Before you take that swing.....Relax?

In continuation of my golfer's fitness series, I wanted to start out with something that can easily be the game-changer, regardless of your ability.  If you can relax, and as long as your mechanics aren't crap, you should be able to play pretty well regardless of the surrounding circumstances.

Obviously, this is intended for the golfer who's been at it for awhile, not the novice.  And realistically, there's a lot of carry-over into other areas of fitness, and to life in general.  In some cases, it seems contradictory to "relax" especially when you need to focus or to tense up or whatever, but it's not a bunch of BS and it can help you perform better!

Not everyone performs at their best under "relaxed" conditions, so I must include this point before everyone tries it and some fail.  Relaxation is a form of focusing the energy needed to accomplish the task.  This isn't to say that you're not tensed or ready to perform, but you block out a lot of negative incoming energy and focus only on what you can control, which is yourself.

Before you swing the club towards the ball, just "white" out.  When I go to do this with a golf club, kickboxing, or weightlifting I envision nothing but blank white space.  It's kind of like the old static on the TV, but just more blank than static.  From here, I go with what my body knows whatever the task at hand.   Usually, I perform significantly better, smoother, and faster when I "white out" than when I am too determined at whatever it is that I'm doing.

Sometimes, deep breathing helps out tremendously.  Going to the blank space and taking a few deep breaths can help you get into the zone you need to perform at a better rate.  I usually take 3 breaths and that clears me up and then I do my thing.

There is some research out there as well to point to mental relaxation and performance.  The Soviets had done extensive research on this subject with their athletes research (America!) and are still discovering the merits to relaxation.
and likely killed them if they didn't win, you know...communism.  We even caught onto the bandwagon with our own

So relax and you'll see your golf game improve.  Relax and see your life improve.  

Fitness Challenge 1

Something I'd like for my readers to try is a fitness challenge.  It's pretty simple actually, all it requires of you is to do it.  Depending on your level and experience with fitness, I'll have a couple of different challenges for you.

If you watch TV regularly, which is what this challenge is based upon, then each type of commercial will have a different exercise.  Depending on the type of show, you'll have a stretch associated with it to perform for at least 2 minutes.

Pharmaceutical Commercial = Bodyweight Squats or Chair Sit-to-stands
Car Commercial = Wall Push-up/Knee Pushup/Traditional Push-up
Fast Food Commercial = Plank or Situp
Any other commercial = Jumping Jacks or Marching in place


For the TV shows themselves:

Upper Back/Shoulder Stretch

Comedy = Shoulder Stretches
Drama = Anterior (Front) Hip Stretch
Action = Posterior (Back) Hip Stretch
Any Other = Neck Stretch

Push-Up (Traditional); Left side of picture is also a plank

Sit to Stand

Jumping Jacks