Mental Excellence Co
About ME
there is greatness in each and every one of us.
Let me help you unleash the greatness in you.
Aisyah Rafaee
M.S., OLY
My mission as a mental performance coach is to provide you with the tools and resources that can help you gain an edge in your sport.
Before I qualified for the Olympic Games, I was at the peak of my athletic performance but I was lacking in my mental game. I was underperforming, my confidence deteriorated, and I started questioning my identity as an athlete. I started working with a mental skills coach who helped me gain clarity on my goals and my journey. To say the least, working with him changed the trajectory of my athletic career, and my life.
I have a Masters degree in Psychology with a specialization in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College, where I established my groundwork in being a mental performance coach. Since then, I have worked with athletes, teams, and coaches from high school to master athletes, of a range of levels and abilities, and from all types of sports. Mental skills is for everyone, whether you just started your sport or you are at the Olympic level. Mental skills can also benefit coaches and parents to help them better understand how to be better advocates for their athletes.
As a running coach, I provide you with a highly-personalized online program to help you achieve your running goals.
I combine my expertise in being a mental performance coach in my running coaching to help you achieve your best possible self.
I have been coaching for more than 20 years, continuously learning and gaining knowledge on how to better myself as a coach so that I can help my athletes be better.
Amongst some of my certifications are:
- Certified rowing coach with Singapore Rowing, Rowing Australia and USRowing
- Certified running coach with the Road Runners Club of America
- Certified personal trainer with American Council of Exercise (ACE)
- Certified corrective exercise specialist with The BioMechanics Method
I am also an avid runner and a Boston Marathon qualifier.
Encouraging and supportive
“Aisyah was a gift in this journey to qualify for the Boston Marathon! She helped me navigate wokrouts with encouragement on the days I dreaded. She pushed me to try workouts beyond my comfort zone that were best for my whole body. She supported me through hip challenges and being unable to run. She encouraged mental wellness through moments of training. Thank you for the tireless months of training, support, and encouragement to help me reach a goal!”
-Boston Marathon Qualifier
Helped in growth as player and coach
“Aisyah has been a great addition to my team of professionals that help with my tennis career and my overall health. She has taught me many skills to prepare and cope with pre, during and post match mental skills. It helped mature my game and bringing me into the zone during matches. It also has helped me in my growth as a tennis coach as well. Using the tools she has taught me to use for my students.”
– Pro tennis player and tennis coach
New Perspective In My Sport
“Aisyah led me to find a new perspective in my sport. I learned how to value myself as an athlete and teammate when I did not feel valued by things that weren’t under my control. She helped me with strategies to combat my tendency to overthink, helping me become a lot more confident as a player. I am so thankful for everything Aisyah has done for me. Anyone would be lucky to have the opportunity to work with her!”
– Division I Athlete
Incredible
“Aisyah was incredible. I asked to work with her because I was struggling with confidence during races. Before our first session, I managed to get injured! Aisyah helped me with the mental component of injury. I also learned so many great techniques for improved racing. I didn’t expect to simply feel better overall, but I did! I’ve already recommended her to several friends. This was an all-around outstanding experience.”
– Marathoner
Definitely Saw a Difference
“The weekly meetings I had with Aisyah were super helpful. Even though before every single one of them I would tell my friends how I didn’t have time or I couldn’t be bothered to talk about how I felt, I would feel so relieved and so much better after each of them. These meetings got me through the stress of my senior season. The fact of talking about what I was going through, just getting things off my chest to someone that was impartial and that could help me figure out why I felt the way I did, and dig deeper with finding answers and strategies to cope with difficult moments or deal with conflicts and stressful situations. I definitely saw a difference with time about how I handle frustration and I am happy to say that I still use some of the tools Aisyah gave me today and they make my life easier and just help me handle when things happen. I do believe I became a better teammate, more coachable and have gained some life skills thanks to Aisyah, the hardest step was just having that first meeting but after that, things became way easier.”
– Division III Athlete
Taught Me to Be a Better Person
“To be honest I signed up for athletic counseling because I did not think anybody else would. Fast forward to the weekend of my senior year graduation and I would not have the confidence in my athletic abilities nor the perseverance to express my personality if it was not for you. Starting with casual conversations where my goal was to make you laugh as much as possible in order to avoid my real problems, you taught me to deal with the obstacles I had in life while laughing with everyone along the way. For this I cannot thank you enough. You taught me to be a better person and are an inspiration to me always. Thank you for being you, and everything you do.”
-Division III Athlete
Uplifting and Encouraging
“Aisyah is a uniquely talented athletics counsellor, who for many years has been a guide, an inspiration, and a friend. She draws from her many years as an elite athlete to relate to people at all stages of training, whether they are beginning their journey or are looking to become internationally competitive. By blending that experience and foundation of mutual trust with her wealth of professional knowledge and a strong understanding of scientific principles, Aisyah helped me embrace my strengths and discover areas that I could work on. Throughout my time with her, I always felt like she was uplifting and encouraging me, even when everything around me was crumbling and I felt inches away from giving up on my dreams. Thanks to Aisyah, I am not only still competing, but am a national champion in multiple events and captain of a competitive division I program. She taught me to be present for myself, for my boat, and for my team, and I would not be where I am without her inspiration and coaching. Aisyah, I cannot thank you enough.”
– Division I Athlete
Brought a Lot of Insight
“Working with Aisyah was a great experience! She brought a lot of insight and was able to help me bring my thoughts together and help me find new and interesting ways to look at my goals. Lots coming in 2023, Thanks for all the help Aisyah!”
-Rower
Are you ready?