Relax, Relax, Relax - Viking Cues Tip of the Week with Mike Roque author of Build Your Game

Relax, Relax, Relax

“The main thing is to try to relax. If I start tensing up, I’ll be off.”
-George Blanda

When the heat is on, the player who can relax and stay calm has the advantage. When your mind is busy being anxious, your body soon follows suit. To play at your maximum potential, the mind and body need to work together on cruise control.

As soon as you feel tense, take steps to relax. Breathing, itself, is a great tension buster.

Breathe slowly and imagine breathing in relaxation and then breathing out tension. The extra oxygen fuels the brain and the simple act of breathing quiets the mind. A clear, calm mental state is like a guardian angel.

Some athletes intentionally tense their bodies while taking a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds, and releasing the tension as they exhale. This makes it easier to be aware of tension and to let it go.

Try this. Prior to a key shot, get into your stance as if you were going to shoot it one handed. Let your bridge arm hang loosely and feel the tension drain down through your fingertips. When the tension is reduced, get into your normal stance and shoot.

The bottom line is that tension can be a performance killer. Relax and you’ll play better and enjoy it more!

You have to relax to play at your max!

Love our Tuesday Tip of the Week with Mike Roque, you can purchase your own copy of his book "Build Your Game" at the BEBOB Publishing Website at http://bebobpublishing.com/