Why Performers are Athletes // Highlight: Holly Rilinger
The similarities between Broadway performers and professional athletes are numerous. The attention to the body, performance pressure, and intense training are just a few that come to mind.
I met Holly at a Fitness Magazine Fit Bloggers Convention where she gave a speech about her transition from professional basketball player to Nike Master Trainer. She explained her life as a leader, the intense physical demands, and the preparation. It was when she addressed her pre-game rituals that I realized she was both an athlete and a performer, with the basketball court as her stage. She had been in the spotlight leading her team to success and now, leading her classes at Flywheel and Nike.
I quickly got in line for the meet & greet to rack her brain about performance anxiety, something all performers experience in one way or another. She explained her visualization methods and dream boards as her two key methods. My mind flashed to nights awake before performances going through my lyrics and humming my songs to ready myself and to bulletin boards full of articles on singers and stacks of Playbills. The life I envisioned as a performer wasn't much different than the one she described as an athlete.
The knowledge I've gained through FFB interviews proves that at the core of every Broadway performer, there lives a fierce athlete. An athlete willing to push the limits, just like Holly. The dedication to health, both mind and body, are everything which is why attention to health and fitness is so vital for anyone pursuing a life on stage. Holly's advice and overall message highlights what it takes to be the best in any industry- Dedication, Passion, and Heart. A lesson for all of us!
Q: The performance pressure in the WNBA is intense! You’re on a stage just like performers in my industry. What’s your best advice and strategies for fighting performance anxiety?
A: First of all, anxiety is a normal part of life. If you genuinely care about something you will more than likely get nervous. I was nervous before every single game I played. For me, I needed to take time before the game, listen to music and visualize a perfect performance. From there I would just let the music get me amped up as I became more and more confident. Find a routine that you do before every performance so that your body starts to learn how to react.
Q: Music can be so motivating...What are your go to songs?
A: I love Jay Z. Anything by Jay Z.
Q: Did you have to try a lot of different tactics to fight anxiety to finally find one that worked for you?
A: I'm never the same person year to year. I think it's important to ALLOW yourself to change. There would be certain parts of my ritual that I would do year after year that grounded me. As the years went on I might see something a player I idolized did and use that into my pregame ritual. The most important part for me was closing my eyes and SEEING what I was about to do. VISUALIZATION was key to my success on the court.
Q: What was your pre-game ritual like to get in the zone?
A: If you love something. Like really love something, I don't think you ever stop getting nervous. Because it means something to you. There wasn't a single game I didn't have butterflies. Because I wanted to show up and WIN. My preparation would start the night before when I would visualize myself on the court. I would lay in my bed, close my eyes and see myself making the shot, dribbling down the court or making the play. I always had a pre-game ritual. I would listen to whatever music was getting me in the zone at the time and put on my uniform and shoes methodically...as if I was putting on my armour to go to war. As the years went on, there were little things that I did like tap the top of the door to the locker room as I hit the court just to bring me back to that place of focus over and over again.
Q: You have a dream board…Can you explain it and why it’s important for success? (How-To HERE)
A: I believe in the POWER of visualization. I have an entire wall in my NYC apartment that consists of my DREAM BOARD. This is a visual representation of everything I want to achieve. It spans from love and business to material possessions. When we breathe life into our dreams we set things into motion. Every single morning as I drink my coffee, I come face to face with my dreams. I am reminded of what's important to me and WHY as I head into another day. It gives me purpose and constantly lights that fire inside of me --- that passion. I've been doing this since I was a kid. My bedroom walls were plastered with pictures of basketball players, shoes, mantra that inspired me to push as hard as I did and ultimately become a professional athlete.
Q: Can you explain your mantra “Sweat, Breathe, Laugh”.
