Calmness wins Gold on and off the track

Sport stimulates energy, promotes health and all the feel good endorphins, but in order to achieve consistent success some Olympic level trainers are looking off the traditional path, and one such man, has been collecting golds in the process.

Charles Poliquin, a leading trainer of olympic athletes in Canada is known as the “strength Sensei”. He tailors the athletes protocols according to their brain chemistry, and his success is largely said to be down to his balanced approach. He emphasises the importance of dynamism and focus as well as the importance of developing calmness and improving sleep. Success, according to Poliquin is down to  four main neurotransmitters.

Dopamine - for dynamism

Acetylcholine - for focus

Gaba - for calmness

Serotonin - for sleep

The difference in his approach is his emphasis on calm. And the importance of calmness is being echoed across the globe. And, consequently the word on the street is GABA.

The ability to focus and be calm enables the body to deeply rest, regenerate, stay cool under pressure and better perform.

This chemical, GABA, gamma-amino butyric acid, is an amino acid that’s essential for the functioning of the brain and the central nervous system. It basically helps to promote a state of calm within the body.

Low GABA levels are associated with depression, addiction and other anxiety disorders, such as lying awake at night with racing thoughts.

How do I get it?

Scientists at Boston University studied the levels of the amino acid, GABA in different activities. Indeed, by using MRI scanners, they found there’s a 27% increase in GABA levels after only 60 minutes of mindful exercises, concluding it to be more effective than physical cardio exercise if the desired outcome is to calm the brain.

They found the levels were much higher in those that carry out Yoga.

When Yoga is designed to specifically encourage smoothness and deep relaxation of the nervous system GABA will be produced.

So what do I do?

The classes to go for tend to be ones where the exercises are slower, where fluidity is encouraged, and where there is awareness on the breath. Yoga Nidra and Meditation / Mindfulness work through stillness to boost and strengthen the key neurotransmitters needed to promoting calmness; GABA and Serotonin.

Tai Chi, Qi Gong and some martial arts are also effective.

What about having a treatment?

Having a treatment such as Shiatsu, craniosacral therapy, massage, acupuncture that enables you to relax and take stress out of the body will also be effective.

Can I get it from food?

GABA is created through the process of fermentation. When lactobacillus fermentation conditions are optimal, GABA production by microorganisms is increased. This makes fermented foods the only definite dietary source of GABA.

Foods containing flavonoids may also influence GABA function include berries, citrus fruits, apples, pears, tea, cocoa and wine. Medicinal plants include chamomile flowers, feverfew, linden flowers and passionflower.

So “Bringing Gaba back” is the new thing. Lets bring balance and calm to life, on and off the track.