How the "King" of Professional Hoops Stays Calm

Lebron James employs mindfulness to elevate performance, health and wellness.  (Photo Source: LA Times)

The world’s best and most famous basketball player places as much emphasis on his mental fitness as he does on physical well-being.  That’s why Lebron James has narrated a series of scripts entitled “Train Your Mind” on the health and wellness app Calm.  

“As an athlete, there’s a lot of focus on physical fitness. This partnership with Calm is all about mental fitness. It’s something I’ve always prioritized, and it’s just as important to my game, my career, and my life than anything I can do physically,” said LeBron James in a press release Calm issued in December.

On this blog I have written extensively about athletes at all levels (professional, collegiate, high school) employ hypnosis and visualization as a tool for performance and injury recovery.  Here are links to a few of the more popular articles I have published.

Hypnosis Helps Mary Lou Retton Vault to Olympic Gold

Visualize Success:  How the Seattle Mariners Prepare Players

Hypnosis Sharpens an Athlete’s Mind for Recovery

CrossFit Competitor Gives Hypnosis a Try

How the Lady Terps Achieve Zen

Celebrity Hypnosis: Baywatch Star Overcomes Stage Fright

One of my sons has become a binge watcher of the television series Baywatch, which is available on Prime video.  I suspect he is enthralled by the story lines and dialogue in each episode.  (smile)

This morning I spent some time on IMDB reading up about the series and discovered this interesting connection with hypnosis.  It’s not surprising as there are numerous actors, musicians and entertainers who employ hypnosis to inspire creativity, overcome challenges and further their career.

When Pamela Anderson left the show, the producers went looking for another blonde bombshell to replace her. They eventually settled on The Price Is Right (1972) model Gena Lee Nolin. The only problem was that Nolin wasn't an actress. In fact, she had terrible stage fright. To help her relax, the show's producers signed her up for hypnotherapy, which helped her calm down enough to film her scenes without panicking.

Gena Lee Nolin turned to hypnosis to ease her stage fright. (Photo source: Cosmopolitan)

Can You Get Hypnotized from a YouTube Video?

This is a question I am often asked by college and high school psychology students when I speak on campus about hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness.

Want to give it a try?

I've uploaded a hypnotic induction based on progressive relaxation, which includes a simple suggestion.  Check out the comments to read how people have responded.

How hypnotizable are you?

New High School Hypnosis Videos

Each year I donate my time to speak on campus to psychology students at high schools in the Washington, DC area about hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness.  My presentation explains what hypnosis is (and isn’t) and overviews popular applications, such as stress mitigation, confidence building, athletic performance and inspiring creativity. 

By far the most fun part of my talk is the hypnotic demonstration to volunteers.  The content is far from a comedy club act, although it does include a bit of dramatic flair to catch attention and showcase the power of the mind.

Just prior to the holiday break I had the privilege of visiting James Hubert Blake High School for the first time.  The social studies educator who hosted me captured wonderful video of hypnosis in action.