The true power of Mindfulness in sport

Mindfulness, or Mindfulness, is a state of mind oriented to the present moment It is not only effective in treating underlying mood disorders in elite athletes, but it also makes it easier for them to perform as they really know how.

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Mindfulness in sport as a state of mind

Great athletes can develop difficulties that lead to anxiety disorders, substance use, eating disorders or depression, and Mindfulness practice has been shown to be effective training against it. (Evans, S. ,2010).

In addition, Mindfulness is a technique that consists of experiencing life and the sport we practice as it is. Far from the judgments, opinions and evaluations that the mind has to make of all this. It is an approach to reality without falling into evaluating whether it is good or bad. It allows us to perceive how reality is in the present.

Practicing Mindfulness in sport is about focus on what we really know how to do in the game without getting carried away by the sensations, emotions and thoughts that arise while we compete (Thompson, R.W., Kaufman, K.A., Petrillo, L.A.D et al. ,2011).

High-performance athletes who practice Mindfulness

There are athletes who have recognized on occasion that they practice meditation and body awareness exercises (yoga) oriented to the practice of Mindfulness, seeking a total integration of mind and body in competition. Among some of them, we find Lebron James, Roger Federer, Pau Gasol, Emilio Butragueño or Tiger Woods.

In fact, Novak Djokovic publicly acknowledged the use of this mental training as part of his preparation for competition; “I use an important method to conserve my energy level, even when negative feelings leak out. I practice yoga and meditation on a daily basis and it is as important as physical training ”.

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That the players are fully in the game

The idea of ​​integrating Mindfulness into sport it has to do with gaining greater ease and confidence on the pitch.

Feeling that giving our best is something that comes naturally; This would be one of the objectives of integrating Mindfulness in sports practice. That is, entering a state of “flow” or fluidity both mental and physical where the athlete develops all his game and offers the best version of it unconsciously (Csikszentmihalyi, M. ,2008).

As an example of this, Michael Jordan came to score with his eyes closed a basket in the middle of the game.

His technique was so mechanized and mentally so developed in his consciousness the image of the basket, the contact of his body with the court, with the ball, the degree of strength and movement that served him to score points, which came to seem to us an immortal being in some moments of his race.

His game flowed regardless of the conditions that accompanied him.

What does Mindfulness bring to sports?

With the practice of Mindfulness applied to sport, we learn to live with the negative feelings and thoughts that arise in difficult moments. without affecting our performance.

In other words, when we have to compete, we try to do our best. It is clear that sometimes things happen that we cannot control, such as a referee ruling, an adverse result or whatever the rival decides. Therefore, another focus when training in mindfulness in competition is aimed at increase our ability to "be" with frustration, with fatigue, pain and tiredness, in such a way that that is something that obviously is, but not what decides how we want to perform.

Mindfulness allows us to be focused on what does depend on us, and that is why there are data that confirm an enhancement of performance when there is attention (Summers, J. J., Machin, V. J. and Sargent, G., 1983).

The sport and the practice of Mindfulness are similar in the sense that in both a receptive and open conscience to play is required, so that it makes it easier for us to make better decisions in real time.

Why practice Mindfulness in competition

When athletes are consolidating the practice of Mindfulness, that feeling of flowing in the game is increases, and it is something that we are fortunate to be verifying with athletes who dare to collaborate with U.S.

It is a tool that benefits those who decide to try this and even that notice its effects on other parts of their personal lives. In other words, the way of working that I have been developing with athletes and sports entities that prepare competitions of the magnitude of the Olympic Games is oriented towards something like this:

“If you pay more attention, you perceive more. If you perceive more, you can better grasp the needs of the game. If you better understand the needs of the game, you can make better decisions. "

As a result, it may be easier for you to connect with your best version despite adversity, since the mind is trained to return to what matters at that moment, no matter what happens.

Bibliographic references:

• Evans, S. (2010). Review: mindfulness - based therapies effective for anxiety and depression. Evidence-Based Mental Health 13: 116.)
• Thompson, R.W., Kaufman, K.A., Petrillo, L.A.D et al. (2011) One year follow-up of mindful sport perfonmance enhancement (MSPE) with archers, golfers, and runners. Jornal Clinical Sport Psychology 3 (4): 291-302)
• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: The psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper-Collins.
• Summers, J. J., Machin, V. J. and Sargent, G. (1983). Psychosocial factors related to marathon running. Journal of Sport Psychology 5: 314-331.