ĀHUA ATHLETE
rethink PERFORMANCE
Online sport psychology skills for athletes ready to perform at their peak.
A NEW APPROACH TO sports psychology
Ready to reach your full potential? To perform at your peak, with a strong sense of identity and well-being? ĀHUA Athlete is an engaging online course, offering a new approach to sports psychology.
Think you already know yourself as an athlete? We help you look again — uncovering blind spots that quietly shape your performance, decisions, and confidence. Then we show you how to work with pressure, so stress stops running the show and starts supporting sustainable performance and wellbeing.
The ĀHUA Athlete online course consists of a private session, six online sports psychology modules, and monthly online group workshops with registered psychologist and former NZ athlete Taylor Rapley. You can take the course as an individual or embark as a team.
Scroll on down to find out more.
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"They say a winning athlete is a happy athlete, but after my experiences competing at the highest level and experiencing both success and failure, I'd argue it's the other way around. A happy athlete is a winning athlete. If you focus on winning, you'll never be truly satisfied. But by focusing on your values, well-being, and identity both in life and in your sport, you'll be able stay more grounded under pressure and push yourself when motivation is lacking, and most importantly, enjoy the moments of success you experience instead of continuously chasing the next goal. That's why this course and its emphasis on an athlete as a whole is so important."
— SAMMIE MAXWELL, 2025 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMP
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"This course equips athletes with the tools they need to overcome any challenges, whether in a sporting setting or everyday life. From my own experience as an athlete, I’ve found that these skills are crucial for grounding oneself after a big achievement or intensive training period, and this course offers exactly that.”
— NICO PORTEOUS, HALF PIPE SKIER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST
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"The ĀHUA Athlete is truly transformative. It hasn’t just enhanced my performance as an elite figure skater, it’s helped me handle the ups and downs of everyday life too. I now feel a lot more in control and able to deal with negative thoughts and reactions that used to throw me off in training and competition. If you’re willing to dedicate the time, this course could seriously change the way you show up, both in your sport and in everyday life."
— NINA POVEY, BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPION, PROFESSIONAL FIGURE SKATER
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"The ĀHUA Athlete helped me a lot both as a person and as an athlete. It helped me align my performance mindset with who I am as a person. The course encourages you to define your values and stick to those values while letting your emotions guide but not completely take over. Something that I find really valuable in high stress situations. I highly recommend the course!"
— AMELIA SMART, CANADIAN NATIONAL SKI TEAM WC ATHLETE AND OLYMPIAN
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"The ĀHUA Athlete was truly transformative for me as a high-performance athlete, both on and off the court. It helped me build a stronger sense of who I am and what I stand for, giving me a clearer purpose that extends beyond sport. The ACT-based mental training and evidence-backed tools gave me genuine confidence and inner steadiness that translated into real changes in how I show up under pressure. I’ve learned to stay grounded, navigate setbacks, and perform with more presence and clarity. I’d recommend this course to any athlete who wants to grow not just in their sport, but as a whole person."
— CALLAN MCDONALD NBL1 PROFESSIONAL BASKET BALL PLAYER
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"Not sure where to start when it comes to the mental side of your sport? The ĀHUA Athlete is the real deal. It’s delivered by someone who’s got skin in the game. Taylor brings both professional psych training and firsthand experience as a competitive athlete. The course goes well beyond the basics, giving you practical, up-to-date tools you can actually use."
— JANINA KUZMA, OLYMPIAN HALF PIPE SKIER AND PROFESSIONAL SKIER
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“The ĀHUA Athlete skills have supported me through high-stakes competitions to major injuries, and even just the ups and downs of life and mental health. The tools I learned are ones I still use today. I recommend it to other athletes because it’s made a real, lasting difference not just in how I perform, but in how I show up as a person.”
— HARRIET BURBIDGE SMITH, FREE RIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE TWO-TIME AMATEUR WORLD CHAMP & 8X AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION
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"What stands out about Taylor is that she doesn’t just coach the athlete in you, she sees the human behind the performance. Through this course, I’ve discovered more about who I am, what drives me, and where I can grow. I’ve found my voice, understood my strengths and challenges, and come away with a deeper belief in what’s possible. If you’re ready to grow in ways you didn’t think were possible, this course is for you."
