Dear Austin (and Erin),
I know you are computer savvy, and watch youtube clips, read forums (even reply to them!) and things. So perhaps this might get to you.
I remembered suggesting last year in the early weeks that Gethin should get an acting coach to sort out his performance while Matt should deal with his nerves by going to a hypnotherapist.
Gethin did in the later weeks and we all witnessed his amazing transformation.
Matt also resort to hypnotherapy but it was done a little 'late', and we witnessed a car-crash from him. But he persisted and engaged a sports psychologist, who according to Matt, showed him basically the technique that the hypnotherapist did to him. That week he turned the table around and scored a perfect 40 for his waltz.
You seem to cope with nerves quite well but it's your injury that's the problem. Since we heard that you learn mainly by visual, I am sure you must have been preparing your big rugby game with pre-competition visualization and stuff?
Erin, if you are also reading this, I think you should tap into this very powerful and effective learning technique. If nothing, but to allow Austin little more (but crucial!) time to 'recover' from his past injuries.
Perhaps Austin should employing a sports pyschologist if need be, but basically the principle is to learn all the basic steps, perform it at 20% level, then 40% level (marking the entire routine) then 60% level (dancing the whole routine, sans the 'show-biz-performance'), then when the injuries threaten to hound you with a vengeance, beg/bribe Erin to give you a (day's?) break and just 'visualise' with crystal detail how you are performing it in the actual day in perfection.
It may go this way:
Sunday: Erin sorted out the dance routine.
Monday: Learning the sequences, marking the steps.
Tuesday: Dancing the whole routine to the music, making and correcting mistakes.
Wednesday: Basically 'rest' day with power-visualization.
Thursday: Back to the studio with renewed purpose, but reserve energy for rehearsal at the actual BBC studio. Fine-tuning.
Friday: Perfecting the steps. Translating all that was visualised to reality.
Saturday: Full-dressed rehearsal (employ only 60% of your capability, Alesha always does that, and only 'switch on' during the actual performance) before the show begins.
You see, that way, you have mid-week break/visit to chiropractor etc.. and yet mentally you are NOT stopping from training.
Does that make sense?
Hope this helps! All the best to both of you!
yours,
SCD-Observer
I know you are computer savvy, and watch youtube clips, read forums (even reply to them!) and things. So perhaps this might get to you.
I remembered suggesting last year in the early weeks that Gethin should get an acting coach to sort out his performance while Matt should deal with his nerves by going to a hypnotherapist.
Gethin did in the later weeks and we all witnessed his amazing transformation.
Matt also resort to hypnotherapy but it was done a little 'late', and we witnessed a car-crash from him. But he persisted and engaged a sports psychologist, who according to Matt, showed him basically the technique that the hypnotherapist did to him. That week he turned the table around and scored a perfect 40 for his waltz.
You seem to cope with nerves quite well but it's your injury that's the problem. Since we heard that you learn mainly by visual, I am sure you must have been preparing your big rugby game with pre-competition visualization and stuff?
Erin, if you are also reading this, I think you should tap into this very powerful and effective learning technique. If nothing, but to allow Austin little more (but crucial!) time to 'recover' from his past injuries.
Perhaps Austin should employing a sports pyschologist if need be, but basically the principle is to learn all the basic steps, perform it at 20% level, then 40% level (marking the entire routine) then 60% level (dancing the whole routine, sans the 'show-biz-performance'), then when the injuries threaten to hound you with a vengeance, beg/bribe Erin to give you a (day's?) break and just 'visualise' with crystal detail how you are performing it in the actual day in perfection.
It may go this way:
Sunday: Erin sorted out the dance routine.
Monday: Learning the sequences, marking the steps.
Tuesday: Dancing the whole routine to the music, making and correcting mistakes.
Wednesday: Basically 'rest' day with power-visualization.
Thursday: Back to the studio with renewed purpose, but reserve energy for rehearsal at the actual BBC studio. Fine-tuning.
Friday: Perfecting the steps. Translating all that was visualised to reality.
Saturday: Full-dressed rehearsal (employ only 60% of your capability, Alesha always does that, and only 'switch on' during the actual performance) before the show begins.
You see, that way, you have mid-week break/visit to chiropractor etc.. and yet mentally you are NOT stopping from training.
Does that make sense?
Hope this helps! All the best to both of you!
yours,
SCD-Observer
I think Erin is pushing him too hard at the moment. If she carries on like this, Austin's old injuries will be aggravated so much he might have to pull our of the competition altogether. Has she not thought of that? Hopefully he'll use his own discretion and judgement to over-rule her if his injuries threaten to pole-axe him.
