The
Online Monthly Newsletter from
Conquering Ring Nerves
The
Unique Dog Handlers' Training Program to Combat Ring
Nerves!
To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily.
To not date is to lose oneself. Soren Kierkegaard
Issue: February, 2004
Publisher & Editor: Diane Peters Mayer
A.
PeakSpeak
Welcome readers and new subscribers.
PeakNews offers a range of information about ring
nerves, the ways to conquer it and how to really enjoy
competition, plus your stories, interviews, book reviews
and more.
New for 2004:
-
Join
our ring nerve community by signing
on to the Yahoo Ring Nerve Group. Click here
for more information.
-
Enter the Ring Nerve Contest.
Send in your ring nerve story and you could win
a copy of Conquering Ring Nerves: A Step-By-Step
Program for all Dog Sports — in bookstores
mid-March.
Ask The Coach has a letter
from a handler in California whose ring nerves go through
the roof as her turn approaches.
To answer the letter written to Ask the Coach, this
month's Training Tip features
one of the best stress-busters ever.
Second Chances highlights
The Animal Rescue Foundation in Canada.
February's BookPicks is a
book that offers a plan for healing everything from
anxiety to arthritis, by balancing mind, body and spirit.
We'd like to remind you that along with your submissions
we now accept pictures of you and your canine companions..
You can scan and email them to sheri@virtualhelpinghand.com or
mail your photos to: Sheri Huffman, 2701 Creek Valley
Dr., Garland, TX.
PeakNews offers a unique format in which to engage
and connect with handlers from the US, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and South
Africa who, in some form, all experience ring
nerves.
Your questions, comments, and stories enrich PeakNews
immeasurably. Send us your submissions for the next
issue by March 20.
Please join us to become the handler of your dreams.
Your dog will thank you!
Enjoy.
Diane
B. Yahoo Ring Nerve
Group
We'll have Q&As and also share ring nerve experiences
and successes. We'll also feature chats with dog writers,
competitors and others. This is a wonderful forum for
talking about ring nerves.
Click
to join now!
C. !! Ring
Nerve Contest !!
We’re looking for the funniest, most outrageous,
out of this world, ring nerve stories.
1st place winner receives
a signed copy of Conquering
Ring Nerves: A Step-By-Step Program for all Dog Sports,
Wiley/Howell Book House, March, 2004.
2nd place winner receives
the Audio Ring Nerve Program & Manual.
Rules and Guidelines:
-
All entrants must be PeakNews subscribers.
-
Electronic entries only. No attachments please.
-
Type "Contest" in the subject line.
-
Deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2004.
-
Submit your story to CAYPNews@aol.com
D.
Ask the Coach
Dear Diane,
I've been using your audio program for the last
4 months. I compete in both Obedience and Agility.
I use Yoga Breath at shows, but sometimes anxiety
still overwhelms me. As my turn approaches, I'm so
on edge that I can't stand still. The last time I
competed in Obedience, when I stepped into the ring
I felt like throwing up.
J.G., California
Dear J.G.
It's very hard to learn to relax on command especially in anxiety producing
situations. You've got to give it time. :-) Continue practicing Yoga
Breath and use other techniques from the program to help you. This
month's Training Tip is one of the most popular nerve seminar exercises.
It's a powerful stress-buster that should keep your anxiety from spiking.
Diane
E.
Training Tip Of The Month
Hammer Away Your Ring Nerves
The Hammer is an exercise taken from Kundalini Yoga,
an ancient practice begun in India and brought to the
US by Yogi Bhajan in 1968. Kundalini means "vital
energy" or "life force." The following
exercise is a vigorous breathing technique that will
reduce anxiety quickly, and energize your body and
mind. By practicing daily you will:
- Increase lung power and stamina.
- Work on the lymphatic system for general health
and well being.
- Engage the Parasympathetic Nervous System where
the relaxation response takes place.
The Hammer
- Either sit on the floor with your legs crossed,
or sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
- Keep your back straight, but relaxed. Head, neck
and shoulders are relaxed.
- Extend your arms in front of you. Interlace your
fingers and clasp your hands. You have your hammer.
- Keep your mouth open and pucker your lips.
- You will inhale as you bring your arms up above
your head.
- Exhale as you bring your arms down.
