Breaking Through the Wall

Question: What do I teach that helps someone break through and stop them from hitting the same wall over and over again?

On the Ice: The first thing I tell my skaters is that they must be in a conscious state of mind, meaning consciously thinking about a correction as they execute a maneuver. For example, if a skater is attempting a double axel or a triple jump, the rotational side of the body (the right side if they rotate to the left), should be as straight in position as possible. If their right leg is bent they need to straighten it to increase rotation speed.

Sounds simple. But it isn’t for those learning the jump. To straighten the right leg, one needs to tighten the quadriceps femoral muscle group. In order to fire up the muscle group to straighten the leg, the brain needs to give the command―which means being in a conscious state of mind. In other words, stay focused and very aware of how your body feels during the jump.

To help speed up this process, I tell them to do specific exercises on and off the ice that help their body become familiar with the correct position, such as tightening the quadriceps. What you have with this repetitive practice is a stronger consciousness that will reinforce the correction and put the movement in the subconscious state of mind. One day they will see and feel the improvement of faster rotation and achieve a clean jump and success, which in turn, creates gratitude and builds confidence.

Try this in any Endeavor: If you’re stuck in a rut and want desperately to climb out, you must change your daily routine to make it happen. And that can only start with a change of your thoughts and attitude, which again means being conscious of your thoughts.

When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you should say to yourself is, “It’s going to be a great day.” Start thinking of the things you want or need to do, then make the necessary changes throughout the day to help get you started on your quest. Keep a positive attitude to help you stay on the right path, no matter what happens.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Be your own Champion.

Live your Dreams.

Scott Gregory