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Red & Black
19 February 2022
H o w M i n d f u l n e s s T ra i n i n g C a n Give Athletes a Mental Edge
A sprinter takes off from blocks with determination.
Lauren Phillips Staff Writer
While many elite-level athletes are viewed as icons of physical fitness in society, their mental health may still fall by the wayside. These athletes can face extreme amounts of stress, not only because of performance pressure, but also due to grueling training schedules and difficulty managing relationships and life events. During the recent Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles faced backlash due to withdrawing from five out of six final events, attributing this
Courtesy Patrik Giardino, Getty Images
decision to mental blocking. Viewers were left wondering: how could one of the most famous professional gymnasts crack under pressure? What’s rarely discussed, though, are the dangers of competing while experiencing mental blocks. For many athletes like Biles, a simple slip-up on the bars or a misplaced flip can lead to substantial injury and even death. When observing the mental health of athletes compared to the general public, rates of depression and anxiety disorders were similar. Eating disorders were also observed to be higher amongst athletes. Knowing this, prioritizing the mental health of elite athletes becomes complicated, especially because of the stigma that these athletes should
Courtesy Patrik Giardino, Getty Images
US Olympic athlete, and mental-health advocate, Simone Biles during competition
be pushing themselves well beyond their breaking point. Luckily, several studies conducted over the past few years have shown that mindfulnessbased training is one method that can alleviate some of this pressure and lead to better performances overall. Mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be combined to teach individuals to accept difficult thoughts and feelings, as opposed to trying to get rid of them entirely. By labeling self-doubt or intrusive thoughts as a facet of an emotion, athletes can feel more in the moment during their games or routines. This is crucial in allowing athletes to access “the zone,” or simply feel as though they are fully present in each and every moment.
Experts recommend a minimum of twelve minutes of mindfulness practice daily to build mental “muscles.” This can vary from person to person, but includes tasks such as deep breathing, self-compassion and self-acceptance. Knowing how much stress and poor mood can disrupt focus, these twelve minutes are a great start for the general public and elite athletes alike to begin on a path of mental-health improvement and awareness.
