If you’ve ever played a sport, you know the biggest obstacle to success is what’s going on inside your head. Therefore a lack of focus or stress, or getting too caught on past mistakes, can sabotage your athletic performance. So how do we overcome this challenge and beat this opponent? Meditation for sports success!
The human mind has a significant influence on the body. So much so that just thinking about an action can make it happen- which is called psychokinesis. This power doesn’t need to be consciously harnessed to take effect. For example, preliminary studies have shown blindfolding people during exercise leads them to perform significantly worse than those who weren’t in strength and endurance tests. In other words, athletes may perform better if they sit down with their eyes closed!
Meditation is a powerful tool that relieves stress and anxiety in athletes. It also helps them deal with the ever-changing environment of competition. Not only does it have physical benefits, but it also has psychological, neurological, physiological, and health outcomes. Edwards (2012)
Famous Athletes Who Meditate— meditation for sports success
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh– This dynamic duo will go down in beach volleyball history. These two are the most elite competitors ever to play the game. These two won three consecutive summer Olympics as a team, and one of their secret weapons was meditation. According to the two athletes, they regularly practiced yoga, meditation, and visualization. It was helping them focus on what it takes for victory.
Derek Jeter– A baseball player whose career span was over two decades, built his reputation as one of the best shortstops to ever play the game-breaking numerous records and securing himself a spot in Cooperstown to being a big proponent of meditation. Derek proves that strong mental health can contribute to success on and off the field. Derek’s interview with “Men’s Journal” revealed he meditates for an hour at a time on his days off from playing.
Zito-Highest Paid Contract in Baseball
In 2006, San Francisco Giants awarded Zito the largest pitcher contract in baseball history. As a result, Zito became Patient Zero of the mindfulness boom in sports. Zito’s idiosyncrasies include his tendency to take deep breaths on the mound before releasing his pitches. His breathing technique caught the media’s attention.
People are always looking for the secret to success and not understanding that high performance is not just about working hard. High performance in sports is about working smart and using energy wisely. Success requires strategic thinking. Adding a daily meditation practice with restful sleep is essential to success. Being mindful of the four energy sources can help keep a person going: food, breath, restful sleep, and meditation.
One of the thousands of studies has said that meditation is more effective than sleep. In just 20 minutes, you can acquire the same energy as if you had slept for 8 hours.
Meditation is Key- Optimizing Athlete’s Performance
Meditation may be the key to optimizing your performance on the field if you are an athlete. Meditation is not just for stress relief. Meditation help athletes get more in tune with themselves and their surroundings. Therefore, leading to success in the field by increasing focus and concentration. Relief for anxiety and depression. Increasing energy levels reduces chronic pain and boosts the immune system. Fights off illnesses such as colds or flu.
Meditation for Sports Success-
The Ironman race is the ultimate triathlon and gets the name Ironman because of the extreme physical endurance needed. Combined sports (swimming, cycling, and running) into a single event, athletes’ minds are challenged. The ability to control your thoughts and emotions could make or break whether you win or lose. Even if winning isn’t an option, sometimes just crossing the finish line is a challenge.
Benefits of Meditation for Athletes-
- Improved focus– Concentration and relaxation levels. Increasing their ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Enhances endurance– Athletes use visualization to accomplish specific objectives/goals. While combining regular breathing exercises trains the body to work harder and for more extended periods in training and competition. Athletes do this by altering their autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily functions.
- It speeds up recovery time and improves sleep. Athletes who practice meditation daily can help their bodies recover quicker from training, racing, or even injury. While physical activity is good, it also places high-stress levels on the body, including muscle fiber tears. As a result, mediation can reduce the recovery time of many common sports injuries. In addition, meditation can reduce inflammation and promote well-being while reducing anxiety.
- Stabilizes emotions– Athletes build resiliency with meditation, show more mindful traits, stabilize their emotions, and have more control over their moods.
- Sense of identity- Overcome performance challenges with meditation. Challenges can seem more complex than they are. We all experience mental blocks while attempting to achieve our goals. Mindfulness can be a great way to get past them. For example, meditation is now an instrumental part of sports training programs. Many professional athletes, including the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, use it before games on game days.
If you want to peak your sports performance levels, click the button below. The Master, Your Mind Meditation course program can do just that. Take control of stress and anxiety, improve focus, and concentration, boosting the immune system in just a few minutes each day. Click the button below for more information on getting started today.
Master Your Mind With Meditation-
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Source:
Meditation For Athletes Improves Performance https://www.mentalgritconsulting.com/meditation-for-athletes-improves-performance/
Meditation For Athletes https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/meditation-for-athletes/
Qigong Has Positive Health Benefits for Limited Mobility and MS https://1111newme.com/2022/10/07/qigong-has-positive-health-benefits-for-limited-mobility-and-ms/