RIDING REQUISITES.
MIND OVER MATTER ‘DO ONE THING EVERY DAY THAT SCARES YOU,’ WE WERE TOLD IN A CHART-TOPPING SONG ABOUT WEARING SUNSCREEN. STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE MAY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT FACING YOUR FEARS IN A DIFFERENT AND CHALLENGING ACTIVITY COULD BRING A SURPRISING BOOST TO YOUR DRESSAGE PERFORMANCE, SAYS ANDREA OAKES.
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ccording to experts, athletes who have settled into a steady, stress-free state in their chosen s ort can benefit rom broadening their horizons. hose who suffer com etition nerves or sel doubt also stand to gain. I you try something different to what you re used to, and master it, the intrinsic internal motivation is remar able,” e lains s ort sychologist ichael Caulfield www. ustcaulfield.com . hether we develo greater fitness or a ly ourselves to another s ort, this can leave us thin ing I can con uer most things e then become less reliant on what we can already do uite well,” he adds. e can always return to our own strengths, but there s no harm in develo ing new ones.”
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Michael points out that the idea is to test – not necessarily to terrify – yourself. But pushing past personal boundaries can help you reach an o timal level o an iety, which is shown to enhance productivity, im rove er ormance and ma e dealing with change easier. “Trying an activity you’re not com ortable with really gives you a eeling that you can achieve,” agrees Tori Peter, a freelance coach and rider whose journey into the world of triathlon in her mid orties has roduced ositive s in offs in her dressage career. “I would encourage everyone to have a go at something different.”
