Visualization as a key component to achieving personal fitness goals was the message during a performance and exercise enhancement techniques class put on by the command fitness leaders (CFL) of Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes, March 1.

"A lot of these Sailors have the physical capability to be successful but it's these psychological factors that keep getting in the way of them being successful," said Marketa Jones, a CFL with TSC who taught the hour-long class. "They have the endurance to complete a run but it's what they're doing in the middle of that run that is adversely affecting their performance."

This was the first of three classes Jones instructed to help Sailors to better visualize success in their fitness goals by using positive visualization techniques. She showed them the reason why this technique is successful as well as ways to apply these techniques to everyday life.

"I hope they can identify at a point when something is happening to them they can actually say, this is a motivation issue," Jones said. "Then they will learn how to self-talk their way to a better performance and to not let that overcome them."

Jones said she uses the same techniques of visualizing positive results and pushing through pre-conceived barriers to help her achieve her fitness goals as well.

It's something she teaches each Sailor she works with and now hopes to broaden that group to include leaders.

"I go out and I talk to [the Sailors] on the ship and I can use some of these things," said Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Christopher Manke, a Navy Military Training Instructor (NMTI) on board USS Essex (BEQ-633). "I learned today in the class that you can actually visualize yourself doing these things. I can use this stuff I learned in the class today for normal everyday things."

Sailors also said they were eager to start putting these techniques into practice along with their normal fitness routines.

"I'll take what I learned here today and just keep applying it to my own mindset to help me stay focused and stay motivated," said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Nicole Sheriff, a student assigned to TSC.

There were two other classes offered on March 3 with Jones instructing those groups on the same topics. She said she hopes more Sailors and leaders hear her message and are able to achieve better on their next physical readiness test (PRT) as a result.

"They can train with these techniques and do what they need to do to be successful in the future," Jones said.

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/.