Visualization versus physical practice?

NURDRMS

NURDRMS

Well-Known Member
Okay, so I'm getting ready to try something new and wanted y'all's input/advice. I have torn my hamstring and require surgery next week. The recovery period will be fairly extensive (doc has said six months until I'm back to normal but I said six months is for the average person.) The first six weeks post-op will require me to use one of those knee scooter things, with absolutely no weight on my right leg allowed. Long story short, I'm searching for alternative methods to keep my body as sharp as possible as well as still try to improve my dancing (or at least minimize the loss of ability) while I'm recovering. While researching this issue I've come across studies that discuss the use visualization techniques for athletes.

One such study discussed three groups of basketball players. One group was the control group and did no practice at all, the second group only visualized the proper technique involved in shooting baskets, and the third group actually physically practiced shooting baskets. Obviously the first group showed no improvement in making baskets but surprisingly the second group (the visualization group) improved their basket making ability nearly as much as the group who actually practiced shooting baskets.

So while I'm recovering there are things I can physically work on, even without using my legs (arm styling, etc.) but I've talked my pro into trying this visualization thing with me. What I've suggested is that we mentally 'walk' our way through our routines while he discusses/reminds me of what each movement with the proper technique looks/feels like.

This idea is very much out of our comfort zones (we're both physically versus mentally oriented when it comes to dance) so I wanted to see if any of you have tried something like this and what success you experienced.
 
well, here is the thing; at least for myself, part of actual practice is remembering elements of technique and executing it through my body, if I cannot mentally recall it i am probably not going to be able to execute it on my own without my pro...sure, there is stuff tht is already in my body but there is also stuff that I need to think about to keep and I think that visualizing can only help that...secondly, you can only do what you can do, so why not do it?
 
This is the first Latin routine I ever learned:


The first time I ever danced it I got through about 80% of it straight, with no mistakes. I had danced about a million "mental walkthroughs" before then (as for why I hadn't done it physically before then, don't ask...:) ).

There is plenty of value in doing mental practice, it helps a lot.

Also: if you have found some study that may help you recover quicker PHYSICALLY, I think you should share it with your doctor. Please don't do anything that could set you back in the middle of your recovery process.
 
I used to ride horses--dressage--and I used to be able to "ride" mentally and actually find the faults. I could both "see" and "feel" the faults that would result in the horse and improve the riding on the next in-my-head run through. I realized recently that I'm not so good at that with dance and I'm trying to work on it.

Also, when I was about fourteen, my mother was cleaning out the bathroom, or her closet, or who knows what, and there were some hair rollers out. I had never ever put a roller in my hair in my whole entire life, but I was able to do it perfectly from having seen her doing it so often when I was younger. It was as if the skill had entered my muscle memory just from having seen it. So, you might also add in watching a lot of good dancing either recorded or in real life.
 
I practice visualization quite a bit, as I don't have a lot of space for physical practice. I've found it's quite helpful in remembering what I've learned, and it's something I can do anywhere.
 
NURDRMS said:
So while I'm recovering there are things I can physically work on, even without using my legs (arm styling, etc.) but I've talked my pro into trying this visualization thing with me. What I've suggested is that we mentally 'walk' our way through our routines while he discusses/reminds me of what each movement with the proper technique looks/feels like.

This idea is very much out of our comfort zones (we're both physically versus mentally oriented when it comes to dance) so I wanted to see if any of you have tried something like this and what success you experienced.
Click to expand...

I think it could be very helpful, both in going over technique in your own routines, as well as watching instructional dance videos and you tube videos of dancers. I don't think you would actually have to schedule and pay for actual lessons with your pro though to do this, I think most of this you could do on your own with what you have already been taught. Perhaps just meet on occasion to run through things and then work on it at home? That way you can put the money towards extra lessons when you are all healed and ready!
 
I think visual practice can be very effective. I recently read a book by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi called Super Brain. In the book they talk about how your brain has bio feedback communication with all the cells in your body. Often my best practices have come after an extended time off period where I did nothing but day dream, visualize and watch videos of my favorite dancers. I don't think you necessarily need your pro to help.
 
Oh, I agree that I won't be paying pro for the several lessons/week I normally do. But we are going to try this for one lesson/week just so we can discuss technique, since visualizing perfect technique is essential to what I'm trying to do. Thanks very much for your feedback!
 
I have been watching videos of late and I am finding it to be very helpful...granted, I immediately go downstairs and try to do it...but I think it would be helpful regardless....
 
Yes, I definitely think it's worth a try; it won't hurt and it should guarantee we won't forget our routines while I'm unable to dance. I'm kinda interested to see what effect visualization will have, since like I said it's a brand new concept to me. I've also been advised to try visualization for injury healing as well.
 
There is some really interesting research on action observation and the activation of the mirror neuron system. I can't find the specific articles right now because I'm on a tablet, but I'll hunt them down and post them later. If I recall correctly, one study found that it was more useful to watch someone else do an action instead of visualizing yourself doing the action.
 
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