Athletes Who Meditate

As we’ve all seen time and time again, professional athletes who  have the almost super-human ability to push their bodies to the edge and reach the peak of physical performance within their sport. However, if you ask any athlete, chances are they will tell you that a majority of their success is actually mental.

After all, a pro athlete trying to perform under pressure isn’t going to be able to make that game-winning penalty shot, that quick save or nail that trick landing if they aren’t focused. In fact, it would be safe to say that this mental edge is exactly what separates good athletes from great athletes.

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that some of the best professional athletes out there rely heavily on meditation in order to get that edge they need to perform their best. Meditation can help reduce stress, improve focus and help curb the anxiety that comes with high-pressure games and performances.

Just take a look at some of the most famous athletes who meditate

1. LeBron James- Perhaps one of the most famous athletes in the world right now, LeBron James seems to defy physics with his soaring dunks and defy Father Time with his ability to be the best in the game even after 15 seasons in the NBA. A great deal of this edge not only comes from his work ethic and natural given talent, but from the fact that he relies heavily on meditation. James doesn’t just meditate regularly in the privacy of his own home, during the 2012 NBA Playoffs, he famously meditated during a timeout to help him refocus for the task ahead.

 

2. Derek Jeter- As one of the best shortstops to ever play baseball, Derek Jeter has made a career out of breaking boundaries. In addition to breaking numerous records and securing a spot as a future hall-of-famer, Jeter is also a big proponent of meditation. According to one interview, he is known to meditate for as long as an hour at a time on his days off.

 

3. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh- This dynamic duo will go down in beach volleyball as two of the best to ever 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 to help them go for the gold.

 

4. The Seattle Seahawks- When the Seattle Seahawks won the 2014 Super Bowl, head coach Pete Carroll informed the world that meditation was actually one of the tools that got them there. Carroll hired a sports psychologists to teach mindfulness and help his athletes learn more about meditation so they could be “in the zone” and perform under high-stakes situations. With a Super Bowl win under their belt, it is safe to say the tactic worked.

 

5. Kobe Bryant- While Kobe Bryant may be recently retired, the Lakers Star will always be known as being one of the best to ever play professional basketball. Particularly later in his career, when Bryant was also one of the oldest players in the NBA, fans were amazed at his ability to outsmart his opponents, stay focused and to continue to thrive under pressure. His secret, was of course, meditation. According to the star, he has been meditating in 2000 under the direction of Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who required all of his players to meditate. It didn’t just help Bryant, it helped numerous NBA players, including Michael Jordan get an edge while they played.

 

Today, Bryant still meditates every morning for 10-15 minutes, stating it helps set him up for the rest of his day. He is one of the most zen of all athletes who meditate

 

While you may not be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers or going for that Olympic gold, you too can use meditation to improve your focus on everything from your pickup basketball game to your performance at the gym or even your ability to perform your best at work (even if it isn’t as a pro athlete).