VISUALIZATION can occur in real time as you watch an event at the same time you see and feel yourself perform that event, or in virtual reality as your mind imagines an event and you see and feel yourself performing that event.
A word of caution! You can visualize and perfect fantasy and failure just as easily as you can reality and success. Small children are natural visualizers who watch their parents and siblings and do and say what they see and hear. Children don't need to be told or taught to visualize ... they just do it. Somewhere along the line it seems we just stop doing it.
For the most part, little or nothing is ever said by parents or teachers about learning by visualization, although some coaches might mention it to their atheletes. As I recall, I first became aware of visualization in one of my graduate school education classes. I don't remember doing anything with it then ... but several years later, I found myself sitting on the west bank of Detroit Lake in Oregon, contemplating my first totally futile efforts at trying to learn how to windsurf and miserably failing every way I could over and over again. Then I thought of visualization and decided to give it a try. I concentrated on seeing and feeling myself doing everything I saw my friend do. Forty-five minutes of visualizing made a difference! I'll never forget the "joy of success" as I uphauled the sail, cruised across the lake, made an unwind turn, returned to the starting point, and beached the board! My first attempt was 100% failure and after visualization, my second attempt was 100% success! Visualization works!
Don couldn't believe it! "How did you do that? You were sooo bad before!" I just shrugged it off with a word, "Visualization!"
Sports psychologists think that the human brain is incapable of distinguishing between something you actually do from the same action you imagine. When you visualize, it's as if the activity you're visualizing is actually happening.
You can test for yourself how the power of your mind influences your muscles. On a plain piece of paper, draw a circle with a vertical and horizontal line though it. Attach a key to a string and with your elbow bent and stabilized, dangle the key so it's directly above the center of the circle below. Without moving your fingers or your arm, just imagine the key making a clockwise revolution around the perimeter of the circle. Now visualize it moving counterclockwise. You should see the key moving slightly in the pattern you imagine. Next, imagine the key moving like a pendulum along first one, then the other axis of the central cross. Even with no real action occurring, your muscles are responding to the power of your mind to visualize the key's movement.
Visualization can be an effective learning tool and chances are, you'll find it easy to learn. At first your greatest challenge will be to concentrate on actively watching, while at the same time seeing and feeling yourself --- in your"mind's eye" --- "doing it" ... and not letting your mind wander. After a little while you will probably " get tired" --- that's O. K., just take a few minutes rest, then go back and visualize some more. The more you visualize, the easier it becomes ... and the easier it becomes, the more you'll enjoy it!
Your success at visualization will depend on your understanding of and commtment to the process! Just remember, you visualized as a child and learned many things from your Dad and Mom and most likely, older brothers and sisters, grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins as well. As you give visualization a try now, chances are it will all come back to you and you'll learn fast!
Small children are natural born visualizers ... learning from their parents, siblings and others close to them during their growing up years. That should drive home the importance of developing good parenting skills, knowing your kids will copy both your good and bad habits!
It should also be a lesson to beginning windsurfers NOT to watch other beginners who keep making the same mistakes over and over but instead, watch those who are doing well and making progress.
You probably don't need to know any more than I've already written ... but anyway, here are some suggestions to keep in mind:
First, watch and visualize an expert windsurfer or your instructor ... NOT A BEGINNER!!! Don't even watch beginners ... you don't need to learn how to make mistakes!!
Second, visualize with as many senses as you can! Feel the steady pull of the uphaul rope in your hands as you allow time for the water to drain off the sail ... feel the rig getting lighter and lighter as it clears the water ... feel your front hand grab the mast or boom ... feel your back arm and hand pulling in the sail as you hold your front arm straight out in front of you ... feel your muscles respond to the wind blowing against the sail ... hear the board moving through the water and the wind blowing in your face as you pick up speed.
Third, close your eyes and imagine the scene you just watched and visualized. See and feel your muscles as they perform their tasks and respond to the stimuli of the water and air on the sail and board.
Fourth, visualize as many times during the day as possible: when you get up, just before your lesson, just after your practice session, and always just before you fall asleep.
Fifth, remember to visualize success, not failure! Whether you're watching and visualizing or you're imagining the event in your "mind's eye", remember to see and feel successful, perfect technique!
Sixth, remember that practicing in your head with the right images improves performance.
Seventh, watch those videos ... over and over and over again. As you watch, see and feel yourself making the same moves! Visualizing while watching windsurfing videos WILL reinforce neuromuscular patterning which translates into optimal learning!
If you would like to read more on this subject, check out http://www.opiworld.com/MarieDalloway/MarieDalloway.htm
Marie Dalloway is the Director of the Optimal Performance Institute (OPI), located in Phoenix, Ariz. OPI specializes in optimal performance training for sports and businesses. Dalloway has worked with major companies, as well as elite athletes and U.S. national teams. Her books are used by sports psychologists, coaches, athletes, business and educators, both nationally and internationally.