How to get over mental block
I just passed level 3 of adult LTS and am moving on to level 4. I have a private coach I meet with once a week as well, and between the private and group lessons, some of the level 4 stuff has been introduced. When I first attempted a backwards one foot glide, I was shocked at how impossible it felt. It was literally like my foot was glued to the floor, and my brain was saying “whatever you do, do NOT pick that foot up.” I’ve attempted two more times since then and have been able to briefly lift it, but it still feels “wrong.”
Similarly, I absolutely cannot do a forwards crossover. I can do them off ice or at the wall all day long, and if I attempt standing I can maybe psych myself up enough to attempt it, but it’s HARD. And moving is an absolute no go, unless I’m holding my coach’s hand. I see others just immediately pick their foot up and cross it over and I’m like “?!?!?” It’s like every neuron in my brain is firing “no, do not do that” and I’m completely frozen. I’m older (40), so I sort of feel like it’s a healthy protective fear, but how do I tell my brain to chill? I’ve seriously considered taking a shot before lessons to make me more fearless!! I did recently get knee pads but they don’t make me feel any safer.
Have others struggled in a similar way? What did you do to essentially get over it - just practice more? Being more comfortable with one foot glides will surely help me, since both things I struggle with involve balancing on one foot, so should I sort of put myself in time out on learning the scary skills until I can better nail those? (My group coach did seem hesitant to pass me since she could tell I was uncomfortable with crossovers and she said we needed to be ready for them.) I don’t want to get discouraged and bored practicing the same thing over and over, though, and want to learn the exciting new skills. Is there a magic switch I can turn off in my brain to tell it I’m safe?!