LimbicNutrition Weblog

[This is my 4000th post!]

From Jason over at CanOworms:

“My Girlfriend received a book called “Centered Riding” this Christmas… a gift from yours truly of course!

It’s an approach that teaches a complex physical (or mental) skill by providing visualisations and exercises that overrule a beginners ‘incorrect’ common sense, instinctive approach, and lead them to acting in the ways which are consistent to being a good rider. <Stop and consider this… I think that it’s BIG!>

Don’t give people specific behavioral instructions… lead them to visualize a reality in which they would automatically act in the right way.

• Would they have to imagine jets of water shooting along and out of their arms? (Aikido)
• Would they have to imagine that they are suspended by a single hair from the crown of their head? (Tai Chi) 
• Would they have to imagine that they had really stubby legs (Centered Riding)
• Would they have to imagine that the golf club is a piece of rope as they swing a golf club?

Each of these visualizations is a subtle shorthand, that leads people naturally to a subtle change in how people are using their bodies.

I’ve been in Psychology classes that teach students to imagine that they and the people they are coaching are contained within a golden bubble of energy… does that exist… I don’t believe so, but in seeing the bubble around the two of us - how do you think that my body and mind responds in ways that may help our communication?

So, before I get sent a membership card for New Age Anonymous… let’s get back to business.

An angry customer comes in … rather than giving people instructions as to how to behave… what about:

A lion with a thorn in it’s paw is standing in front of you

Is there a metaphorical situation that leads your staff to act in ways consistent with great performance?

Is there a reason that the ancient martial arts seem to be full of these imaginative methods?”

If this post is an indication of what we can expect from CanOworms and the team over at Brief Consulting, then 2006 is going to be a fantastic year for them.