Episode 90: Why You Shouldn't Tell Your Dancers to Get Out of Their Head
Summary:
Have you heard the saying “get out of your head” when talking about athletes who are anxious for a competition or a performance? Oftentimes, dance teachers will say, “You’re overthinking! Just get out of your head,” to encourage dancers to be more present and just dance. I get it, but while that’s generally good advice, it might not actually be helping your dancers the way you think it does. When you ask a dancer to get out of their head, is that considered mental toughness, is that mindfulness, or is that neither of the two?
In this episode, I’ll clarify the difference between mental training and mindfulness, and I’ll take you through an explanation of why “getting out of your head” isn’t actually the best strategy. I hope this episode helps you understand the differences between the two and walk away with actionable strategies to help strengthen your dancers’ mindsets.
“With mindfulness, rather than trying to change our thoughts and emotions, we notice and accept them without judgment, allowing us to move forward. The goal is to accept and diffuse the negative thought, not change it.”
Dr Chelsea
rs that they're allowed to dance. I think that’s a really beautiful thing.”
Key Highlights –
- [1m 41s] – Mental Training
- [2m 38s] – Mindfulness
- [4m 15s] – The Fine Line Between Mindfulness and Psychological Skills Training
- [8m 59s] – Both Approaches Work
- [10m 21s] – Flow States vs. “Get Out of Your Head”
Resources –
Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!
Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers
If mindfulness is something you would like to learn more about, I’d love to hear from you – send me an email or hit me up on Instagram to let me know what you think.
Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!
Transcript
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