F E AT U R E
Matters of the mind
benchmarking mental performance, one of which I now use all the time. It’s a finger ring that monitors sleep patterns, so if you notice my 'wedding ring' in photos, no, I didn't get married! It's just a monitor collecting my biometric data.
Some people think mind over matter is just another random phrase – Denmark based equestrian vaulter JAMIE HOCKING thinks otherwise.
Sleep is probably the single biggest and cheapest improvement you can make to personal performance in life and sport. It amazed me to see real data measuring the quality of my sleep, and to learn about the impact that has on brainpower and physiology. The second surprise was that with improved sleep, my mental wellbeing, and ability to stay focused, calm and clear-headed ramped up almost instantly. And sleep is only one of the revelations. I’ve discovered more: Mental trumps physical: Many athletes have great skills and physical abilities, but the rider who has developed the mindset to deal with pressure has an instant advantage in the arena and life in general, as well as an improved perspective on training and readiness for competition. Anyone serious about progressing in their sport should dedicate time to mental training. As Amon says: “It’s the invisible that always drives the visible.” Train the mind: Under pressure, it’s usually the mind that quits before the
I
've been competing at international equestrian events since I was 12. Initially I was the smallest flyer in a
team of six vaulters, so I had the moral support of older team mates in pressure moments, including performing in front of a huge crowd at the 2010 Kentucky WEG. By 15, I was representing Australia as an individual. Suddenly I was performing on my own on borrowed horses, so my nerves were usually frayed long before I even entered the arena. My survival plan was to grit my teeth and hope it would
body. It’s that moment when you suddenly strategy. I stuck to this dismal technique
decide you’re not going to make it and
for eight years – but my own mind was
give up seconds before you could have
still a mystery to me.
actually crossed the finish line. No matter
Last year, feeling a bit bummed about
what level equestrian you are, targeted
COVID and other challenges, I read
training for better mental performance is
about Brisbane-based high performance
as vital as training for physical fitness and
mindset coach Amon Woulfe, whose
improved technical skills.
clients include professional athletes
Science and technology: Recent
and business executives. I contacted
developments in these areas have
him, arranged a virtual meeting, and pretty soon we were regularly working together via Zoom.
significantly increased the capacity of selfmonitoring devices, which now provide valuable data on stress levels, sleep
be my lucky day. Looking back, it seems
Amon and his team have researched
patterns and other biometrics that impact
ridiculous that this was my only mental
and identified a number of tools for
upon mental performance. Monitoring
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