Episode 8: How We Approach Neuro Training Program Design for Dancers and Gymnasts
In this episode, we talk about the perception of neuro training as brain ‘tricks’ and discuss how it's a process and approach that creates changes in the brain to improve physical performance for the long-run. We share recent experiences from workshops and clinics and the process behind designing and refining programs for groups and individuals.
In this episode:
Why neuro training should be part of the beginning of every movement session
Translating workshop “tricks” into long-term training
How an Assess - Reassess process helps athletes track what actually works
Individualized protocols and why some athletes respond differently
Using neuro training as a warm-up for the nervous system, not just the muscles
Pain, safety, and how the brain can create protective responses that inhibit movement
Timestamps:
02:08 - We’re rewiring the brain in order to create changes in how it drives movement, not doing a series of brain “tricks”
05:35 - The Assess - Reassess process as a method to select drills, and how to reinforce the learning process with athletes, dancers and coaches
07:37 - The benefit of coaches and instructors understanding the approach and process
09:05 - Why neurotraining works best when integrated into daily practice, classes or rehearsals
09:53 - The process of introducing and adjusting drills in group settings
11:20 - How body position plays a role in the outcome of a drill and the importance of gradually introducing complexity
13:13 - How a simple positional change could create a negative or positive result from a drill
14:30 - Challenges of introducing neuro training to a group that will respond to drills differently
15:47 - The power of individualized protocols and the optimal frequency for the best results
16:25 - An example of neuro training improving a professional athlete’s performance and longevity
19:20 - Why warming up and performance improvements benefit from solutions beyond solely biomechanical ones
20:40 - Pain as a protective response from the brain, and how a single neuro drill provided relief from knee pain
23:11 - Benefits of preparing both the physical tissues and brain areas that regulate movement and muscle tone
26:50 - Why neuro training warm-up protocols can be more efficient than traditional warm-ups
27:30 - A case study of a dancer with difficulty spotting and how biomechanical instructions or adjustments alone may be insufficient
28:40 - Closing thoughts
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Yuka on Instagram (@levelupneuro)
Nikki on Instagram (@bybee_nikki)
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