Page 45 - Fully Equipped Playbook

BREATHING
The first couple times I tried it were rough. I found that I couldn’t sit still or clear out the thoughts in my head. I had learned so much just by asking for help from nutritionists and sports psychologists in the past, so why not try and get help for this too? I researched and found a great app called Headspace. It truly changed the game for me, in that it taught me the correct way to meditate and walked me through the process.
TIPS FOR MEDITATING:
Understand it may be different and challenging at first. This is totally normal and part of the process. Practice in a dark and quiet space if possible. Dark glasses or a mask can also be helpful.
Focus on correct breathing. My favorite way to meditate is to count my breaths, this keeps my mind from thinking about other thoughts. If I don’t have a lot of time, I will just do 10 to 20 REALLY SLOW BREATHING CYCLES. If I have ample time, I try to increase that to somewhere between 50 and 100 REALLY SLOW BREATHING CYCLES.
NOW YOU ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL HELP YOU SLOW DOWN THE GAME AND YOUR LIFE. YOU WILL FEEL LIGHTER AND MORE ENERGETIC, CARRYING WITH YOU LESS STRESS. UTILIZE THE POWER OF THE BREATH!!
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EXERCISE YOUR BODY & MIND. Test your breathing, does the hand on your chest move as you inhale and exhale? If so, you need to work on diaphragmatic breathing. Make time in your daily or even weekly routine to practice this exercise, and see if you can incorporate some breathing techniques into your game. Lastly, try meditation, either before a game or at home while recovering. See if you can clear your mind and relax your body. Namaste.
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