You don't just have to prepare your BODY for a good workout   you have to prep your BRAIN, too.

You don't just have to prepare your BODY for a good workout   you have to prep your BRAIN, too. Whether you plan on taking a spin class or playing a league-level softball game, mentally preparing yourself can improve your performance. That's the word from sports psychologist Jerry Lynch, founder of the TaoSports Center for Athletic Development in California. He says if you help your brain and body cooperate, you'll be more enthusiastic, perform better and have more fun. So here are his tips to help you focus, courtesy of Cooking Light magazine:
  • First: Prepare for an after-work exercise session by taking a few slow, deep breaths. But start in your abdominal muscles rather than your chest. Use 3 counts to inhale, and 6 to exhale. This will get rid of all the baggage from your workday and get your mind in gear.
  • And second: If you're playing a team sport, shift your focus from beating the other team   which you can't control, to impressing YOURSELF   which you can do simply by giving it your all. And instead of trying to take power over the OUTCOME of the game, Lynch says try to concentrate on the things you did well in practice. You'll feel more relaxed, and the outcome will take care of itself!

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