Boost Your Recovery: How Mental Performance Coaching Can Help You

As the 2024 Mental Performance Coach for the MRCC Cycling team, I recently led a workshop focused on a crucial but often overlooked aspect of recovery – staying motivated during injuries. The room crackled with a mix of frustration and determination – a familiar cocktail for any cyclist sidelined by injury.

We went beyond the standard physical therapy talk. This workshop aimed to equip the cyclists with the mental tools they needed to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of recovery. We delved into techniques for managing stress and negativity, emotions that can act as roadblocks to healing. I emphasized the power of cultivating a positive mindset, explaining how it could even promote a calmer nervous system state, ideal for recovery, especially for concussions.

One of the most engaging activities involved guided meditations. My goal was to transport the cyclists to a place of inner peace – a wellspring of strength for the challenging journey ahead. Their initial apprehension soon melted away, replaced by the soft murmurs of focused breathing.

The mood shifted from introspection to playful exploration with the LEGO® Serious Play® activity. Each cyclist selected an animal to represent their current situation. It was fascinating to witness the self-awareness sparked by this seemingly silly exercise.

Following this, the room transformed into a creative zone. I challenged them to build structures using LEGO® bricks, each symbolizing different aspects of recovery. Walls represented the challenges they might face, while towers symbolized their own strengths. Bridges, of course, highlighted the importance of support systems.

By the end of the workshop, the shift in the room was palpable. The cyclists weren’t just leaving with a toolbox of mental strategies; they each had a personalized plan outlining steps to manage negativity and cultivate a positive outlook. This holistic approach placed mental well-being on equal footing with physical therapy.

The impact of the workshop extended beyond the session itself. It was incredibly rewarding to hear from cyclists, who shared how they were walking away with a more positive mindset along with an action plan to create the change they desired.   How their LEGO®  sculptures fueled their motivation. Witnessing these small victories, knowing I played a part in their overall recovery journey, solidified the importance of this work. This wasn’t just about teaching – it was about empowering the MRCC team to navigate the mental hurdles alongside the physical ones, and emerge even stronger as cyclists.

Image Description: MRCC team seated around a table.  They each have their lego build in hand and are storytelling (describing their Lego build) in breakout groups of two.