Why You’re Yelling at the TV (Sports Edition)

It’s the middle of a major soccer tournament (or maybe just a regular season match — let’s face it, there’s always a big game on!).

By: Mariska Breland ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

And I have to admit, I’m loving this whole soccer thing.

Actually, I’m loving the players. Have you seen those abs? Some of those jerseys are practically transparent. I approve. Soccer is amazing.

My husband, who’s been watching (and playing) soccer his whole life, is focused on the action—not the eye candy. He’s yelling at the TV, groaning at every missed pass, and bemoaning the “dramatics” of certain teams. (He’s Italian; you can guess which team he’s talking about.) Meanwhile, I’m just here for the visual splendor.

But when I tear my eyes away from the players, I notice something: my husband’s muscles are tensing up as if he’s on the field himself. Me? Not so much. Why is that? Is it because I’m too busy swooning over the athletes?

Not exactly. It’s all about something called mirror neurons

What Are Mirror Neurons?

In the 1990s, Italian researchers wired up some monkeys’ brains to see how their pre-motor cortex (the part that controls movement) fired when they grabbed food pellets. When the researcher picked up a pellet, the monkeys’ brains fired just by watching—even though they weren’t doing anything.

That’s how mirror neurons were discovered: by accident, as so many great scientific discoveries are.

Why Do You Yell at the TV?

Mirror neurons fire both when you do something and when you watch someone else do it. That’s why you cringe when you see someone stub their toe—you don’t feel their pain, but you kind of do, because your brain is simulating the experience.

My husband has played soccer for years. His body and brain know the game. When he watches, his mirror neurons light up as if he’s on the field himself. That’s why he’s yelling, tensing, and (in his mind) scoring every goal. 

Me? I don’t have the same soccer experience, so my mirror neurons are a bit quieter. But I still feel the excitement when my team scores—my heart races, my body tenses, and I share in the victory. (Go, Netherlands!)

What Does This Mean for Exercise and Teaching?

If you’re a fitness teacher, this is huge.

• Your students will mirror your posture. Stand up straight!
• All that “air traffic controlling” you do—demonstrating moves, lifting your arms, dropping your shoulders—is a powerful teaching tool. It fires up your students’ mirror neurons, helping them learn and perform better.
• Sometimes, just watching you do an exercise can help your students improve, because their brains are practicing along with you.
• After a day of teaching, you might feel like you got a workout. That’s because, in a way, you did. Your mirror neurons have been working overtime.

Mirror Neurons and Neurological Health

Mirror neurons aren’t just for sports and fitness. They play a role in learning, empathy, and even rehabilitation. For people with neurological conditions, watching and imitating movement can help retrain the brain and improve function. 

Want to learn more about brain-based training and how mirror neurons can help your clients? Check out our Pilates for MS and Neurological Conditions Workshop and our Online Classes for Patients.

For more on the science of mirror neurons, visit Scientific American: The Mind’s Mirror.

Mariska Breland is a prominent Pilates instructor and advocate for those living with neurological conditions. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 and became a Nationally Certified Pilates teacher shortly afterwards. She is also a breast cancer survivor. Mariska channeled her experiences into creating transformative solutions for teachers and patients. She is notable for her neuro-based workshops, inventing the Fuse Ladder fitness apparatus, and her popular classes on Pilates Anytime. Mariska's current focus is brain-based fitness training and lifestyle guidance for patients and education for providers. She provides resources and strategies for living with neurological conditions through The Neuro Studio.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash