The Super Mental Training Book Read Online Free Page A

dramatically lower the lactic acid level in your body, which is a good employment of time while you are waiting for competition to resume. Quite a few sports champions, in fact, follow this strategy.
    Self-hypnosis for the Athlete
    Because all mental rehearsal techniques contain elements of hypnosis, let us take a closer look at self-hypnosis (autosuggestion), how one can learn it, and how the athlete can benefit from it. To begin with, we should define hypnosis. Naturally, there are as many definitions of hypnosis as there are books out on the subject. There is one definition, however, I have found most useful. It was given by Dr. William J. Bryan, author of Legal Aspects of Hypnosis (1962), while testifying before the California Assembly's Subcommittee on Professions and Occupations (September 11, 1964). He said:
    Hypnosis is a state of mind; it is a state in which three things are always present:
    1. Superconcentration of the mind.
    2. Relaxation of the body, and
    3. Increased susceptibility to suggestion.
    It is important that hypnosis be looked upon as a state of mind. Too many people still adhere to the lingering prejudice—a prejudice born of ignorance—that hypnosis is some sort of black magic. It is, of course, neither black nor white magic. But, as long as the misconception persists, the fact that hypnosis is simply a state of mind should be emphasized to add precision and sobriety to any discussion of the subject.
    Hypnosis has also been defined as exaggerated suggestibility. This is another good way to understand the term, for in this book proper hypnotic suggestions are considered a key element to one's maximizing his full athletic potential.
    The alleged drawback to self-hypnosis is that the person, acting as his own hypnotist, might give himself foolish suggestions. This thought is of more theoretical than practical interest. One would not, for example, give himself the suggestion to "go out and play 30 hard sets of tennis without a break." But, just in case you might be such a person, please keep this in mind: self-hypnosis predominately strengthens the mental side of your game. It cannot make you a physical superman; it cannot make you something you are not. What self-hypnosis does is help you develop and tap your full athletic potential (which might prove to be greater than even you suspect). To ask more from self-hypnosis, though, is asking too much. So, to sum up, use discretion when you put self-hypnosis to work for you; if you do this, the results should please you immensely.
    Mastery of self-hypnosis can be of great utility to the serious athlete. It is free, and not dependent upon another person—the hypnotist—who is usually unavailable when you most need him (which is right before or during the competition). By knowing self-hypnosis, you can adapt to changing circumstances during the competition. You are able to do this by giving yourself appropriate hypnotic suggestions as the situation warrants. With additional practice you can give yourself suggestions instantly and without attracting any attention whatsoever. Your opponent and the crowd will not notice anything unusual, because everything will be going on inside your head. By utilizing this instant self-hypnosis capability, you should substantially improve your winning percentage and/or athletic performances.
    THE SUPER MENTAL TRAINING BOOK
    Miroslav Vanek and Bryant Cratty, in Psychology and the Superior Athlete (1970), contend that "hypnosis does not permit an athlete to modify his exertions to an unexpected situation that may confront him, for example, the challenge of an opponent in a race." This contention is technically correct if by "hypnosis" Vanek and Cratty mean "reliance on a hypnotist." The statement is false, though, in cases involving the dexterous application of self-hypnosis. The athlete can use self-hypnosis to modify his exertions as the situation demands if: 1) he is proficient at self-hypnosis, being able to enter the