Notice the peace you experience when you choose to step aside as tension mounts…and not force the process. Lynch and Huang in Working Out, Working Within

Issue: May, 2005

Publisher & Editor: Diane Peters Mayer

A. PeakSpeak

Welcome readers and new subscribers.

Dear PeakNews reader,

Yes, it has been a number of months since you received PeakNews. My workload, traveling for ring nerve seminars and family responsibilities became enormous right after the first of the year, so I had to put aside some things to keep myself sane, calmer and balanced - PeakNews was one of those things. But we are back on a monthly basis.

This year I presented at the Spokane Dog Training Club in Spokane, WA, the Merrimac Dog Training Club in Hampton, VA, and the K-9 Connection in Warwick, RI. Each seminar was a wonderful experience, and the handlers and dogs I worked with were fantastic. Upcoming seminars in Wilkes-Barre, PA and White Plains, NY are listed in Announcements and Coming Events.

The Training Tip of the month gives you tips on using the healing power within yourself to overcome ring nerves.

Second Chances checks out the Buddy Foundation.

BookPicks features two books about “letting go” and literally “going with the flow.”

Coming Events lists the upcoming Ring Nerve Seminars.

We’d like to remind you that along with your submissions we now accept photos of you and your canine companions . You can email them to: sheri@virtualhelpinghand.com or snail mail them to: Sheri Huffman, 2701 Creek Valley Dr., Garland, TX 75040.

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 June 15th.

Please join us to become the handler of your dreams. Your dog will thank you!

Enjoy.

Diane

B. Training Tip Of The Month

Overcoming Ring Nerves—The Cure is Within Yourself

When you are in certain situations, like the competition ring, your anxiety may spike and become acute. That’s when all of the symptoms come rushing at you such as: heart palpitations, feeling weak and shaky, having a headache, being unable to concentrate, feeling overwhelmed, angry and fear having panic attacks. The results may include: difficulty in connecting with your dog, your dog getting frantic or lagging, low scores or being unable to qualify, feelings of hopelessness and believing you’re a failure.

Most of you who have experienced severe performance anxiety may feel helpless and out of control when anxiety hits. Anxiety is physically and mentally exhausting and if you have ring nerves you may need a nap after a show. Anxiety creates frustration and anger because you can not erase it away or “think” it away. No outside force can cure you. There is no known medical cure for anxiety. And avoiding the anxiety producing situation only means you are cutting off parts of your life, not allowing yourself to live as fully as possible.

But within you lies the true cure. It takes hard work, but you can do it.

1. First, learning how to stop fighting against ring nerve symptoms will greatly reduce body tension and lessen the mental grip of anxiety. That means allowing every uncomfortable thought and emotion to surface and positively handling those thoughts and feelings.

2. Next, is facing how anxious you are in certain situations. Admitting and accepting the reality of how you feel during shows will help you stop the “white knuckle” response that only creates more tension.

3. Learning to loosen your body and relax yourself in general at will goes a long way to reducing ring nerve symptoms. It is physiologically impossible for you to be anxious and relaxed at the same time. Ride the wave of panicky feelings and thoughts as long as they last into a calm sea. The symptoms of anxiety can not hurt you they only feel like they can.

4. Allow yourself time to “recover” from ring nerves. Trying to force your self to “hurry up” and feel better will not work and may make you feel like a failure and more anxious. Learning to stay “in the moment,” to be present, not matter what is happening will turn off worry, reduce anxiety quickly, and build your confidence.

There are many stops and starts in the process of ridding yourself of ring nerves. One day you feel you can handle your anxiety, the next you think you’re falling apart. Expect that. It is the normal process of conquering ring nerves. But keep plugging away and in time you can break the ball and chain of anxiety to the freedom to do whatever you set your mind to without barriers.

Exercise:

Loosen and Float

1. Sit or lie down
2. Begin Yoga Breath (Jan. 2002) or breathe normally
3. Close your eyes
4. Think of a ring nerve experience or something that will make you anxious
5. Now, begin loosening every part of your body—from head to toe, let yourself go slack
6. Continue for 3- 5 minutes
7. When you are finished see how you feel
8. Practice while you are standing and walking too
9. Practice at least 3 times a week until you can loosen and relax at will
10. Increase practice time to 10-15 minutes
11. Use Loosen and Float in the on deck position and in everyday life

C. Second Chances

The Buddy Foundation, based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is a no-kill shelter dedicated to finding abandoned and stray animals loving homes.

If you live in the area you might want to check out adorable Warrick, a young German Shepherd mix who was one day from being euthanized, when he was rescued by The Buddy Foundation. Now living in a foster home this loving dog is waiting for his special family. Go to their Web site to see the full list of wonderful pets available.

Website: http://www.thebuddyfoundation.org

The Buddy Foundation
P.O. Box 334
Arlington, Heights, Il 60006
jlbasgall@ameritech.net

Or visit Petfinders.org to find a rescued pet in your area!

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.

D. BookPicks

Flow is a concept developed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PhD who defines it as a state of consciousness where one becomes totally absorbed in what one is doing, to the exclusion of all other thoughts and emotions. It is about focus and intense concentration. It is truly living in the moment. Flow is the peak moments in life when mind and body work in perfect harmony… leaving us feeling that something special has occurred. Being in Flow is possible in all aspects of life, it is certainly possible in the dog show arena.
	Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
	Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
	Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life
	Flow in Sports: The Keys to Optimal Experiences and Performances

Be sure to check out our recommended reading list.

Have a book you loved? Write a review, and send it to us at CAYPNews@aol.com

E. Announcements & Coming Events

Upcoming Conquering Ring Nerves Seminars

Saturday, June 18, 2005, 10am-2pm (without dogs)
Wilkes-Barre Dog Training Club, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Call 570-829-8430 or Email: wbdtc@wbdtc.com

Sunday June 26, 2005, 9:30-4:30 (with dogs)
Port Chester Obedience Training Club, White Plains, NY
Call 914-271-4366 or Email: Brillings@aol.com

If your club would like to host a Ring Nerve Seminar, please contact me at CAYPNews@aol.com

See the Difference a Day Makes!

Can't make a Seminar? Want to Beat RING NERVES? Buy the book or audio:

Conquering Ring Nerves, A Step-by-Step Program for all Dog Sports By Diane Peters Mayer, M.S.W. 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. Published by Wiley/Howell Book House

To order from Amazon.com click here!

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.

JOIN our Yahoo Ring Nerve Group

Join our Yahoo Ring Nerve Group. We discuss all aspects of performance anxiety, including: the Ring Nerve Audio Program, ring nerve seminars, and Conquering Ring Nerves: A Step-By-Step Program for All Dog Sports. We have Q&As and share ring nerve experiences and successes. We also feature chats with dog writers, competitors and others. This is a wonderful forum for talking about ring nerves.

Click to JOIN!

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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