– GABRIELLA HAWKE, CLASSICAL DANCER, PERFORMER, AND STUDENT
WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE ĀHUA ATHLETE online course?
This isn’t your average online course. From here, you’ll walk away with practical, evidence-based tools to support both your performance and your overall well-being. With a holistic approach, this sports psychology course is less about ‘mental toughness’ and more about building the mindset and awareness needed to thrive in not only your sport, but day-to-day life.
INSTEAD, YOU’LL BUILD SKILLS TO HELP YOU
Performance anxiety and overthinking
Fear of failure or what others think
Negative self-talk and constant comparison
Identity struggles who you are beyond your sport
Pressure, stress, and burnout
YOU’LL LEARN TOOLS FOR MANAGING
Tap into flow and perform at your peak
Spot your blind spots and break unhelpful patterns
Bounce back stronger from mistakes and setbacks
Compete with clarity, confidence, and purpose
Stay grounded in who you are, not just what you achieve
WHAT MAKES THIS different FROM OTHER SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY STRATEGIES?
Here’s what sets the ĀHUA Athlete apart...
You’ll get personalised support. Think a private session, one-on-one or with your team, and access to live group workshops.
We’re flexible & self-paced. Work through the course in your own time, with optional 1-on-1 and group sessions to fit around your training, travel, or time zones.
Experience real accountability. These sessions help you stay on track and use the skills you’ve gained. It’s not a set-and-forget type situation, we’re all about stepping up to the mark and implementing what we’ve learned.
Find genuine connections. Unlike most online courses, this one includes real support from Taylor Rapley, a psychologist who’s also competed for New Zealand, and understands the mental ins and outs that come with it.
Proven, practical, athlete-specific content. This isn’t self-help fluff. It’s grounded in science, shaped by experience, and built to give you the same tools used by top athletes - without the high price tag of ongoing private sessions.
COMING SOON…
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY SKILLS, BROKEN DOWN INTO SIX engaging modules
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Your one-on-one
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The course
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Module 1 | Setting The Foundation: Own Your Why
This session digs into what really fuels you. Not just as an athlete, but as a human. Once that’s clear, it’s about aligning your what with your why, instead of doing things out of habit or pressure or fear. You’re steering the ship! So let’s lock in on where you’re going and get clear on what it takes to show up as your best, in sport and in life.
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Module 2 | Stress: Weapon or Wipe Out?
Stress is part of the deal when you’re chasing big goals. But it’s not the enemy; the right kind of stress can sharpen focus and fuel performance. The trick is knowing when it helps you and when it hinders you. In this module, you’ll learn your unique stress patterns and simple tools to find your “just right” zone and stay steady when it counts.
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Module 3 | Where Mindfulness Meets Flow State
Flow state. It’s not magic; it’s trainable. And the key? Mindfulness. In this module, we’ll unpack mindfulness and flow, how they work together, and more importantly — how to train them. You’ll get tools to boost focus, recover from setbacks faster, and stay grounded. These are essential skills that fuel performance and foster a strong sense of mental health & well-being.
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Module 4 | Acceptance Based Mindset
In this module, you’ll learn the science behind acceptance and why it’s a game-changer for performance, mental health & well-being. We’ll unpack how resistance hijacks focus, and how acceptance frees energy for what matters most. You’ll get tools for training, competition, and life, so instead of fighting your mind, you can stay present and perform on your terms.
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Module 5 | Defusion: Unhooking From Thoughts
In this module, we unpack what it means to create space between you and your thoughts. You’ll learn practical tools to create distance so negative thoughts lose their grip. By practising how to “unhook” in training, competition, and daily life, you’ll stop wasting energy wrestling with your mind and instead, focus on what truly matters.
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Module 6 | Bringing It All Together
Turn mental skills into habits that stick, in sport and life. You’ve learned the tools; now it’s about weaving them into how you train, compete, and live. This final module ties it all together - values, mindfulness, flow, acceptance, and defusion so these skills become second nature. You’ll learn how to build habits, handle setbacks, and keep momentum long-term, showing up as your best in sport and beyond.
