5 Reasons to Meditate if you are an Athlete

Mediation....

1. Separates us from our thoughts and feelings so we don't get hung up on them- We by default think that we are our thoughts and feelings, and that our thoughts and feelings must be true. For instance, you make a mistake and have the train of thoughts: "No one wants me on the field," and without question take that thought as truth, so it becomes "I suck." When we choose to believe that thought, we subconsciously look for validation that its true, cue snow ball effect-- our body language changes, our relationships suffer and we feel crappy -- Mediation trains us to observe our thoughts and let them pass as swiftly as they arose, we realize in doing this that we are instead, our awareness of the thoughts, and therefore separate. I like to think of negative thoughts as unwelcome pop-ups or spam email, this is a technique of cognitive defusion, a byproduct of mediation. Mediation shows us that thoughts and feelings we experience are temporary, and often they are mostly unquestioned conditioning or learned protection mechanisms. So when our minds come up with these outlandish statements, we remember to separate from it rather than internalize it. When we have space between our thoughts and us we can discern what is true and what is untrue which leads me to point #2...

2. Cultivates a better relationship with self which empowers discernment and self-advocacy. When we begin to question our thoughts, feelings and sensations, we flex this muscle of discernment and choice. For example, I show up to practice with a pain in my stomach out of no where. I can, without being curious about it myself, immediately outsource the diagnosis to my athletic trainer and probably get treated for whatever symptoms I feel or I can sit with the sensation in mediation and be curious about what it could be telling me. Maybe it arose because of a fight I had with my partner and the solution looks different than addressing the physical body. Whatever insights you discover after you have a check in with yourself you can provide to your support staff as additional information to make the most informed steps forward. Speaking of informed steps forward, that takes us to our third benefit!

3. Develops the ability to NOT react, an inner posture of neutrality. When we can approach situations with a sense of neutrality and acceptance, we see more clearly. Let's say you are playing a game and got scored on in the last few minutes of the game to become a goal down. You can react to this with frustration and regret, which inevitably will change how you play the game. Or you can approach the last minutes with a clear mind and acceptance of the situation, knowing you can only control the present and have no control over the past. And then lets say that you end up losing the very important game maybe its even your fault! Mediation (proceed to point 4)...

4. Reminds us we will survive without our ego. As athletes we can get caught up on performance, starting, minutes played, personal brand and image etc. Our egos want to be validated for all the hard work we put in. Mediation keeps us grounded and reminds us that we still exist without the successes and spotlight. Just like we are separate from the negative thoughts, we also separate from and are not our achievements. Mediation invites us beneath the workings of our ego to realize our most pure, natural, free state, and there we can find an inner validation. This inner validation promotes sustainability as an athlete and...

5. Acts as nourishment. Meditation plugs us into "source" energy and can be extremely rejuvenating to the overworked, overstimulated athlete. As an athlete this rejuvenation on a regular basis is self-sustaining.

One of my favorite ways to mediate is by assuming an inner attitude of how I want to show up on the field of play. For me that looks like acceptance, dignity and connected to source energy. I ask myself what body posture and breath best reflects this inner attitude and move myself into that. Then I imagine myself on the field feeling being this way, and simultaneously track the sensations in body. I end with a few breaths to be present with myself as I am in that moment with no judgments.

I set my timer, or do this while my dinner is in the oven or my tea is heating up.