A: My goal is to help people find the life of their dreams through a healthy lifestyle (call it fitness if you will). I'm not your traditional trainer. I think burning calories and building muscle is an added bonus. I find the real value to be in the FEELING you create through working out that enhance all aspects of your life. When you boil my philosophy down, I feel that there are three very important parts:
Sweat. You have to get that workout in. It all starts with your body. You actually change your brain chemistry when you workout!
Breathe. You have to take the time to slow down. Take a deep breathe and close your eyes. Whether its mediation or yoga, it's important to appreciate the NOW before reaching for new things.
Laugh. I build community. It's about relationships. It's about balance. It's about laughter and having fun. Isnt' that REALLY what we are all after at the end of the day??? We need to stop taking ourselves so seriously, give ourselves a break and LAUGH more. It's healthy!
Q: You mentioned getting nervous even now before you teach a class. Do you still prep the same way you would before a game?
A: OMG I totally still get nervous before every class I teach! People find that so hard to believe, so I guess I'm doing a great job of calming my nerves and coming across confident!! Dont' get me wrong, I have worked hard to perfect what I do, hours of preparation have gone into perfecting my craft. But I believe if you TRULY care about something you never totally stop getting nervous. I listen to my play list before class. I go in the back and sit myself down in front of my locker and put on my spin shoes just like I used to lace up my basketball shoes. When I head into the stadium I get on the mic and start talking to people right away. Connecting with people always calms my nerves. I remind myself that I am there for them and that they need me...we are all in it together.
Q: What are your tips for handling “bad days”? IE. Forgiving yourself for mistakes and not performing your best.
A: The greatest gift we can give ourselves is forgiveness. I was so hard on myself as a player. I remember throwing a tantrum when I didn't take first place in a free throw competition when I was 8 years old. I remember drop kicking a ball into the stand in France and almost getting fired when I played pro. I expected to be perfect and the truth is that was NEVER going to happen. I look back at my basketball career as a practice field for what I am doing now. I know that I am disciplined and I know that I always do my best. However, when I fall, I know that tomorrow is another day and I only hurt myself when I dwell on my mistakes. Life is too short to dwell in our shortcomings!!! Don't look back! You aren't going that way!
Q: How was your transition from pro to fitness icon/instructor?
A: Oh man it was hard. I thought it would be such a natural transition and it wasn't at all. I had a very hard time transitioning from being a player to a coach. As a player it was all about me and my performance. I had to shift gears and be at the helm as a trainer. I also realized that I had a hard time relating to people that weren't elite athletes. As I got older, I stopped being so hard on myself and that allowed me to stop being so hard on other people. I realized that it was a real struggle for some people to just make it to the gym, and I felt compassion. I grew into the role of being a coach.
Q: What’s your advice for someone who is starting at square one with fitness and nutrition?
A: "You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take that first step." I love this quote and I use it on Day One of every TRAINING CAMP. When we look up that long staircase it's scary, overwhelming and intimidating. So don't look that far. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have long term goals. You definitely should. But for the time being, let's focus on small victories. Let's focus on getting to the gym 3 times this week. Let's feel GREAT about that and let these small victories lead to BIG CHANGE.
Q: It was refreshing to hear you had anxiety about “making your mark on New York City”. I think it’s something people try to hide and it’s such a common anxiety. How did you finally find your calling?
A: New York City is one tough city. It's overwhelming how many people are trying to make their mark here. It's IMPERATIVE that you stay true to yourself. There is SOMETHING that make you unique and special. And if you stray from that, this city will sniff it out and rip you to pieces. When I started my fitness career in NYC I asked myself what made me uniquely different from anyone else in the pack. That is not always an easy question to answer. Sometimes it takes years to get real with yourself. My background is in team sports. I understand the POWER of a team and I have led teams to championships my entire life. I'm leading a different team now. I plan on leading LEGIONS of people to the life of their dreams by using the same things that led me to be a pro athlete. My life speaks for itself. People are drawn to authenticity. BE YOURSELF.
Quote to live by…
"The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise."
Holly has some really exciting things coming up to watch out for! Check out her website and continue to be inspired!