Meditation is practiced by many as a way to calm the mind, center thoughts and prepare for the day. But, how can you make this translate to the basketball court?<\/p>\n
First, find a quiet, comfortable place for you to sit or lay in a relaxed position. Then bring 100% of your attention to your breathing<\/strong>. Focus on breathing in for 6 seconds & out for 6 seconds. Doing this will quiet the stream of constant thoughts in your mind.<\/p>\n This is a simple meditation that can be done daily. Start out with 2 minutes, and gradually increase your time with the goal of getting to 10 minutes.<\/p>\n Meditation is the practice of quieting our mind, and focusing our total awareness internally. As we link our mind & body, we are able to heal ourselves from the inside out. Once our mind and body are in sync, both will \u201cteam up\u201d to solve any problems you encounter!<\/p>\n As a basketball player, one can use the benefits of meditation to take their game to the next level:<\/p>\n 1. Improved Focus<\/strong> \u2013 Sometimes we have unforced turnovers, missed layups, poor free-throw shooting, missed defensive assignments, bad shot selection, etc. on the court. These can all be a result of poor focus! A regular meditation practice sharpens your focus, and improves your overall mental performance on the court. After all, the game is 80-90% mental!<\/p>\n 2. Speed Up Recovery time<\/strong> \u2013 Allow the mind to heal the body by focusing your healing mental energy on your injured\/fatigued body parts. By doing so, the body is actually being repaired from within.<\/p>\n