In mid-November, Dr. Natascha Wesch of Elite Mind Performance came to speak at Fanshawe about the illusion of sport. Wesch is a Mental Skills Coach and Sport Psychology Consultant for various varsity, provincial, national and international athletes.

She obtained her Ph.D. in Sport Psychology after completing a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology/Biochemistry and a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. Her extensive athletic history as an international rugby player, varsity hockey player and competitive gymnast has given her the practical knowledge necessary to help her support other athletes.

During her presentation, Wesch gave students advice on how to improve their physical athletic performance by taking time to focus solely on training their mind. "One of the things that happens in sport, and I think in other areas of performance, is that we spend so much time training the technical, the tactical and the physical side, and we leave the mental side to chance," she said.

One of the most useful ideas she offered students was by comparing the mind to a GPS. "If (I) want to go to Windsor, what do I plug into the GPS? Where I want to go. Do I plug in 'Don't go to Sarnia?' I could, but it's not going to take me to Windsor, it's just not going to take me to Sarnia," she said, comparing this scenario to that of a gymnast on a balance beam. "If you plug in 'I don't want to fall,' you will fall, because you're not telling your mind and body what you want it to do to get to the destination that you want," she added.

When imagery is used to improve mental performance, Wesch said it is like packing down a pathway in the snow. "The more you pack it down and walk the same path over and over, it becomes the last thing to melt … Imagery will do the same thing as if I were actually practicing or doing something. It will pack down the snow, make it more concrete and it will stick in my mind."

Wesch said that one of the best ways to continue packing down the snow in your mind, so to speak, is to practice imagery before you sleep because you are more likely to dream about it during the night. As Wesch puts it, you will get "More bang for (your) buck."

The techniques offered by Wesch can easily be applied to anyone. She suggests that you use imagery every day in order to improve whatever it is you are hoping to do better. "If you imagine something, then you can believe it because, essentially, that's your reality."