You’ve heard the phrase “mind–muscle connection” before — but what does it actually mean?

And how can you use it to train better, recover faster, and perform stronger?

In this episode, Coach Alison breaks down the neuroscience behind awareness and control — how focus changes muscle activation, why slowing down can make you stronger, and how elite athletes use precision to dominate under pressure.

You’ll learn:

🧠 The real science behind focus, form, and motor control

💪 Why technique always beats ego lifting

🧍‍♀️ How to bring awareness into daily life — from workouts to workdays

🫁 A 5-minute “anywhere” mindfulness practice to reconnect body and mind

By the end, you’ll know how to stop chasing harder sessions — and start training smarter.

🎯 Action Step:

Choose one movement this week — and perform it at half the speed, half the load, but twice the focus.

Notice how it feels when you train with intent, not autopilot.

🔗 Learn more about evidence-based training and performance coaching at www.abperformance.training

📚 References

Calatayud, J., Borreani, S., Colado, J. C., Martín, F., Rogers, M. E. and Behm, D. G. (2016) ‘Muscle activation during push-ups performed under stable and unstable conditions’, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(1), pp. 108–114.

Schoenfeld, B. J. (2010) ‘The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training’, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(10), pp. 2857–2872.

Gentil, P., Steele, J. and Fisher, J. (2017) ‘Why intensity is not everything: The need to optimize volume, frequency, and technique for resistance training adaptation’, European Journal of Translational Myology, 27(1), pp. 60–67.

Folland, J. P. and Williams, A. G. (2007) ‘The adaptations to strength training: Morphological and neurological contributions to increased strength’, Sports Medicine, 37(2), pp. 145–168.

Behm, D. G. and Sale, D. G. (1993) ‘Velocity specificity of resistance training’, Sports Medicine, 15(6), pp. 374–388.