you come to class in the first place? Our training “why” is actually the most important piece of our circus puzzle. Did you imagine yourself performing in an arena full of people? Busting out a perfect split? Holding a handstand for 30 seconds? Get that picture firmly in your mind.
- If performing is your jam, grab your favorite song and imagine yourself performing – flawlessly – every single badass move you’ve ever yearned for. Let it get your heart all fluttery.
- Pick one thing to focus on. Want to train your grip? Imagine the feel of the silk in your hands, the texture; feel yourself grip, and your feet lift off the ground. Did your muscles respond a bit? Perfect. Imagine your inversion happening easily and effortlessly. Imagine your craptastic rolldowns placed perfectly, and an easy spiral down to the ground. Try for about 3 minutes per day (it’s weirdly hard work).
- Don’t imagine a struggle! What you think about expands! Picture success, and hold it tightly.
Our thoughts are powerful. Take this time to do a little dreaming (or big dreaming), and visualize the good stuff. It isn’t magic (you still have to train), but you’ll be amazed at how much it helps. Love and pullups, Laura