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Monthly online group sessions
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Group Session | Calm State Reset
Feeling scattered before a comp, heavy training block, or just life? In this live call you’ll learn an EMDR-based safe-calm state reset, practise it together, and leave with tool you can use anytime things ramp up. We’ll finish with Q&A and time for your course questions.
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Group Session | Recovery Rituals
Recovery isn’t just sleep and rest days, it’s a skill. In this live call, we’ll cut through the noise and dive into science-backed recovery strategies. Walk away with recovery rituals you can use straight away to feel fresher, sharper, and ready to perform, compete, & live life. We’ll finish with Q&A and time for your course questions.
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Group Session | Unpacking the Athlete Identity
In this live call, we’ll dig into the psychology of identity in sport, explore the upsides and pitfalls of being “the athlete,” and look at how to build a stronger sense of self that supports performance and well-being. We’ll finish with Q&A and time for your course questions.
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COMING SOON…
MONTHLY ONLINE group workshops
To help you stay on track and connect with like-minded athletes, you’ll have access to monthly online group workshops. Each workshop runs for 45-60 minutes and is designed to be:
INFORMATIVE: grounded in sport psychology and practical tools
INTERACTIVE: not just me talking at you
PRACTICAL: takeaways you can use straight away
SUPPORTIVE: with time for Q&A, whether that’s about the ĀHUA Athlete course or the call’s topic
We’ll revolve between the key topics listed in the course outline above, so if you miss one - no worries.
NOT FEELING SOCIAL? That’s all good. Jump online and listen in. There’s no need to interact if you’re not feeling up for it.
MEET Taylor
The ĀHUA Athlete online sports psychology course is designed by registered psychologist and former NZ athlete Taylor Rapley. Having competed on the world stage for twelve years and supported Olympic and emerging athletes, Taylor brings a wealth of sports psychology experience, insight, authenticity, and human-ness to evolving your athletic mindset.
INVESTMENT AND PAYMENT options
PAYMENT PLANS: No need to pay for the course in one lump sum. Upon sign-up, check out our payment plan options.
GRANTS AVAILABLE: We want everyone to have the opportunity to reach their full potential. There are grants available to those who are under financial strain and are unable to pay for this course. If this is you, please fill out this grant application form to apply for funding.
For individual athletes ready to level up their sports psychology skills. Price is GST inclusive. Payment plan available.
For a team of 6 or more athletes ready to level-up their sports psychology skills. Price is GST inclusive.
NO SUCH THING AS A silly question
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This is a self-paced online course made up of six modules, including videos, six printable e-book modules, downloadable exercises, one private individual or team session with psychologist, Taylor Rapley, as well as a series of live group sessions throughout the year.
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You can book right here. This is your 45-minute private session with Taylor to personalise the course and apply it to your own goals. If you’re taking the course as an individual, it’s a confidential space to chat about what’s going on for you and get the most out of the course. And if you’re booking as a team, it’s your chance to talk about where you’re at and what you want out of the course in a group setting.
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If you need to cancel or move your session, please give at least 48 hours’ notice (excluding weekends). Late cancellations or no-shows cannot be rebooked. That time has been set aside for you, and short notice means I can’t offer your slot to someone else who might be waiting. If something unexpected happens (injury, illness, genuine emergency), just reach out. I’ll always do my best to find a fair solution.
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Each module takes around 60 minutes, and the course is self-paced meaning you can take as much time as you need. We recommend completing a module every 1-2 weeks to keep it relevant and practical, making the full course about 6 to 12 weeks, depending on your pace.
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You can choose the amount of integration practice that works best for you, whether it’s 5 or 20minutes a day. We will provide recommendations to help guide you.
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Monthly Zoom workshops are open to all course members, whether you're just starting or you’ve already finished. Each session covers a key topic, with live chat and Q&A included. You will receive an email reminder each month for the coming group session.
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You’ll have access to the course for one year. Any downloadable resources, like the e-book are yours to keep forever.
BONUS MODULES coming soon
PARENTS + COACHES, NUTRITION, GUT HEALTH & WOMEN’S HEALTH
Whether you’re a coach or caregiver looking to upskill your support strategies, or an athlete hoping to expand your knowledge further, register your interest for our bonus modules using the form and we’ll be in touch.