Racism in Sports
Last week focused on gender inequity in sports, this week we turn to another systemic issue in sports, racism. These topics can be challenging to dive into, and they are essential topics that must be addressed. This post may be triggering for some, please make sure to take care of yourself. Thank you in advance for diving in and facing racism head on!
Racism takes many forms in sports. Racism shows up in numerous ways and incorporates a multitude of acts and processes that operate on the individual level and the institutional level, either overtly or covertly (Hylton, 2010).
Gender Inequality in Sports
When it comes to gender inequity in sports, one blog post cannot do the conversation justice. There are many conversations and threads that must be discussed. Moreover, conversations need to be turned into action. However, we must begin somewhere. This blog post hopes to serve as primer to introduce the topic in hopes of inspiring more conversations and action to bring about lasting change.
Putting the Body Back into Sport and Performance Psychology
What is something that we all have in common? If you guessed the body, you would be correct! We all have a body that we live in on a daily basis. And the several past blog posts have highlighted a few themes: mental health, sport and performance psychology, and the mind-body connection. These themes absolutely stand on their own and are essential. What they can also do together is bridge the gap between athletes and performers, sport and performance psychology, and the body. That may sound funny to say because athletes and performers use their body constantly. And yet, when we look at sport and performance psychology we see a strong focus on the mind
Interoception
Interoception is the sense of your body's internal state, providing awareness of things like your heartbeat, bodily sensations, or thirst. Simply put, interoception is our ability to sense and be aware of what is happening within our own bodies. Why is it so important to us? Let’s dive in and find out why.
Embodiment
Is embodiment a noun or a verb? Embodiment may be considered a verb because it is a process that is both deliberate and engaging, rather than a static concept. Humans have a choice as to whether we fully engage in our experiences, partial engage, or complete check out.
Mind-Body Connection
The mind-body connection is the intricate, bi-directional relationship that exists between our thoughts, emotions, and physical health and the body. What is important to note here is that we are talking about a connection. The mind and the body are not two separate entities, rather they are interconnected and influence each other. There is growing research that is now demonstrating how both the mind and the body have the potential to impact cardiovascular health negatively and positively (Levine, 2019).
An Introduction to the Stigma Surrounding Sport and Performance Psychology and Athlete Mental Health
Mental health issues affect athletes at prevalence rates that are similar to the general population even with the belief that athletes are protected because of their highly active lifestyles (Petersen et al., 2023). And yet, stigma continues to be an issue for athletes when it comes to seeking support from a mental health professional or sport and performance consultant (SPC). Let’s begin our discussion because when we start to talk about mental health and sport psychology consulting we begin to break the stigma.
What is Sport Psychology? What Sport Psychology is Not?
In a previous blog post, we discussed mental health and mental health stigma. Now it seems appropriate that we bring up sport psychology to understand more about what sport psychology is and what it is not. And, yes there still is stigma and misunderstanding surrounding this branch of psychology.
Remember the Importance of the Nonverbal in Athletes: Language of Postures and Gestures
The body is the instrument of the athlete and as such there are many ways the body communicates. We often think of verbal communication first, but what the body conveys in terms of the nonverbal is also an essential element for athletes to consider. So let’s bring the nonverbal back into the conversation.
Mental Imagery or Sport Imagery Practices for Athletes to Enhance Performance
But what about a technique that does not require physical practice that helps improve motor learning? Enter mental imagery, sport imagery or visualization.