By Marian Slaman
I am not an avid skier, but I do enjoy a few days on the slopes each year. I began skiing in High school and continued through university skiing a few times each year. A busy career, changing lifestyles, and motherhood created a hiatus in my skiing.
When my son was 7, I dusted off my rusty ski legs and donned the slopes once again. Over the last few years, I have gone from teaching him how to ski to having to keep up with him on the slopes.
Last year while skiing, I began skiing up the walls of the half-pipe, and taking in more jumps in the terrain park.
In both cases I was somewhat (to put it mildly) intimidated by my environment, particularly in the half pipe where the speeds quickly increase. I am very conscious that in skiing particularly at increasing speeds it is important to stay relaxed, and in the moment so that one can take the jumps and turns one wants to while being able to stay connected to the snow, the hill, and ever-changing conditions as one proceeds down the hill.
If one tenses up too much there is an increased chance of making a mistake and thus falling and injuring the body. Terrain park skiing is not for the faint of heart.
As I came out of the half-pipe and was present to my fear, I realized that at my fingertips I had a solution.
I wanted to reduce my fear of going fast and reduce the tension level. I completed my run and on my next chair lift ride up (in Ontario, Canada the runs are short) I tapped on issues related to staying in control, staying relaxed, being comfortable with faster speeds and the like.
Even though I fear going fast, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I fear losing control, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I am having trouble staying relaxed, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I am uncomfortable skiing at faster speeds, I deeply and completely accept myself.
On the next run down, I noticed an immediate improvement. With each successive run, I continued to tap a bit on the lift while ascending the hill and continued to reach increasing levels of comfort while descending.
I was able to ski at increasing speeds, while achieving tricks that are more complex with a feeling of comfort and control. With this I know that my skiing abilities can now improve at an increasing rate.
More Tapping Phrases used:
Even though I get scared when I go fast, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I am not use to skiing this fast, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I choose to remain comfortable at this slower speed, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I haven’t done this before, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though it is hard to go slow in the half pile, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I have never skied up walls before, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I am not use to horizontal skiing, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though there isn’t much room for slowing down, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I haven’t done jumps this high before, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I feel as I am too old for this, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I feel as I have to keep learning, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I feel I have to keep pace with my son, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Even though I am afraid I will lose control, fall and hurt myself, I deeply and completely accept myself. (Two rounds – one on lose control, lose control, one on fall and hurt myself, fall and hurt myself)
I choose to ski relaxed.
I choose to ski in control.
Even though my fears are taking me out of the present, I deeply and completely accept myself.
I choose to stay in the moment.
My 12-year-old son tasted snowboarding last year and has converted, he is now anxious to trade in his skis for a snowboard. I promised him I would try out snowboarding when we go and a date has been set.
I intend to bring along my EFT tapping as I begin this new experience.
