ABSTRACT
This chapter covers strategies to regulate circus artists’ levels of arousal. Arousal is the term used to describe a circus artist’s level of bodily activation. The chapter begins with an introduction to the optimum zone of functioning based on the inverted U relationship between arousal and performance. Then, three different somatic arousal-regulation strategies are explained, namely progressive muscle relaxation, stretching, and deep-breathing exercises. This is followed by three mind to muscle arousal-regulation strategies, mental imagery, mindfulness, and pre-performance routines. Each arousal-regulation strategy is accompanied by practical examples, so that circus artists can use these strategies in their daily lives.
