Winning Habits: Techniques for Excellence in Sports

Basic Approach

Winning is a habit we need to cultivate by manoeuvring the thoughts responsible for our habits. Emphasizing particularly on sports, where competition is unavoidable, Winning Habits offers techniques and solutions from Indian and Western psychology, and yogic practices to deal with negative thoughts which create hindrances in the path to victory.Disciplining the thought processes through concentration-exercises like Bindu Trataka and Jyoti Trataka; strengthening the correct responses from memory, and a positive anticipation of the future through visualization; and yogic exercises like Pranayama for developing concentration and attention focus, Shavasana and Nyasa for relaxation and creation of energy reserves are some of the recommended remedies.

Features

This book is divided into three parts, each dealing with a separate area of focus:

- Basic concepts and their practical applications for excellence and achievement in sports


- Techniques and exercises such as Bindu Trataka, Jyoti Trataka, Pranayama, Nyasa, Soham Mantra, Shavasana and visualization


- The actual application of these techniques in sports such as tennis, badminton, table-tennis, squash, judo, wrestling, boxing, shooting, archery, billiards, snooker, golf, football, hockey, basketball, cricket, and volleyball


Table of Contents

Message from Aparna Popat
Foreword by Rahul Dravid
Foreword by Geet Sethi
Foreword by Anjali Bhagwat
Preface
Part I: BASIC CONCEPTS Chapter 1: Be a Warrior
Chapter 2: Worship of Excellence
Chapter 3: Goal Setting and Planning
Chapter 4: Self-image and Confidence
Chapter 5: Self-talk: Controlling the Verbal Thoughts
Chapter 6: Visualization: Controlling the Non-verbal Thoughts
Chapter 7: Analysing the Game and Handling the Transition Points
Chapter 8: Attention Focus
Chapter 9: Relaxation, Rest and Letting Go
Chapter 10: Coping with Distraction and Adversities
Chapter 11: Thoughts, Emotions and Moods
Chapter 12: Interpersonal Relations
Chapter 13: Teamwork and Leadership
Chapter 14: Stress, Anxiety and Motivation
Chapter 15: Competition Season
Part II: TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVEMENT IN SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE Chapter 16: Building of Self-talk
Chapter 17: Visualization:Improvement of Self-image and Confidence
Chapter 18: Techniques for Improving Attention Focus
Chapter 19: Yogic Exercises for Relaxation
Part III: APPLICATION OF THE TECHNIQUES FOR SPECIFIC GAMES Chapter 20: Cricket
Chapter 21: Games of Response
Chapter 22: Individual Games
Chapter 23: Sports Involving Continuous Movement and Speed
Chapter 24: Chess
Chapter 25: Team Games

Author Bio

B. P. Bam is the founder of the Purushottam Academy established for the promotion of excellence in all fields. He was Vice President of National Rifle Association of India and President of Maharashtra Rifle Association for four years. He is also a qualified coach in rifle- and pistol-shooting.