The goal of using NLP and hypnosis in sports is about taking the very best of what you have already in terms of skill sets and improving them even more. Accessing states of confidence and being in the zone will condition your mind to feel those states more and more thereby maximising your performance in your chosen sport.

Hypnosis helps to remove your unhelpful beliefs and negative thoughts by releasing and overcoming bad past performances. Sport is a game of confidence, in which the negative feelings and emotions are magnified greatly through performance. A player not thinking usefully on the court/course is more likely not going to perform to the best of their ability. While it is hugely important for the player to practise the technical part of their game, the psychological aspect of the game is becoming more prominent in the modern game.

Hypnosis in sports began to take off in the 1950’s when Russia brought no more than 11 hypnotists with them to the Melbourne Olympic Games to develop the psychological clarity of their athlete’s.

Most famously in March 1995, Steve Collins hired the service of a hypnotist to help him prepare for the WBO Super-Middleweight Title Clash with Chris Eubank. Collins entered the ring to the music of ‘Rocky’ (The Boxing Film) and then proceeded to sit down in his corner and went into a state of self-hypnosis. He was completely oblivious to his opponent’s entry into the ring. In the fight Eubank threw 300 punches, Collins threw over 600. That year Collins won the World Middleweight Title in Co. Cork. The phrase printed on the back of his black T-Shirt said it all – “Powerful thoughts make powerful people.” Collins said of his hypnotist, “He gave me confidence in myself, he made me believe I could do it. When everyone else was doubting me, he gave me more belief in myself. It was psychological.”

Jack Nicklaus asserts that his game of golf is only 10% involved with the swing. The rest is mental focus and visualisation.

Tiger Woods began using hypnosis from the early age of 13.

Leading players around the globe are seeking help with the psychological aspect of their game helping them to achieve that extra percentage that may mean the difference between winning and losing.

The core of sessions will focus on imagery, accessing being in the zone, attention of focus point and motivation.