Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Dale Carnegie

Issue: July, 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.

At the end of June I presented a mini-workshop at Dana Crevling' s, Competitive Edge Sports Camp, to a great group of people. The camp, held at a school on breathtaking Storm King Mountain, in Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, NY, offered agility enthusiasts a four day educational and fun program with top agility trainers. My presentation time limit was 1 1/2 hours, with 1/2 an hour for a Q&A and book signing.

I wanted to give them a taste of my usual 6 hour ring nerve seminar, and at the same time to impart the philosophy and goal of my work - that true connection to life, in or out of the competitive dog show ring, is lived in each moment. And that helping handlers to break down their barriers and fears to fully connect to and enjoy their passion for dog sports is my mission.

The techniques I chose to teach that day all centered around how to focus and stay connected to self, dog and event during the pressure of competition. Staying "present centered" throughout the day is tough to do. It is a life long struggle to master this philosophy of living - it is worth a review, I thought.

So, this month's Training Tip will revisit living in the "here and now."

Second Chances features Animal Angels in Texas.

In BookPicks, we review Bones Would Rain from the Sky.

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 20th.

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

Enjoy.

Diane

B. Training Tip Of The Month

Living and Competing in Each Moment

Living in the moment, being present centered, finding the zone, mindfulness and flow, are common phrases used today in pop culture, sports psychology and the movement toward spiritual enlightenment. In Conquering Ring Nerves (Howell, 2004), I devote an entire chapter to the "here and now," and refer to it throughout the book, for it is the state where ring nerves cannot dominate and peak performance can occur.

Dog handlers who want to rid themselves of the nerves that block success in their sport, and take any joy out of competing often ask, "What is it, exactly?" and "How do I get there?" Being able to live in the moment is not a place, it is a state of being.

In The Power of Now (New World Library, 1999), Eckhart Tolle, says, "Find the narrow gate that leads to life. It is called the Now." Tolle says it is our "time-bound minds," either looking back at past experiences, and then projecting worries into the future that creates psychological suffering and pain. If you have ring nerves, you know how hard it is to turn off memories of disappointing performances--and how easy it is to worry that the same thing will happen the next time.

Thinking about the past and worrying about the future means you have stepped away from your connection to your present life. When you give non-critical attention to your present feelings, emotions, reactions and behaviors, no matter what is occurring, you're in the moment. It is then that you fully connect to your dog and sport. There is no room for ring nerve worries here, because the past and future do not exist--only this competition, this obstacle, this heeling pattern, this freestyle move, this wondrous moment with your dog, no matter what the outcome.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow in Sports (Human Kinetics, 1999), says that flow is a state of "transcendent awareness." Flow is being totally absorbed in the task at hand, and having moments of "uncluttered thinking and freedom from self-doubts and worries."

Try the following exercise:

1. Sit back in your chair.

2. Take slow, deep breaths.

3. Relax your head, neck and shoulders

4. Close your eyes.

5. Now, put all of your focus on how it feels to sit on your chair. How do your back, buttocks, thighs, legs and arms feel?

6. As thoughts clutter your mind, let them be, then gently focus on sitting on the chair.

7. Keep turning your attention to feeling the chair for 2-3 minutes.

8. Relax and think about what you've done.

Were you able to turn off the past and future, even for one moment?

How do we begin to live in the moment? With awareness, persistence and daily practice. When you find yourself thinking about a disaster from the past, and worrying it will occur again, focus on the present, and anxiety and doubt will nose-dive.

Happy Training!

C. Second Chances

We are pleased to highlight Animal Angels, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and accredited member of the American Sanctuary Association.

"Nestled among the rolling fields of North Central Texas, Animal Angels, a haven for abused & abandoned dogs," was founded by Carole Sanders. With the help of a dedicated group of volunteers, Ms. Sanders cares for and gives a second chance at life and love to over 200 plus dogs at any one time.

For more information, to adopt, or make a donation contact:

Animal Angels,
290 Knowlton Rd., Jacksboro, TX 76458-3433 (DFW Area)
P: 940-567-3252, F: 940-567-3258,
Email: Csanders@anmlangls.org
Website: http://www.anmlangls.org/

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

Bones Would Rain from the Sky by Suzanne Clothier, Warner Books, 2002   One word sums up this book. MAGNIFICENT!!

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, 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!

JOIN our Yahoo Ring Nerve Group

This list discusses my book 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 now!

CONQUERING Ring Nerves For Handlers and Dogs
Summer Ring Nerve Specialty Seminar
Obedience • Rally • Conformation

Make plans now to attend our popular six hour seminar:

Sunday, July 18, 2004 from 9:00am-4:00pm
Presented by Great Companions in Allentown, PA.

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!

$125.00 for seminar and materials. Register now! Space is limited.

For more information: contact Diane Peters Mayer at DPetersMayer@aol.com
or Ali Brown at www.greatcompanions.info

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.

Diane will be in Florida on Sunday, September 26th to present her 6 hour
Conquering Ring Nerves Seminar for handlers and dogs!

For more information, please contact: Cathy@Geartogo.net

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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