This is a good question. It is true that we want to get from a recollection to a revivification. So, we could avoid the past-tense altogether.
However, I have found that if I want someone to re-experience the effect of taking part in a leisure activity, it helps to employ an actual occurrence of that activity. That is, I do not want them to merely discuss the theoretical benefits of playing Golf; I want them to actually experience them.
The most effective way to do this is by exploring a time when that has happened in reality. This then gives them the details of the experience for them to report back to me, as well as letting them know what to expect as we go deeper into the process.
