Executive Summary

Cold plunging, or deliberate cold-water immersion, has become increasingly popular among athletes and high- performance professionals for its physical recovery benefits. However, its potential as a mental training tool to promote intentional focus and build resilience is now receiving attention as well. Recent neuroscience research indicates that cold exposure activates stress response mechanisms, providing an opportunity for your mind and body to develop mental endurance under controlled stress. More specifically, cold exposure stimulates the vagus nerve, which results in the release of key neurotransmitters that help strengthen the neural pathways underlying focus and resilience (Jungmann et al., 2018; Miksi, 2024; Shetty, 2024). This paper presents information on how cold exposure ca...

It’s no secret that athletes diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can still reach the top of the athletic pyramid in today’s world.  Just look at the successes of Olympians and outspoken mental health advocates Simone Biles and Michael Phelps.  In fact, there’s a strong correlation between athletics and ADHD…yet many athletes with ADHD don’t actually know that they have it. Sport can serve as an incredible vehicle for humans with ADHD, and getting tested and receiving a diagnosis is the first step towards creating a blueprint for success in sport and life. 

The Correlation

The strong correlation between ADHD and sport may sound puzzling, but in reality it makes perfect sense.  Read Full Article

Sport Psychology can help an athlete transcend from good to great in both sport and life for a lifetime, but it doesn’t take a lifetime for an athlete to use the skills learned from sport psychology to improve.  In fact, many athletes notice a difference after just a few sessions.  The before-and-after portraits of sport psychology success stories can conjure the perception that these mental skills apply only to performances years down the road.  Quite the opposite is true.  While athletes have goals in the near and distant term, sport psychology sessions target tangible skills that athletes are encouraged to rehearse quickly, often as soon as the next practice, to improve performance.  The accumulation of these skills can indeed take time, but the objective of each session, and each skill, is to elevate performance and mental wellness in the here and now.

Charting the Course Read Full Article