McGill researchers may give Canada an edge at 2010 Olympics
RICHMOND, BC -- (Marketwire) - Canadian gold medal Olympic skier
Kathy Kreiner-Phillips has joined Vancouver's newest wellness
centre, NeuroNetwork, as a staff member and brain trainer.
NeuroNetwork is a community-based wellness centre that provides
brain training, using an advanced, personalized form of
neurofeedback to balance and harmonize the brain. Neurofeedback is
a safe, non-invasive technique that maps brain patterns, and
mirrors those patterns back to the brain, forming new pathways that
optimize balance and personal wellness. Neuroplasticity - or the
ability of the brain to re-wire itself - is a growing area of
scientific research. Sport Canada funded research at McGill
University just concluded 4 years of study on Canada's elite winter
athletes and found neurofeedback sharpened the athletes' mental
focus.
NeuroNetwork President Brenda Gerhard says, "We're honoured to have
a Canadian athlete and trainer of Kathy's caliber as part of the
NeuroNetwork team. Especially in light of recent evidence such as
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ's findings about neurofeedback's positive impact
on the performance of Canadian athletes - potentially at the 2010
Olympics - this is another endorsement of the power of using
neurofeedback to train the brain - utilizing its
neuroplasticity."
In 1976, 18-year-old Kathy Kreiner blew past the top-rated German
and Austrian skiers at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck to grab
Olympic Gold for Canada in the giant slalom race.
Kreiner credits her dramatic performance that day to mental
preparation and visualization that put her in 'the zone'. It led
her to a 20-year career in sport psychology and mental training. "I
believe neurofeedback can be a radical 'short cut' to the process
of getting athletes - or anyone - in the zone," says
Kreiner-Phillips.
Kreiner-Phillips became passionate about neurofeedback when she and
her 14-year-old daughter underwent the one-week brain training
protocol. "My daughter is a competitive gymnast. Two weeks after
she had neurofeedback, she won the balance beam portion of her
competition - and that was dramatic, because balance beam had
always been her worst element," says Kreiner-Phillips. While
Kreiner-Phillips' expertise in the world of elite athletes will
offer neurofeedback to those in the sporting world, NeuroNetwork's
services are for not just for athletes.
"Neurofeedback can put everyone in the zone - not just athletes,"
says Brenda Gerhard. "The majority of our clients are people
wanting to improve their general wellness, people dealing with
trauma, injuries, stress, anxiety, sleep problems, addictions;
seniors and students, business leaders - and people wanting to
optimize their golf game, improve their bottom line - or deepen
their meditation practice. I liken our personalized neurofeedback
protocol to a 'meditation machine'," says Gerhard. "Stresses and
trauma cause our brains to become unbalanced - brain training
coaches the brain to re-balance itself - and unlike drugs - there
are no toxic side effects."
Stroke-survivor Michael Twyman credits his neurofeedback sessions
at NeuroNetwork with helping him regain some sensation and movement
in his left side, after a right-brain stroke left half of his body
paralyzed. "Performance enhancement for me is to walk normally -
that's my Olympic feat," says Twyman. "To have improved balance and
gait - and to think coherently - to have a normal life. I am moving
in that direction. Neurofeedback is helping me along the
way."
To set up media interviews with Kathy Kreiner-Phillips, Michael
Twyman or Brenda Gerhard (or to see neurofeedback in action),
contact Brenda Gerhard at 604-616-3131. NeuroNetwork is located at
#110-3880 Chatham Street, Richmond, BC.
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For more information, please contact
NeuroNetwork Inc.
Brenda Gerhard
Media Contact
604-616-3131