The
Online Monthly Newsletter from
Conquering Ring Nerves
The
Ultimate Ring Nerve Program for Dog Handlers and Equestrians!
Issue: October, 2005
Publisher & Editor: Diane Peters Mayer
A.
PeakSpeak
Welcome readers and new subscribers.
Dear PeakNews Reader,
 It's
fall here in the Northeast. The mornings are crisp
and the leaves are showing their brilliant display
of colors. The poison ivy is dying too so I can actually
get out and do some weeding and gardening, since my
reaction to having PI has gotten severe over the past
two summers. It's my favorite time of the year, and
Benny's too — because he never seems happier
than when he's running through piles of leaves or rolling
in them.
We'd love to hear how all of you are. Contact
us at PeakNews and let us know what you are doing to combat ring nerves,
and feel free to bring brags or problems to this forum.
The Training Tip features
an exercise on facing your fears, a keystone to conquering
ring nerves whether you are a dog handler or equestrian
— or both.
Second Chances highlights
the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania.
BookPicks features a book
that will help you to face and tackle your fears.
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 November 15th.
Please join us to become the handler of your dreams.
Your dog or horse will thank you!
Enjoy.
Diane
B.
Training Tip Of The Month
A Fear Busting Exercise
Fear. It can be a life-saver alerting you to danger
so you can ready a response, or the barrier to pursuing
your goals so you can't live in the way you want. Competition
by its very nature, creates fears around your competence,
ability and worth. "Am I a good dog trainer? A
worthy equestrian? Is my horse capable of winning ribbons?
Does my dog have what it takes to title?" "If
I don't qualify I'll be embarrassed or humiliated." "My
instructor or other competitors will laugh at me, or
think I stink!"
There is no way to get around it, when we risk competing,
we risk the possibility of failing, of thinking we
are making a fool of ourselves, of having our dog or
horse look bad. If you develop ring nerves you are
most likely talking negatively about yourself, comparing
yourself to other handlers, and demeaning your self-worth.
It is hard to do but becoming aware of your fears
and accepting and facing them will help you overcome
them. Your fears will lose their power over you if
you take control of them instead of having them feel
like they control your life.
Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, "You must do the
things you think you cannot do." Let's begin.
Fear Busting Exercise
- Take some quiet time for yourself. Do not rush
this exercise.
- Sit in a chair, have a notebook on your lap.
- Begin Yoga Breath and continue for 3-5 minutes.
(I want you to open to this exercise).
- Now, begin to think about how your fears affect
you during competition.
- What are your ring nerve symptoms? Write them
down.
- What are you afraid will happen to you in the
ring? Write them down.
- What are you afraid your dog or horse may do
during competition? Write them down.
- If you become anxious, stop and do Yoga Breath
for a few minutes.
- Now, write down what are the worst things that
can happen to you if things go badly during competition?
Don't hold back, no matter how ridiculous you think
some of your thoughts are. Write down what you are
truly thinking. Write down how you feel about all
of this for example, "I feel ashamed if we NQ." What
does being ashamed mean to you?
- Now begin to read what you have written.
- If you become anxious, relax into your anxiety.
Do not fight your anxious feelings. Breathe and
relax and let the fear come. It can't hurt you it
only feels like it can. Face and accept that this
is how you feel.
- Picture yourself in the worst case scenario
while competing. Also write down what are the worst
things that can happen to you if you fail? As you
do this part of the exercise keep relaxing so your
whole body goes slack. Remember do not fight the
fear, rather relax into it or float along with it.
- After you learn to relax while picturing your
worst scenario during competition, make a list
of the things you can do to help yourself. For example,
I can breathe while I'm on deck and help both my
dog or horse and relax before we compete."
- Practice at least twice a week until your
fears lose their power over you.
Readers if you have questions about this exercise,
please contact me. I'll be glad to help out.
C. Second
Chances
The Animal Rescue
League of Western Pennsylvania has
been in operation since the early twentieth century.
Their mission includes educating the public;
providing temporary shelter, food, and medical attention
to neglected and injured animals; restoring lost
animals to their owners; or helping animals to find
new homes.
This is Harley - a beautiful Pit Bull Terrier - he
was surrendered because his family could no longer
care for him.
Visit their website to see all their animals or to
provide other support:
www.animalrescue.org
Readers please send us information
about other worthy organizations or your own Second
Chances story.
D. BookPicks
Fear and Other Uninvited Guests: Tackling the Anxiety, Fear, and Shame That Keep
Us from Optimal Living and Loving
Harriet Lerner, Ph.D
HarperCollins, May 1, 2004
Lerner writes in a no-nonsense style about how to
stop your emotions from crippling you in life and love.
She discusses ways the reader can "achieve balance
between healthy and life-stopping fears."
Other books by this popular author include:
Buy them on Amazon today by clicking on the links above - and 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
Ring Nerves Seminars
Have your club host my popular all day seminar for
handlers and dogs and learn the following:
- understanding performance anxiety
- stopping panic
- getting and staying relaxed
- concentrating under pressure
- staying connected to your dog
- turning off negative self-talk
- being centered in the ring
- building confidence
- using guided imagery to reach peak performance
See Web site for list
of seminars. 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
NOTE: Equestrians—this program works
well for you too. And a number of aggressive
dog sites are recommending the book—remember
a calm handler equals a calmer dog.
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To order from Amazon.com click
here!
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:
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