How Mindfulness Can Make Your Athlete Perform Better w/ Behavior Specialist Nellie Springston

Raising Elite Competitors

Have you ever wondered what sets elite athletes apart from the rest? Is it superior physical abilities, rigorous training routines, or something more? In today’s podcast episode, we’re diving into the world of mindfulness and its incredible impact on an athlete’s performance.
In this podcast episode, we’ll cover:

• The potential of mindfulness in sports and how it can unlock an athlete’s performance.
• An introduction to Nellie Springston, a multifaceted expert in behavior specialist and founder of Calma.
• The birth of Calma and its journey from behavior interventionist to a program for creating calm classrooms.
• The five core modules of Calma for teaching mindfulness and self-regulation.
• Real-life success stories of schools implementing Calma and winning awards.
• Managing anxiety in sports through grounding and reframing techniques.
• Mindfulness, empathy, and being present in high-pressure moments for athletes.
• Nonviolent communication (NVC) as a structured approach to conflict resolution.
• Team conflict resolution using Restorative Circles.
• If you’re interested in learning more about the power of mindfulness and its practical applications, be sure to check out the full podcast episode. Let mindfulness be your secret weapon for success!

Come hang out with Nellie on social @‌calma.kids and learn more about working with her at:

🌐 calmakids.org

🌐 calmacoach.com

🌐 calmacat.com

📧 [e-mail]
Episode Highlights:
[00:00] Mindfulness for athletes with a mental performance coach and school counselor. An introduction to Natalie Nellie Springston, founder of Calm and Loving Minds Achieve, a school program that teaches mindfulness to empower children and teens to overcome anxiety and thrive.
[03:13] Creating a program to help students regulate their emotions and improve learning. Nellie shares her passion for helping educators create calm classrooms through an online training program and children’s book.
[08:10] Mental training for athletes using mindfulness and gratitude. Nellie discusses the concept of neuroplasticity and how it relates to mindfulness practice, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the present moment and building the brain’s ability to be present. She also highlights the social element of the program, including gratitude and empathy, and how these practices can serve as a counter to the fight flight or freeze response in the brain.
[10:46] Using mindfulness in schools to improve focus and well-being.
[16:56] Managing anxiety in sports using grounding and reframing techniques. Nellie discusses using grounding and breathing meditation to separate from anxious thoughts and question their validity, as taught by Byron Katie.
[19:39] Mindfulness, empathy, and being present in the moment. Nellie discusses the importance of being present in the moment to perform at one’s best, using breathing techniques and grounding exercises to manage anxiety.
[25:22] Nonviolent communication and conflict resolution. Nellie discusses the importance of nonviolent communication (NVC) in resolving conflicts, emphasizing the structure of observation, feeling, need, and request.
[28:06] Team conflict resolution using restorative circles. Nellie shares her expertise on mindfulness and grounding techniques for children in high-charged conversations.
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Helpful Links:

• Visit our podcast website for more on this episode
• Join our FREE training for Sports Moms - How To Stre