Public Speaker, Peak-Performance Coach
& Licensed Professional Counselor
Timothy Mann, MA, LPC, SCL
Performance Optimization
Train the Brain works with professional and collegiate level sports teams of a wide variety enhancing athletic performance. We specialize in mental health, breath-work, cold-water immersion, mental resilience, and team building.
Mental Health, Mindset, Breathwork, Cold-Water Immersion
Benefits for Athletes
1. Improved Physical Endurance: The Wim Hof Method can help athletes improve their physical performance by increasing oxygen intake, adapting to low CO2 levels, enhancing lung capacity, and improving cardiovascular health. This can lead to increased endurance, faster recovery times, and improved overall athletic performance.
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2. Enhanced Mental Resilience and Focus: The breathing exercises, meditation techniques and cold-water immersion exercises in the Wim Hof Method can help athletes develop mental resilience and focus. Optimizing breathing patterns has a direct affect on cognitive functioning, and can be especially beneficial during high-pressure situations such as games or critical plays.
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3. Reduced Inflammation and Injury Risk: Cold-water immersion, a key component of the Wim Hof Method, has been shown to reduce inflammation, increase cold shock proteins and improve muscle plasticity and muscle repair. Ultimately, this means faster recovery from workouts and injuries. By properly incorporating cold-water immersion into the training program, we can potentially reduce the risk of injuries as well as speed up players’ recovery times.
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4. Stress Reduction: The Wim Hof Method includes meditation practices that can help players manage stress and anxiety. This can contribute to better sleep, mental well-being and overall performance on and off the field.
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5. Faster Recovery Times: The Wim Hof Method and breath other retention exercises include a variety of benefits that can help players improve their recovery times between intense physical activities. These modalities can help enable athletes to bounce back more quickly from exertion, increase the duration until physical exhaustion, and get them to perform at their best throughout a game or practice session. Many athletes have never been trained how to use their diaphragm, a major and important muscle in the body. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises like the Wim Hof Method can give athletes more control over their breathing, thus directly influencing their nervous system in real time.
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After a training, your team and coaches will have a complete understanding of how to implement mindset, breathwork and cold-water immersion into their training regimen to optimize health and performance.
Mental Health Mindset
You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being for athletes, as it directly influences their performance, resilience, and overall quality of life. The pressures of competition, public scrutiny, and the rigorous demands of training can take a toll on an athlete's mental health. It is essential for athletes to maintain a positive mental state to enhance their focus, motivation and emotional stability, which are vital for peak-performance. Neglecting mental health can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues that affect not only the individual, but the team at large.
Mindset training is a crucial aspect of what it takes for a program to succeed. What we bring to the table is game changing. We bring about a transformative shift in performance, team dynamics and overall success. By working closely with athletes, coaches and support staff, we help cultivate a winning mindset, boost self-confidence, and enhance mental toughness among team members. Through tailored strategies and techniques, we equip athletes with the tools to stay focused, motivated, and resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks. We help facilitate better communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution within the team, leading to increased cohesion and a positive team culture. ​
To conclude, Train the Brain works with athletes in a wide variety of ways to help them optimize their health and performance. From individual and team mindset trainings consisting of a wide variety of activities, to building mental resilience and mental toughness, to breathing exercises that help regulate the nervous system. Train the Brain comes in to work with your team and helps them a develop the attitude and self-discipline of a champion.
Breathing Exercises
The mind masters the body, but the breath masters the mind
Breathwork is the practice of controlling and regulating one's breathing patterns to achieve specific physical and mental benefits. In the context of athletic performance, breathwork can play a crucial role in enhancing athlete's abilities and overall performance.
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Proper breath control can help athletes to improve their endurance, focus, recovery, lung capacity and mental clarity. By learning to regulate their breathing, athletes can improve their oxygen intake and delivery to their muscles, allowing them to perform at their best for longer periods of time. Breathwork can also help athletes to manage stress and anxiety, allowing them to stay calm and focused during high-pressure situations.
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In addition, breathwork can aid in recovery after intense physical activity. By practicing deep controlled breathing, athletes can help to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation, allowing their bodies to recover more quickly.
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The diaphragm is a big muscle in the human body and arguably one of the most important. Not only is it vital to exercise the diaphragm, but it is also essential to know how to control the diaphragm. Yet, most athletes have never been trained in doing so. Train the Brain coaches athletes to properly use their diaphragm to get razor sharp focus and gain an edge on their competitors.​
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In conclusion, breathwork is an important tool for athletes looking to enhance their performance. By incorporating breathwork into their training regimen, athletes can improve their endurance, focus, recovery and mental health, allowing them to perform at their best.
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Cold Water Immersion
Recover, reset, rebuild
Cold water immersion (CWI) is a widely used method by athletes to aid muscle repair and accelerate performance recovery after exercise. CWI can be particularly vital for athletes, especially during intense periods of training. While preparing for a game or competition, athletes undergo physical and psychological stress, which can hinder top performance. This is why it is essential to recover quickly and minimize fatigue.
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CWI has been shown to enhance recovery of performance in a wide variety of sports. Not only does CWI improve recovery, it also raises testosterone levels and has other implications directly related to mental health, as well as strengthening the immune and cardiovascular systems.
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Tim Mann of Train the Brain is a Level 2 Certified Wim Hof Method instructor with an extensive background in cold water immersion. Tim has not only trained hundreds of athletes in CWI, but leads expeditions into remote wilderness areas, cuts holes in ice covered lakes, guides the group through plunging, followed by leading exercises to return body temperatures back to equilibrium safely. ​
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Benefits
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Boost mood
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Improve sleep
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​Increase energy
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Increase testosterone
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Improve bone density
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Reduce muscle soreness
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Improve immune function
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In conclusion, cold water immersion is an important tool for athletes looking to enhance their performance, regulate their dopamine and improve their overall health. By incorporating CWI into their training regimen, athletes can improve their focus, recovery, mood and energy levels.
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Speed metabolism
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Cold shock proteins
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Decrease inflammation
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Improve muscle plasticity
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Recover
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Reset
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Rebuild