Video Version
The Power of Breathing
Of all the techniques I've learned as a mental performance coach, breathing is the most powerful and efficient tool we have in our possession to perform better.
Don’t Think
I try to teach my golfer not to think too much. But the thing is you've got a lot of downtime that exposes you to potentially thinking too much.
Timestamp
0:38 — Managing Stress & Inverted-U Theory
6:09 — Flow vs. The Zone
9:04 — The Cognitive Demands of Golf
16:04 — The Power of Breathing
26:33 — How Your Breath Influences Performance
Resources
Hourglass Performance Institute
Research Paper on IAPZ - Individual arousal-related performance zones effect on temporal and behavioral patterns in golf routines
About Dr. Harry van der Lei
Harry van der Lei was born in Groningen, Holland. He graduated in 1989 from the College of Physical Therapy in Holland and moved to the United States where he specialized in Sports Rehabilitation.
He earned a Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science, majoring in Sport Psychology, from the University of Utah in 2003. While at U of U, Harry worked as a sport physical therapist for the US Speed Skating Association.
Harry received a doctoral degree with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Florida State University where he served as a mental performance consultant for the Florida State University Men’s and Women’ Golf Program from 2003-2018.
Harry has worked as a sport physical therapist and as a mental performance expert with a wide variety of athletes, from amateurs to numerous world champions and Olympic gold winners. Currently, as a mental performance consultant, Harry specializes in golf performance and stress management.
As an athlete himself, Harry played amateur soccer in Holland, semi-professional soccer for the Orlando Lions in Florida, holds a black belt in Taekwondo, and has run several half and full marathons. Harry is a certified member of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) with a specialization in stress management. He also serves as a reviewer for the journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.
In general, Harry strives to help and teach others the principles of optimal performance, health, and well-being, while emphasizing the awareness of breathing in life!
Golf Performance Routines w/ Dr. Harry van der Lei (Part 2)