Dec 28, 2006
emWave (formerly Freeze-Framer) for Stress Management and Peak Performance
By: Alvaro Fernandez
Just a quick note to summarize a number of conversations we have been having at a number of holiday parties.
In short, who may benefit from a biofeedback-based stress management program? anyone, no matter the age (after 6-years-old) who wants a more measurable way to manage stress and anxiety and perform at peak levels. Our Head Coach, a clinical psychologist, literally mentioned yesterday that this tool is one of the most useful he has ever seen.
We have seen some specific groups benefit the most, such as students and school staff, traders and golfers:
A- Students, teachers and school administrators: Technology & Learning magazine, widely read among school administrators, published last month a good article on it. Read Take a Deep Breath: Biofeedback software is helping students calm down for better test performance.
A quote: “Look for the techniques to catch on in more schools. Lagozzino (the school principal profiled in the article)Â is looking to train more of his students. “When I first heard about this, I thought, okay, this is a little too far out there for me,” he says. “I didn’t think you could control any of your own physiology and that it would have any impact on your thinking. [But] it really does.”
B- Traders: Brett Steenbarger, the renowned expert in Trader Performance and author of the blog TraderFeed: Exploiting the edge from historical market patterns, among many things, posted a kind note, saying: “This is the first biofeedback application that I’m aware of that is uniquely marketed to traders. I’ve used biofeedback to monitor my body’s level of arousal during trading and have found it to be quite useful.”
C- Golfers: Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, Voted Top 50 Teachers 2003-2004, Golf Digest, say that “Effective management of the emotions in your golf game will not only lower your scores, but is guaranteed to increase your enjoyment of the game.”. We just talked to Lydia Covalesky-Siipola, a high school girl’s varsity golf coach and former physics teacher, who was introduced to the program at Pia Nilsson’s golf clinic and is an enthusiastic user.
An example of how the program works:
Emotional self-regulation and biofeedback: Freeze-Framer
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Learn about the Freeze-Framer program.
I am very impressed with the Freeze-Framer technology for the following reasons:
1) Research supports the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV; the measure used by Freeze Framer) and emotional regulation (see Review of General Psychology 2006, Vol. 10, No. 3, 229–240).
2) Emotions can either facilitate or inhibit cognitive abilities (brain skills). As the user’s ability to regulate emotions (as reflected in HRV) increases, the ability to regulate brain function also increases.
3) The Freeze-Framer technology is easy to use and affordable.
4) The Freeze Framer technology has built in reinforcement. One’s success at regulating HRV is immediately visible on the computer. There is visceral (in the body) reinforcement as well – using the program feels good. “No pain, no gain†does not apply to this training.
Hi Neal,
Thanks for sharing your views. I am also very happy we can offer this program to our members. Both brain exercises-which can stimulate neuron creation and survival-, and managing “bad” stress-which can prevent or reduce neurogenesis- are critical for brain fitness.
I love the snowflakes falling. We usually have snow this time of year but don’t thid year so it was nice to watch the “snow flakes” falling.
Hi Elona,
and Happy New Year!
[...] We talked about this program here: Freeze-Framer for Stress Management and Peak Performance. And you can learn more here at Freeze-Framer. [...]