Page 25 - QMSConnectionsMagazine-2020-21-digital

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A good place to start is to understand why we borrow from the nasty list. When our self-
image box does not align with the results box, we end up borrowing from the nasty list.
In other words, when my ideal self says I should place in the top 5 and I place 12th, this
can frustrate me, make me jealous of the winners, and cause me to develop some doubt
or worry as I move into the next competition. All the borrowing from the nasty list occurs
because the two boxes do not align. In contrast, when I believe I can place top 5 and
come 4th, I have no need to borrow. When I see myself as someone who will make the
team and I do, I do not borrow, instead I celebrate.
- Dave Freeze, Enhancing Sports Requirements

Freeze explains that when Nutritionist) our students
experience does not align were already studying how to
with our expectations, we stay mentally, physically and
often borrow an emotion emotionally prepared before
rather than explore the deeper the COVID-19 crisis began.
gap between our image of As the global pandemic
ourselves and our outcomes. unfolded, our teaching and
Honest exploration provides coaching staff rose to the
an incredible opportunity to challenge posed by the need
cultivate growth and resilience to remotely teach QMS riding
within each athlete. students. Equestrian Teacher,
When faced with adversity, Leora Gibson, met virtually
it can be challenging for us with students on Zoom
to remain curious and open and supported their health
to development. However, and continued educational
by exploring our individual curriculum by providing
perspectives, personality traits, exercises on goal setting, During COVID-19, Maggy Buttner-
emotional triggers and biases, fortifying the “bubble” of what Danyliw continued to build
and how we apply them to any we can control, managing visualization and performance skills
given situation, we can prepare mistakes, and visualization at home through online support
for times of hardship and and breathing techniques from QMS coaches.
difficulty. to improve focus and
This year, in the Equestrian performance. Coaches Indiana evident. The QMS summer
Physical & Health Education Fedoriuk and Brittany Turner riding program is busier than
program and Team QMS produced and posted exercise ever, with students quickly
competition program streams, videos to the QMS YouTube reaching milestones after
students investigated how Learning Channel geared months out of the saddle. The
they could improve their specifically for riders that barn yard is full of laughter,
performance both on and focused on yoga, stretching, smiles and an uplifting energy
off the horse. The aim was flexibility, and strengthening. of comradery. While their faces
to physically, mentally and For our Team QMS Program may be focused during their
emotionally prepare students students, Head Competition ride, the smiles that erupt as
for high performance results in Coach, Julia Spreen-Balcom, riders rise to meet the challenges
all areas of their lives. Classes offered weekly Zoom classes set forth by themselves, their
on nutrition, cross-training on topics such as visualization, coaches, and the horses tell a
and mental performance took types of jumps, gymnastics for story of resilience and grit. In
place both on-campus and horses, lunging, and so much owning the challenges they
remotely throughout the school more. faced and continue to confront
year. By combining the unique Although we are living in a each day, our riders are gaining
qualifications of our specialist new, physically distanced confidence and courage as
coaching staff (which includes normal, the positive effects of they trail blaze into an unknown
a Registered Yoga Teacher this multi-faceted equestrian future.
(RYT) and a Registered Holistic programming are already

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