- Inhale and exhale forcefully with your mouth puckered.
- You want to equalize the inhale and exhale.
- Keep your arm movements and breath strong, but
controlled.
- Start with slow hammering, as you feel more comfortable,
pick up speed.
- Keep your eyes open or closed.
- If you feel dizzy, that means you have not equalized
your inhale and exhale. Stop and take a few normal
breaths—then continue.
- With practice, you will increase your range of
motion, so when you bring your arms up they are slightly
back of your head and your shoulder blades will come
together
- Increase time gradually until you can do "The
Hammer" for 3-5 minutes.
- When you finish, take a few moments to relax with
Yoga Breath and see how you feel.
PRACTICE DAILY!
Training Tips:
- As soon as you finish The
Hammer, relax into Yoga
Breath.
- Practice before you go to sleep the night before
a show.
- Practice before you leave home for the show.
- While waiting for your turn. If you feel funny
doing it in your chair, head for the bathroom.
Click
here to find get more informaiton about Kundalini
Yoga.
F. Second
Chances
This month we are featuring A•R•F,
The Animal Rescue Foundation, located in Calgary, Alberta,
Canada.
Contact information is:
P.O. Box 34160, Calgary, AB
T3C 1S2, Canada,
Ph: 403-243-1910
Click
here to contact them and see and read about Charlie,
whose amazing rescue story requires a box of Kleenex.
Have a rescue story? Want us to feature your favorite shelter or rescue
group? We all want to read about it. To submit, write to us at CAYPNews@aol.com.
G. BookPicks
Be sure to check out our NEW recommended reading
list.
Have a book you loved? Write a review, and send it
to us at CAYPNews@aol.com
H. Announcements & Coming
Events
RING NERVE SEMINAR
Saturday, March 20, 2004,
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p. m. - Blairstown, NJ
Combating Ring Nerves For All Dog Sports-For Handlers
and Dogs.
Make plans now to attend our popular six hour seminar.
Learn great exercises and techniques to help you relax,
concentrate, stay connected to your dog, walk smoothly
in the ring, and much more. Don’t miss it!
$135.00 for seminar and materials.
Register now! Space
is limited!
See the difference a day makes!
Can't make the Seminar? Join the hundreds of handlers
who have STOPPED RING NERVES
FROM HOME with our Audio Ring Nerve Program
for All Dog Sports, with Training Manual.
- Great Exercises & Techniques.
- A Super Quickie Stress-Buster.
- Guided Imagery to mentally rehearse your
perfect performance.
- Terrific Training Tips.
This program will help you do it!
The Audio Program & Manual is $29.95 plus $6.00
S&H in US. (PA residents add $1.80 sales tax).
International add $10.00 S&H.
To read more about it or purchase by check or secure
credit card online, please click
here.
or call Diane at 215-348-8836.
Coming March, 2004 !
 Conquering
Ring Nerves!
A Step-By-Step Program For All Dog Sports
By Diane Peters Mayer, M.S.W.
Wiley/Howell Book House, March 1, 2004
Conquering Ring Nerves is designed for competitive
dog handlers, from novices to seasoned veterans who
experience mild to severe performance anxiety. Featuring
mind-body exercises and techniques from the Competing
At Your Peak Ring Nerve Seminars, plus chapters on
Self-Esteem, Making Mistakes and Creating a Safe Mental
Space, and more. Illustrated with real-life handlers
stories and packed with training tips, Conquering Ring
Nerves will help you to ease your anxiety and compete
at your peak under pressure.
Pre-order
a copy today!
Attend Diane’s RING
NERVE WORKSHOP at Dana Crevlings’s Competitive
Edge Sports Camp in Cornwall-on-the-Hudson
Five Days of Agility from June 27-July 2, 2004
(Diane's workshop date and time to be announced).
Competitive Edge Sports Camp
Dogs of Course
For more information visit www.dogsofcourse.com
Read Diane's monthly column Conquering Ring Nerves
in AgilityAction.com,
the new online Agility Magazine from Laughing
Dog Press.
For more information email laurie@laughingdog.press.com
If you enjoyed PeakNews we invite you to share this
link with other handlers who you think might benefit
from it.
Thank
you! See you next month.
**Note:
Columns may vary from month to month.
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