What Is It?
Meditation is a mental and physical discipline that can take make different forms. In most forms of meditation, the practitioner will bring their attention fully to the present and often focus on one’s breathing, body sensations, or, an object. Sometimes meditation includes visualization to experience an enhanced state of calm.
Why Do It?
If you can learn to experience a state of calm, non-judgmental body awareness through meditation, the impact on your tennis game can be profound. To train yourself to find an optimal state of mind and body can help you elevate your performance during pivotal moments of a tennis match. For example, if you find yourself poised to receive serve at 5-5 in a third set tiebreaker, to the extent you can summon a state of calm, focused, courage, your chances of success will rise dramatically.
How To Get Started
There is a profound irony to meditation: it might be the simplest activity you could possibly do, yet it proves to an elusive challenge for many. Set aside 10 minutes to explore the world of meditation with these steps:
- Find a comfortable, quiet location where you can sit on the ground or in a comfortable chair.
- Set your timer to ten minutes and then put it aside so it does not become a distraction.
- Bring your attention to your breathing. As you sit and breath for the next 10 minutes, simply notice what is present for you. There is no right way to meditate and no need to judge what you are doing. Simply notice what is present!
- There is no telling what might occupy your mind for the next 10 minutes. Notice your body, the thoughts entering your mind, the sensations you feel.
- Embrace the present moment and kwow that the one constant you can aways return to is your breathing.