Have you ever noticed that you can perform a cheer stunt better after watching an expert do it?  Well, there’s a reason for that. When you observe another cheerleader perform a stunt or a full routine, your brain is processing what you are observing and is creating new connections or neural pathways.  So, in essence, you are actively changing your brain!  Cool, right? 

Now this is true for all mammals – even rats!  Yep…scientists note that laboratory rats who observe other rats perform a  task such as walk across an elevated bar, are able to learn how to do this much faster and more efficiently than lab rats that do not observe such behavior.  

So what does this mean for you?  Well, if you want to improve your performance, take time to observe the best cheerleaders you know.  But don’t just look, be interactive in your observation.  By this I mean as you observe, imagine how it would feel for you if you were doing the routine the way the expert is doing it.  Really focus on what you are observing and how you are experiencing it. Feel it in your body and feel it in your heart.  With your mind’s eye, see yourself performing like the person you are observing. By taking the interactive approach you will enhance the creation of new neural pathways.  In other words you will be creating performance maps in your motor cortex, the part of your brain that is responsible for movement. 

 There are many fascinating studies that demonstrate the validity of what I’m talking about here.  Here’s one for you.  Scientists at Harvard University wanted to assess the power of visualization so they studied 2 groups of students.  One group came in every day for 2 hours over 2 weeks time.  They were taught how to do a simple 5-finger exercise on a piano keyboard and each day after they practiced, the scientists measured the growth of their motor cortex (the part of the brain responsible for movement). 

The other group was also taught the 5-finger exercise but they were not given a keyboard and were told not to move a muscle but to just imagine they were moving their fingers.  In other words, to visualize themselves dong it without actually doing it!  They measured the growth in their motor cortices also.  Well, both groups showed a growth in their motor cortices! 

What this study demonstrates is that it is possible to change your brain, to build new motor pathways that will improve your performance by thinking about it! Of course the thinking has to be focused, deliberate, and repeated with an emphasis on feeling and seeing yourself performing brilliantly! 

I recommend devoting time studying videos using this interactive observation approach.

You might be wondering about this title – why do cheerleaders need to learn how to breathe?  Don’t they do fine already?

Well, of course, everyone breathes – it’s natural.  We generally don’t think twice about it which is miraculous in itself.  The wisdom of the body is such that we breathe constantly day and night, asleep and awake, without much conscious awareness of it. 

But -there are times when it’s wise to pay attention to your breathing such as when you engaging in strenuous physical activity or when you are anxious or when you need to communicate in a strong voice.  All of these relate to cheerleading! 

First, let me dispel a myth.  It is not wise to “take a deep breath” when you are stressed.  As a matter of fact, this is hard to do if you are in a stressful situation because your body is in a fight-flight mode and hence you are breathing shallowly and quickly.  So, what to do?  Exhale!  Yes, that’s right, rather than taking a deep breath in, exhale as slowly and as long as you can. 

Go ahead, try it!  As you exhale, slowly now, you will notice your shoulders relaxing first, then the rest of your body.  You will also be able to take in a nice deep breath because you have relaxed enough to do so and you will have created sufficient space in your lungs. 

If you practice focusing on your exhale, you will get to the point when one slow exhale can get you in the right mental and physical spot for practice or performance or competition. 

And a positive side effect of profound breathing is that it will deepen and strengthen your voice.  A deeper voice carries better than a high voice so before you lead a cheer – exhale!