Body Mind Mastery: Training for Sport and Life

I am a personal trainer and natural competitive bodybuilder, so I'm always on the hunt for new material about the mental aspect of physical performance. Body Mind Mastery was one of the first books I'd ever read on the subject, so I wasn't expecting a whole lot. Little did I know that the book would change my life and the lives of my clients. It's really amazing how "mental" everything we do really is. It seems as if it would be a no-brainer (ha, no pun intended), but when you are in a position of physical discomfort, you tend to blame the pain on your failing muscles and disregard the fact that the mind is actually what's "quiting" first. Yes, there are physiological things happening as your muscle tissue is filling with lactic acid and screaming at you to quit, but there's also that mental voice telling you to "STOP!" because it has no familiarity with this newfound pain. It's only after you push past the regular pain barriers consistently that you make changes and start seeing results both mentally and physically. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in more of the sports/physical aspects of mental mastery. I even wrote a blog about how much I loved the book at www.adn.com/strongbodies because I try to get the word out as much as possible. I hope you pick it up, practice the basic drills and are as inspired as I have been. You won't regret this purchase.

An athlete's bible that should be required reading for anyone serious about their performance and improvement.

Dan Millman does a master job of explaining a lot of very important techniques needed in developing skills (in sport). I just wish I could have read this book many years ago... It is well explained, funny at times, enjoyable, well structured and with plenty of examples from many sports so everyone (almost) can related to situations similar to the ones described. This is a must have book for any sportsman(woman)

Dan Millman is definetly one of my favorite authors and speakers. Ever since I read his book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, almost 15 years ago, I have gravitated towards his work. I even translated one of his books, The Laws of Spirit, from English to Icelandic a few years back. My review might therefore be tainted with my admiration : ) Body Mind Mastery is a great book for athletes and Millmans approach is balanced and invigorating. He challenges the athletes training routines and mindset with a perfect blend of information and practical guidlines. Many coaches in Iceland have used this book with good outcomes as a result of my recommending it to them. It has even come in handy for people I know that are not professional athletes. The philosophy expounded on can be used in varied situations in life.

"Millman's work combines the best of the human potential movement with the practical tools needed to reach that goal. It features sections on the "Peaceful Warrior Warm-Up", the aging athlete, and instructions for creating a daily exercise routine. This work is as much about mastering life as it is about the game itself." - NAPRA REVIEW