Visualization in sports has been proven to enhance performance. Even though the basketball hoop is imaginary, when one is visualizing free throws, tests have proven this can enhance performance.
The question becomes, what type of performance enhancement did the ancient people have in mind when they developed this visualization technique? It was not designed to practice hoops or gets ones steps right for high jumping, etc. It was actually about getting the body's vitality active, similar to an athlete warming up with stretching and running before they do their sport.
An important part of this visualization is breathing. What forced breathing does is increase the flow of O2, which is the terminal electron acceptor for our body's energy production. All else being equal, if we shift the body toward more oxidation potential or more O2, there is more potential with the reduced materials our body uses for food. It is sort of like a bellows that will fan the fire with more O2.
The visualization goes through seven centers each with a certain symbolic value, with the technique making use of all of them. For example, the lowest center is at the tip of the spine and has a symbolic connection to our sexuality. When one is horny, there is a natural enhancement in drive and energy, combined with the linear focus of the lower brain. The visualization and the breathing enhanced O2 is trying to trigger that same energy and linear direction in the brain.
Since there are also six other centers, we are also also trying to power up these dynamics at the same time. The heart center is analogous to the symbol of Richard the lion hearted, which gives Richard that will not quit energy. The meditation is trying to start the different energy machinery of the body in stages, until it is up to full power. Then everyone was kung foo fighting.
When I was a younger scientists I considered myself objective and therefore I needed direct proof to develop my own opinion on such matters. I was not going to just take anyone's word for it, pro or con. To me the seven centers needed to be investigated from inside and not the outside. You need to do the visualization yourself to test the concept.
I did some kundulini yoga which makes use of the seven centers. What I found was, it worked like a power up, but with too many engines working at once. This had an impact on the brain, since that many of layers of engines was not natural. It induced some odd special effects in the mind. I stopped because it was getting a little to odd for me. But from direct data, I could see science needed to get out more in the field and not just hide behind machines for safety.
The results were exciting although unsettling. I decided to study Jung to help me explain this phenomena with psychology. Jungs speaks of the collective unconscious which amounts to personality firmware in the brain that are common to all humans, which define human nature. The yoga appeared to active the firmware symbolied by each symbolic center but at the same time, which was dissociating.
