Testimonials

Skiing

I was recommended to Carlyle and The Perfect Run to have some very simple alignment treatment that, I was advised, would help my skiing. I was not therefore prepared for what we would experience! During a two-day workshop in Verbier, my wife and I had our skiing taken to a completely new level. We went from being mediocre on piste skiers to quite reasonable off piste skiers in a matter of a couple of days. The holistic approach to both mental and physical and detailed explanation of how and why enabled an exceedingly rapid transformation in abilities. Since then we have enjoyed a couple of off piste skiing holidays which have introduced us to a whole new world of fun and adventure.
Steve Boultbee Brooks - Verbier 2008
  

Carlyle, me, and ice.
I've always been afraid of ice.  From early days sliding across wintery European pistes on dull edges, to dropping in a crevasse on the Vallee Blanche, to an exposed lip above a couloir in Alaska, ice leaves me tense, unsure, with a racing heart and a strong urge to lie flat and not move. Scared, in short.

So, early one morning in Portillo, Chile after several days with no fresh snow and a dramatic day hot / night cold cycle in the past few days, I'm looking up Roca Jack - the launch point for much of Portillio's amazing pitches - and I'm thinking about the hike ahead. Maybe two, two and a half hours (not too bad), carrying skis (hmmm, not my favorite), boot pack (getting worse) and with some icy patches towards the top before the traverse where Chris Anthony wants to take us (ah, no, really?).

All of a sudden, the valley starts to look a lot less enticing, and I start the familiar stress-building routine towards a tough, nervous climb, way too much lactic acid, no rhythm, and worst of all, rubbish skiing style on the way down. Not fun.

Carlyle is standing next to me, and I tell him about this. He stops, unclips his helmet and beckons me over, a little way from the rest of the gang. It's quiet. In the next few minutes, I listen intently, and follow his words. We talk about fear. He asks me to describe it, bringing it wide and high in front of my face - a billboard of an image. Familiar scenes indeed. Especially the crevasse. He asks me to put my hands around it, to grab hold. This I do. He asks me to make the image smaller. The picture becomes blurred, softer, even. He tells me to squeeze it further still. I do, all the way down until it's the size of a matchbox. I put fear into the matchbox, a bit like a spider. It's gone.

At least, Carlyle explains, it's not gone, it's just down there to the lower right, just where you put it. It's your choice, he says. Your decision. If you want to take it out again, you can, but if you want to leave it there, and get on enjoying your confidence, skill and experience, have a good climb, and a ripping run down, then, there you go.

Simple, but extremely powerful. It's pretty enduring technique as well, and one I've used a number of times since then, in sports and - interestingly - in work. There are fears and self doubts in a new and pretty challenging position which can be controlled and managed in much the same way.
I'm very very grateful for Carlyle's advice, and am looking forward to a new season skiing and climbing around the Japanese alps, and can already visualize some routes which I'm going to feel a lot better about.
David Tusa (Portillo, Chile 2007).

"I had been experiencing a complete 'mental block' skiing moguls and Warren Smith recommended I see Carlyle from Prohab for one of his 'mind' sessions. I was aware that my issue with skiing moguls was largely in my head as I had long since understood and acquired the necessary technique. At first I felt a little skeptical, but I had tried just about everything else, so thought it was worth a go.

I had a half day on-mountain session which involved (from a punter's perspective) visualization techniques, mental association exercises, tuning into and assessing physical sensations and discussion. These techniques helped to replace my fear of skiing moguls with positive thoughts and associations. Most dramatic was the unexpected disappearance of fear, which I found extremely liberating.

To support my continued progress, Carlyle left me with some quick and easy exercises that I have since used on the mountain. I now love skiing moguls - the lack of fear has allowed me to focus purely on improving technique.

Backache had been spoiling my enjoyment of both skiing and sailing for a number of years. The impact of Carlyle's approach combining physical and mental change has been extraordinary. This year I was able to ski steeper, harder and longer than ever before; had no backache for the whole season; and yes I had that perfect run I created in our sessions!
Stacey Clark - Partner, Differentiate Ltd, Richmond

"One of my big problems was vertigo. Quite a fear of heights. Especially steep terrain, exposed traverses where I tended to freeze up and lose all my skiing technique. That's something that really held me back. The work I did with Prohab last Easter made a massive difference to my skiing. I had to experience it on the mountain to really feel what a difference it made. I am now able to ski things I am technically capable of but which mentally I couldn't before. I would highly recommend this programme to anyone.

Alyn Morgan - Verbier 2006

I discovered my passion for skiing on my first ski trip in 2005. I also discovered a debilitating paralysis brought on by fear on the fourth day of my trip. When this happened again on my second trip I thought I would never be able to overcome it. I could ski for 2 or 3 days with no problems and then for no reason I could identify, I would be so frightened I would be unable to move and certainly unable to ski. This posed significant problems when it happened on the side of a mountain, particularly with no igloo-building skills.

Dr Carlyle Jenkins of Prohab was recommended to me and I had four sessions with him prior to a weekend in Val D'Isere. I skied for 4 days and made incredible progress skiing slopes I never imagined I would be up to this side of 2010, with no physical reaction to fear. Skiing is now a major part of my life and thanks to Carlyle I can enjoy it to the full. It is truly amazing.

Dealing with these fears has also had a positive effect on other parts of my life. I deal with the day to day stresses of life much more easily and have an increased sense of wellbeing and happiness. I am much more self-aware and looking to the future, I hope that Prohab will continue to play a part in maintaining my wellbeing and continued fearlessness.
Amanda McLoughlin - London