I approached Dan to help me with my mental preparation for Ironman as I believed that building my confidence would be key to my race day success.  As an Ironman competitor and avid athlete himself, Dan understood exactly what I was going through and could empathize with the feelings I was experiencing.  He patiently listened to my concerns, answered my questions, and created an individualized guided imagery session for me. 

When race day finally arrived, I was pleasantly surprised that the anxiety and nerves that I had experienced in other races was simply not there.  I was calm, confident and relaxed and couldn’t wait to get the adventure underway.  I was able to manage my emotions during the race especially during the most difficult times.  Not only did I finish race intact, I beat the time goal I had set for myself by 23 minutes!  I believe that spending time on mental preparation was critical to my success, and would recommend Dan’s services to others who have set athletic goals for themselves.  A consummate professional, Dan is enthusiastic, positive, and truly cares about being a part of his clients’ success.

Thanks Dan, see you for Ironman 2012 (I need a year off!)

Mike T.

 

In Jan 2009 I decided for that I was going to race in the Ironman 70.3 event that was to be held here in August. This was a hefty goal because I could not swim and had a fear of deep water. I began working with a swim coach for obvious reasons and set my first goal as a Tri- this – tri which required me to swim 500 meters by the end of May. I barely made it through the event, stopping several times throughout the swim. After the event my coach told me that they felt I would not be able to swim 4 times this distance in an open water environment which was a devastating blow. After venting my frustrations a friend suggested that I try hypnosis and gave me Dan’s information. I was extremely nervous about the idea but decided I had nothing to loose.

At my first session Dan was very welcoming and did his best to make me feel comfortable despite what I may have felt like inside. He took the time to explain the process and reassured me that he would not be able to do anything I did not approve of. After my first session I saw an immediate change. I was aware of where I was when I was swimming but my heart was no longer racing just because I was in the deep end of the pool. The result was I was now able to focus on my technique as I was no longer gasping for air whenever I swam into deep water. Three weeks after this session I swam my first open water race. I now had the confidence I needed to continue towards my goal.

I met with Dan for two more sessions before my race in August. His program ensured that I stayed calm and focused on race day by providing techniques for me to harness my inner strength if things got tough. Both of these sessions were much like the first, Dan was willing to listen to my racing concerns and then do what he could in order to provide comfort for these issues, always looking for input from myself.

I am happy to say that I completed my race. Without Dan’s help I am certain that I would never have reached my goal as my fear of water would have continued to hold me back. On race day I was calm and knew what I had to do but also had the confidence of knowing I had the tools available should things get tough. I am looking forward to my next race, where ever that may be, and will not hesitate to turn to Dan for a boost in confidence.

Dan’s program is simple and effective. It does not require huge amounts of time but does have positive results should you allow it. I was once told racing is 40% physical, 60% mental. We work our bodies hard in training for these events, why not allow yourself to get an edge and work on your mental game as well!

Heather M.

 

I came to see Dan for guided imagery when I was training for my second Ironman triathlon (Ironman France).  While Dan focused on race performance enhancing skills which I used to great effect during the hardest parts of the race, I also found it very effective in counteracting some anxiety I had around the swim.  During training swims and in previous races, I had experienced mild to severe anxiety in open water to the point where it would sometimes cause a physical reaction which would last up to two minutes. I had tried various other methods to reduce the anxiety but nothing I had tried completely removed it.  After my session with Dan, during the actual Ironman swim, I experienced no hint of anxiety which I found incredible especially considering the swim distance, the open ocean and the jostling from other athletes.

I highly recommend Dan to any athlete who is looking for a way to enhance their performance in any sport or to assist with an anxiety that is getting in the way of their full potential.

Brian James