For me, this is around the head / neck region.  I can usually tell when a professional is about to drop their standards – on the field [...]]]> There is a certain style of tension that seems to most interfere with a clear mind and a capacity to perform at your highest level – mentally and physically.

For me, this is around the head / neck region.  I can usually tell when a professional is about to drop their standards – on the field or in the office or on stage – as the tell tale sign of a tight jaw and stiff neck show up first.

Very soon after that they start to fumble, miss shots, lose their line of thought etc.

There are some very easy pre-emptive movement strategies you can use to stop this happening.  They involve very gentle slow movements of the head, shoulders and torso.  Literally just turning your head slowly side to side, perhaps while you rotate your shoulders in a ‘bicycle pedal’ type movement.

It is very easy to disguise these movements if you have to – in an office or on stage for example.  In my trainings I am as fresh after 10 hours as I am at the beginning.

There is much more to this, but if you just try the two movement strategies I mentioned – starting before you need them – you might just start playing better later into the round and even winning more often.

An unfair advantage.