Once we know how to contact the energy of breath, breathing becomes an infinite source of vitality. Tarthang Tulku

Issue: June, 2005

Publisher & Editor: Diane Peters Mayer

A. PeakSpeak

Welcome readers and new subscribers.

Dear PeakNews reader,

It has been a sweltering 10 days at least here in the northeast. But, the weather is due to break tonight and return to the 70’s. My air conditioners need the rest!! I’ve been working extra hard on training Benny to stay focused on me in situations that still make him nervous, but the heat seems to have kept most dog walkers indoors even in the early morning hours—so runs on the trail have been a breeze. Rabbits and deer are nowhere to be seen, but the woodchucks keep Benny on his toes giving us some training possibilities.

My latest book, The Everything Guide to Controlling Anxiety (this is the book that created most of my burnout earlier this year) is in the production stages and should be out later in 2005. My upcoming seminar in White Plains, NY is listed in Announcements and Coming Events.

Hope you are all staying cool. Let us hear from you with stories about your experiences in the ring, and what you are up to this summer.

The Training Tip of the month features vital information for releasing your natural energy that is sapped by ring nerves.

Second Chances checks out BARC, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

BookPicks features a self-help book for overcoming fears.

Coming Events lists an upcoming Ring Nerve Seminar.

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 July 15th.

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

Enjoy.

Diane

B. Training Tip Of The Month

Energy and Breath

The way you breathe is directly related to your emotional state and charts the flow of your energy. When you are feeling agitated, anxious, sad, or depressed your breath tends to be shallow, uneven and rapid. When that happens you are not taking enough oxygen into your body and will likely feel tired and sluggish. You may feel sapped of energy and have difficulty staying focused and getting through the day.

A ring nerve example: Jessie has been competing for years in obedience and agility with her border collie and Aussie, and has added Rally to her repertoire of dog sports. And though Jessie and her dogs have done well, winning many titles over the years, Jessie’s deep dark secret is that she suffers from ring nerves. Weeks before a show, Jessie’s anxiety begins to build. She obsesses that they will NQ, or that she’ll forget the course — though they often do fairly well. She imagines other disasters that may befall them in the ring, though most of these things have never occurred. Though Jessie’s anxiety spikes every time she steps into the ring, she does manage to pull it together most times. When she does make a mistake the memory of it haunts her for weeks.

Before and after every show she is exhausted and it takes her days to recuperate. Jessie considers herself a low-energy person, and has difficulties sleeping and often has mood swings. It is only her love of training and competing with her dogs that keep her going and showing. When Jessie learned how to change her breathing patterns her energy increased, she began to enjoy competing and her success in the ring increased.

How does the breath increase our energy and balance mind and body? Because the breath is both an involuntary and voluntary function consciously changing to deeper, smoother and rhythmic breathing will engage the body’s "relaxation response," making you feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. When that happens, your energies will be brought back in balance. You will feel an increase in energy, and the ability to focus and concentrate, even in the pressured situation of a dog show. When your energy increases your physical and mental health improves allowing you to feel mentally alert and open to the richness of life’s experiences.

A Calming and Energy Increasing Breathing Exercise

1. Sit in a comfortable chair in a quiet spot
2. Relax your head, neck and shoulders
3. Your hands rest in your lap
4. Close your eyes
5. Begin breathing gently and evenly with your mouth slightly open
6. Think back to a wonderful memory—maybe a performance at a show where you and your dog were in the "zone;" or imagining someone you love; or picturing yourself walking along the edge of the ocean on a beautiful beach; or anything that gives you positive feelings and pleasure.
7. Feel the positive energy this image evokes for you. Let these feelings and sensations course through your whole body. Deepen your breath until you feel a sense of exhilaration.
8. Now imagine your positive energy directed outside of yourself into the world around you for a few minutes.
9. Now return to more gentle breathing and feel how your energy has affected your body and mind. Do you feel energized? Relaxed? Positive about life? More aware of your feelings?
10. Repeat steps 1-10 for 15-20 minutes. Practice at least 3 times a week.
11. Use in your vehicle before you enter the show site or while waiting for your turn.

This exercise will help you relax but at the same time increase the energy necessary for competition. It will improve your mood by keeping stress hormones at the levels you need to compete while allowing you to channel your nerves into a great performance, and improve your mental and physical health overall.

C. Second Chances

BARC (Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition) is a not-for-profit, no-kill animal shelter operating in Williamsburg, Brooklyn since 1987. The shelter receives no city, state or federal subsidies, but is able to achieve their mission of providing a safe haven for homeless animals and finding loving homes for them with the help of dedicated volunteers and the revenue generated from their successful pet supply business.

Visit their home page at www.barcshelter.org to find a wonderful new companion or assist them in their mission with a generous donation of time and or money. Take a look at their "featured pets" Hemingway and Oreo. How can you resist?

Website: http://www.thebuddyfoundation.org

BARC
253 Wythe St.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
714-486-7189
Email: tonybarc@aol.com

Please send along your rescue story or information about a favorite shelter or rescue group for our July 2005 issue.

D. BookPicks

	Fight Your Fear and Win: Seven Skills for Performing Your Best Under Pressure by Don Greene, Ph.D
A self-help book that deals with stress, self-defeating behavior, setting goals, and other information necessary for success. Greene does not work with emotions, rather his program includes techniques adapted from martial arts, his military training, and visualization to increase focus, concentration, poise and resilience.

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

Conquering Ring Nerves Seminar

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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