4. Advice on improving mental imagery skill can be
found at
www.shpm.com/articles/sports/tennis.html.
Mental imagery is intended to train our minds
and create the neural patterns in our brain to
teach our muscles to do exactly what we want
them to do (Porter, 17).

7. “Imagination is more powerful than
knowledge.”
—Albert Einstein

8. An Historical
Perspective of
Mental Imagery
and Visualization
Origins date back to Freud
and Jung in modern
psychology
Most likely used for
millennia by people of all
cultures
Shamans used
visualization to heal tribe
members

9. Mental imagery involves
unconscious thoughts that
become conscious in the effort to
heal or make whole.
Guided mental imagery is a
variation wherein images are
suggested by another person.
Visualization is a conscious
thought process directed toward
self-improvement.

10. Image must be
idiosyncratic
Image must be
egosyntonic
Image must have a
positive aspect
Image must be kinesthetic
and somatic
Image must be
anatomically correct
Employ constancy and
dialogue
Employ the healthy
blueprint aspect
Employ the treatment
with the image

11. Just as real or imaginary
thoughts can trigger the
stress response, relaxing
thoughts can promote the
relaxation response.
When imagination is used
to promote relaxation, the
body’s five senses are in
effect deactivated or
desensitized to stressful
stimuli.

12. Tranquil natural scenes, or
images that place one in a
natural environment.
Behavioral changes, or
images that allow one to see
and feel oneself performing
a different, more health-
conscious behavior.
Internal body images, or
images of trips inside the
body to observe damaged or
diseased tissue being healed
or repaired.

13. Research into visualization also includes color
and light therapy
The color blue appears to have a relaxing/healing
effect.
Full spectrum lighting is known to have a healing
effect too!

14. Why do you think many of the students could make
the washer move with their mind?

16. What about this rabbit?

17. How about this rabbit?

18. How can we exploit this connection to improve
our human potential?

19. Why can’t it be said that a person
is either good or not good at
visual imagery?