5 Tips From Olympians To Live Life Like A Champion

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have just ended after more than two weeks of daydreaming and strong emotions shared by fans around the world, they have not only marked History with a big H, but also our personal stories and trajectories re-injecting hope in a context that has led us to depression (legislative elections, skepticism about the organization of the Olympics). The feats, performances and values ​​embodied by athletes from the four corners of the planet have inspired us more than ever to surpass ourselves and become the best version of ourselves.

Inspired by this Olympic fortnight, our colleagues at Bustle decided to keep the flame of inspiration alive by meeting two athletes representing the United States. Volleyball players Kelsey Robinson Cook and Jordyn Poulter gave them all their tips for taking care of your mental and physical health. Feel free to put them into practice.

Practice breathing exercises while you visualize

Kelsey Robinson Cook explains that she regularly practices the physiological sigh technique. What does it consist of? Take two breaths through your nose, then take a long exhale through your mouth.. According to a psychiatrist interviewed by our colleagues at Very doctrinalthe exhalation should be “three times longer than inspirations.”** For this method to offer all its benefits, it is necessary to repeat it every day, three or four times in a row.

In addition to the physiological sigh, the volleyball player explains that she also trains “deep breathing”called in French “deep breathing”:

Breathe in “as much air as you can get in, as much air as you can get out,” she explained to our colleagues at Bustle.*

When he takes these deep breaths, he also takes the opportunity make visualization : mentally and positively represents a situation, an image, a feeling linked to his life as an athlete: “How am I down?”, “How do I feel?”, “Where are my eyes?” According to her, these visualization techniques would allow him to do this. to free oneself on the ground, to be less tense with respect to the stakes because she has already experienced the situation in a fictitious way and has mentally prepared herself for it.

Getting out of bed as soon as you wake up

“As soon as I wake up I don’t like to stay in bed”says Kelsey Robinson Cook. When the alarm goes off, there’s no point in lying down: she gets up right away and starts the day without procrastinating. THE to snooze Should be banned in her opinion.

Take ice baths

Another practice adopted by these volleyball players to take care of their health is take ice baths.

“Ice baths really help with sleep,” says Jordyn Poulter.

Commotion

It seems that when we fall asleep our body temperature gradually drops. Therefore, taking an ice bath at the end of the day or just before going to bed helps to reduce this temperature and therefore promote sleep.

Walk mindfully, without distractions

Volleyball player Kelsey Robinson Cook is a fan of walk. Once awake, she gets out of bed, leaves her phone at home and takes a short morning walk in the fresh air. “No distractions, just being present with myself before the day begins”explains. He will walk even in the evening “Letting go of the day, good or bad, and refocusing.”

Drink cherry juice before bed

Jordyn Poulter has another tip for keeping a quality sleep : admits to drinking black cherry juice (also called marasca juice) just before going to bed.

Tart cherry juice before bed helps me maintain the quality of my sleep.*

Commotion

But then, how to explain it? According to some health professionals, tart cherry juice contains melatonin, known as the sleep hormone. A 2012 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition suggested that “the consumption of tart cherry juice leads to an increase in melatonin, which is beneficial for improving the duration and quality of sleep in both men and women.” »

Another scientific study published in 2018 found that tart cherry juice could help older adults suffering from insomnia.