Practicing meditation for athletes is a great way to reduce your stress, improve your sleep quality, and help you deal with aches and pains during sports. You might think you don’t need to meditate for sports, but you’d be surprised to know how effective it can be. It’s also a great way to help you recover from injuries, transition back into sports, and even reduce your sensitivity to pain.
Reduces sensitivity to pain
Several studies have shown that meditation can reduce sensitivity to pain. These studies also provided some clues about the underlying mechanisms. Several neurophysiological methods have been used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of pain modulation.
A review of the meditation studies showed paradoxical findings. These results have been difficult to interpret, and the mechanisms that explain these findings have not been fully defined. However, a review of studies that report changes in neural activity during meditation provided some clues.
fMRI recordings were made outside of the meditation period. Pain-related neural activity was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the posterior insula (PIE), the anterior parietal lobe (APL), the ventromedial-PFC, and the midcingulate cortex (MCC). These neural activation patterns were correlated with pain perception and unpleasantness.
Meditation practitioners reported that they had less pain unpleasantness, less anticipation of pain, and less anxiety. Baseline activity of the left AI was less in expert practitioners. These findings may indicate that the activity of the left AI is correlated with neural habituation to pain.
Improves sleep quality
Having a good sleep routine is essential to staying healthy and performing at your best. It also helps regulate your body’s clock. Athletes may experience mental stress before and during competition, which can reduce sleep quality.
Several studies have shown that exercise is linked to improved sleep quality. In fact, a moderate intensity aerobic exercise routine can cut the amount of time it takes to fall asleep in half. And, it doesn’t have to be hard to do. Almost everyone can get in some exercise, even if it’s just a daily walk.
Meditation may also have some positive effects on sleep quality. It’s been shown that meditation can reduce anxiety before bed and improve recovery from injuries. But, meditating may also have the downside of taking time to actually reap its benefits.
While meditation may be the most scientifically proven means of improving sleep quality, there’s no guarantee that it will work. It’s also worth noting that meditation will not cure sleep apnea, which can actually worsen sleep quality.
Helps with transition back into sport
Using a meditation device of some sort to help you get your grove on is a smart move if you’re looking to take your athletics to the next level. The best part is that you’ll have a better chance of avoiding the burnout and/or injury that plagues most athletes. You might be tempted to give up on your quest for a golden ticket, but that’s a losing proposition. The rewards are well worth the effort. You’ll be well on your way to the top of the corporate ladder in no time at all. The most important question is: what are you doing to improve your game?
Helps with stress and anxiety
Practicing mindfulness is a great way to help athletes cope with stress and anxiety. Research shows that mindfulness practice reduces stress, increases self confidence, and builds an athlete’s mental strength. Having a calm mind helps athletes stay focused and remain calm under pressure.
A recent study published in the Journal of Health Psychology investigated the effects of mindfulness on athletes. Researchers found that athletes who practiced mindfulness showed a reduction in amygdala activity, which is a stress hormone. Meditation also reduced cortisol, which is a hormone that reduces mental and physical energy.
Meditation training is also associated with an increased immune system. The immune system helps the body to fight off infection and disease. When a person’s immune system is strong, he or she can fight off illness and recover from injury faster.
Meditation also helps athletes deal with the stress of competition. Meditation is a tool that athletes use to stay focused on the present moment, which is essential for performance. The practice also helps athletes become familiar with their inner dialogue.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://quietmeditations.com/attempts-to-assess-the-specific-effectiveness-of-autogen-training/
