Episode 8 - How We Approach Neuro Training Program Design for Dancers and Gymnasts

In this episode, we talk about the perception of neuro training as brain ‘tricks’ and discuss how it's a process and approach that creates changes in the brain to improve physical performance for the long-run. We share recent experiences from workshops and clinics and the process behind designing and refining programs for groups and individuals. **Key topics** - Why neuro training should be part of the beginning of every movement session - Translating workshop “tricks” into long-term training - How an Assess - Reassess process helps athletes track what actually works - Individualized protocols and why some athletes respond differently - Using neuro training as a warm-up for the nervous system, not just the muscles - Pain, safety, and how the brain can create protective responses that inhibit movement **Timestamps** - 1:20 - How Nikki creates accountability for dancers in her workshops - 02:08 - We’re rewiring the brain in order to create changes in how it drives movement, not doing a series of brain “tricks” - 05:35 - The Assess - Reassess process as a method to select drills, and how to reinforce the learning process with athletes, dancers and coaches - 07:37 - The benefit of coaches and instructors understanding the approach and process - 09:05 - Why neurotraining works best when integrated into daily practice, classes or rehearsals - 09:53 - The process of introducing and adjusting drills in group settings - 11:20 - How body position plays a role in the outcome of a drill and the importance of gradually introducing complexity - 13:13 - How a simple positional change could create a negative or positive result from a drill - 14:30 - Challenges of introducing neuro training to a group that will respond to drills differently - 15:47 - The power of individualized protocols and the optimal frequency for the best results - 16:25 - An example of neuro training improving a professional athlete’s performance and longevity - 19:20 - Why warming up and performance improvements benefit from solutions beyond solely biomechanical ones - 20:40 - Pain as a protective response from the brain, and how a single neuro drill provided relief from knee pain - 23:11 - Benefits of preparing both the physical tissues and brain areas that regulate movement and muscle tone - 26:50 - Why neuro training warm-up protocols can be more efficient than traditional warm-ups - 27:30 - A case study of a dancer with difficulty spotting and how biomechanical instructions or adjustments alone may be insufficient - 28:40 - Closing thoughts **Resources & Links** Connect with us - Yuka on Instagram (@levelupneuro) - Nikki on Instagram (@bybee\_nikki) - Performance Rewired YouTube Subscribe to our newsletters - Yuka: LevelUp Newsletter - Nikki: Transformational Newsletter