Teen Athletes Spend Countless Hours Practicing and Exercising.
But They Often Forget The Most Important 'Muscle' of all: The Mind
But They Often Forget The Most Important 'Muscle' of all: The Mind
How To Train The Brain
Attention is the boss of the brain. - Amishi P. Jha, PhD
It really is that simple. Everything we do - from the minutest actions in any sport or activity to the actions, emotions, and decisions in all areas of a teenager's life - every single thing that happens in our lives is run by the brain. And attention runs the brain.
When I use the word attention here, I'm referring not only to the act of paying attention, but more specifically to a specific system in the brain. Not to get too technical here, but this system of the brain responsible for attention is a lot like a muscle. Meaning, when we exercise it, it becomes stronger.
The result?
Vast improvement in virtually every area of a teenagers life - in school, at home, and on the ice, field, course, or court.
But do you want to know the best part of all?
When I use the word attention here, I'm referring not only to the act of paying attention, but more specifically to a specific system in the brain. Not to get too technical here, but this system of the brain responsible for attention is a lot like a muscle. Meaning, when we exercise it, it becomes stronger.
The result?
Vast improvement in virtually every area of a teenagers life - in school, at home, and on the ice, field, course, or court.
But do you want to know the best part of all?
The Teenage Brain is Like a Construction Zone
During the teen years, the human brain is going through enormous development. During this development, teens find their sense of self and their identity of functioning adults, free from the guidance and assistance of us parents. A challenging time, for sure - for both parent and teen alike!
But this period of development also offers the opportunity to establish healthy mental habits that will not only help them navigate the raging waters ahead of them, but will also give them a strong foundation on which they can flourish into their fullest potential.
But this period of development also offers the opportunity to establish healthy mental habits that will not only help them navigate the raging waters ahead of them, but will also give them a strong foundation on which they can flourish into their fullest potential.
I Know What You're Thinking...
Who Has The *Bleeping* Time????
As the father of a 14U Hockey Player, you don't need to remind me about time pressure!
Between homework, house chores, and all the many sports demands, we're lucky to find a moment to breathe!
And that's the best part of my method of attention training! Because I've developed a system of training attention through the daily activities your teens are already doing, this training requires almost no time commitment at all!
Between homework, house chores, and all the many sports demands, we're lucky to find a moment to breathe!
And that's the best part of my method of attention training! Because I've developed a system of training attention through the daily activities your teens are already doing, this training requires almost no time commitment at all!
Introducing...
Inner Edge Attention Training
A 9-Week Course
Inner Edge Attention Training is a 9 week course for Teenage athletes. Non-athletes are warmly welcome, as long as they don't mind all my sports references!
The course is broken into trimesters.
In the first trimester, we work on our teenagers' inner experience. They will learn about the neurobiology of emotions and how the emotions work with the thoughts and physical sensations in their bodies. Understanding these connections will be a game changer, but we take it deeper with simple, daily practices that utilize the things they already do every day, like brushing teeth and walking from one classroom to another during their school day.
In the second trimester, we turn our efforts outward. As the teenage brain develops a sense of self, it does so amidst incredible social pressures. What others think of them is often the number one stressor for a teenager. And often the fear of what others think of a teenager can limit the potential of the development of an authentic self. During this second trimester, we work on these interpersonal dynamics as we shift the inner language about others. Again, we do this both through instruction and through practice.
Speaking of inner talk...
In the third trimester, we work on supporting ourselves and developing resilience to failure and setbacks. Even the greatest athletes fail sometimes, right? Part of the challenge here is that our teen athletes may have built plenty of self esteem through their accomplishments. But in times of failure, self esteem is gone faster than an irate baseball coach kicking dirt at an umpire. And what's left? Nothing but the most brutal and pessimistic self talk, in most cases. And the reason for this horrible self talk has as much to do with the absence of training as anything else. Well, the training starts on week 7.
The course is broken into trimesters.
In the first trimester, we work on our teenagers' inner experience. They will learn about the neurobiology of emotions and how the emotions work with the thoughts and physical sensations in their bodies. Understanding these connections will be a game changer, but we take it deeper with simple, daily practices that utilize the things they already do every day, like brushing teeth and walking from one classroom to another during their school day.
In the second trimester, we turn our efforts outward. As the teenage brain develops a sense of self, it does so amidst incredible social pressures. What others think of them is often the number one stressor for a teenager. And often the fear of what others think of a teenager can limit the potential of the development of an authentic self. During this second trimester, we work on these interpersonal dynamics as we shift the inner language about others. Again, we do this both through instruction and through practice.
Speaking of inner talk...
In the third trimester, we work on supporting ourselves and developing resilience to failure and setbacks. Even the greatest athletes fail sometimes, right? Part of the challenge here is that our teen athletes may have built plenty of self esteem through their accomplishments. But in times of failure, self esteem is gone faster than an irate baseball coach kicking dirt at an umpire. And what's left? Nothing but the most brutal and pessimistic self talk, in most cases. And the reason for this horrible self talk has as much to do with the absence of training as anything else. Well, the training starts on week 7.
The Program
Who: This program is for teen athletes that play any sport. Non-athletes are welcome, as long as they don't mind all my sports references.
What: Inner Edge is a 9-week program. Each week, there are two sessions for your teen to attend: one is 30 minutes long and the other is 15 minutes long.
When: Sessions are held on multiple days to accommodate the ever shifting schedule of the teenage athlete.
Where: All session are held via zoom. Your teen can join from anywhere.
Why: The mental skills your teen will develop during this program will benefit them in every area of their life.
What: Inner Edge is a 9-week program. Each week, there are two sessions for your teen to attend: one is 30 minutes long and the other is 15 minutes long.
When: Sessions are held on multiple days to accommodate the ever shifting schedule of the teenage athlete.
Where: All session are held via zoom. Your teen can join from anywhere.
Why: The mental skills your teen will develop during this program will benefit them in every area of their life.
If you'd like to chat with the coach and see if Inner Edge is right for your family, click the button below
Meet Your Coach
Art Burns is a Certified Emotional Regulation Coach and a Hockey Dad. He's also a Beer League Champion.
For most of his life, Art struggled with emotional stress and dysregulation that kept him not only from achieving his dreams, but kept him from his happiness. After a lifetime of coping through alcoholism, workaholism, and a whole bunch of other maladaptive mechanisms, Art finally turned inside for the solution. There he found the one truth that had always eluded him:
We can't control what happens to us in life. The only thing we can control is how we respond to what happens to us in life. This is where happiness and success reside.
Or, as Art's teacher and mentor, Jon Kabat-Zinn says: "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf."
Art's been living in Denver, Colorado, giving "emotional surfing lessons" to hockey players and Cancer patients for the last seven years. He lives with two cats and a 14U defenseman named Casey.
For most of his life, Art struggled with emotional stress and dysregulation that kept him not only from achieving his dreams, but kept him from his happiness. After a lifetime of coping through alcoholism, workaholism, and a whole bunch of other maladaptive mechanisms, Art finally turned inside for the solution. There he found the one truth that had always eluded him:
We can't control what happens to us in life. The only thing we can control is how we respond to what happens to us in life. This is where happiness and success reside.
Or, as Art's teacher and mentor, Jon Kabat-Zinn says: "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf."
Art's been living in Denver, Colorado, giving "emotional surfing lessons" to hockey players and Cancer patients for the last seven years. He lives with two cats and a 14U defenseman named Casey.
