By Jamie Lisanti — 2020
Simone Biles is one of many elite athletes dealing with the psychological impact of the pandemic. From the Olympics to the major pro leagues, athletes are finding different ways to cope.
Read on www.si.com
CLEAR ALL
We can’t think of many more pressure-filled moments in sports than being an Olympic athlete on the starting line. To be ready to perform at the highest level, and deal with the inevitable nerves, each athlete has to find his perfect pre-competition routine.
Athletes and teams looking for an extra edge are turning to mindfulness and mental-skills training to improve performance and well-being.
“There will be a struggle between the mind and body, between attending to the physical injury and maintaining identity by continuing to train.”
1
Once you begin meditating daily, life as you knew it will begin to take on some interesting twists and turns.
In many ways, anxiety is a healthy response to an external stimulus. We should be in a heightened or aroused state when we give a speech, fly in a plane during times of intense turbulence, or encounter a potential threat from a neighbor's Rottweiler who has broken lose from their yard.
Dr. Richard Davidson explains that well-being is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened.
12