A professional surfer credits Dr. Emmett Miller's guided imagery techniques with keeping him calm and breathing steady while competing in massive waves on Oahu's North Shore. Miller pioneered the method in athletics when it wasn't yet standard practice, and the surfer says it prevented panic and hyperventilation during high-stakes competition.
I surfed on the very first World Pro Tour contest circuit, and my challenge at the time was keeping my breathing steady and calm when I was surfing very big waves on the North Shore of Oahu where I lived. Panic breathing and hyperventilating while trying to surf waves that size can be dangerous, or at the very least distracting from performance. I was able to use the guided imagery that Emmett Miller taught me to keep my entire body focused, strong, and in a state of calm. And this was before most people even knew what guided imagery was and before most athletes made it a regular part of training. He really is the pioneer in this regard, and I remain grateful to him.
