Are you ever finding yourself in need of a pick me up? Sometimes, rainy days can get you down and make it super hard to focus on your goals. You might find your heart feeling heavy or you simply feel out of tune with yourself.
Meditation can help you tune back in. It’s been proven time and again, that adding a meditation practice to your daily volleyball training routine can yield positive results both on and off the court. This isn’t something that just helps pro athletes either, but also coaches and beginners alike. When harnessing the power of your meditative practice, you’ll find that having a meditative mantra in place can really can come in handy. There are plenty of mantras for athletes to choose from too!
What is a mantra?
A term originally rooted in both Buddhism and Hinduism, a mantra is defined as a repeated set of words or sounds that helps you maintain focus and concentration while meditating. However, on the day-to-day, mantras themselves aren’t just meant to be practiced through verbal repetition, but also through your daily actions. In other words, your mantra isn’t just about saying the words with your breath, it’s also about living them too.
Where should I start?
Have no fear. We’ve got your to do list for starting a meditative mantra practice right here. Here’s some tips to get you started:
- Set aside a dedicated time for meditation without the distractions of your phone or computer around. Consider blocking off that time in your calendar to hold yourself accountable and so that it doesn’t get forgotten.
- Be sure to focus on your breath moving in conjunction with your mantra. Try to think of it as you would the ocean tides, moving the mantra as you breathe.
- Think strongly about the mantra as you meditate. Think strong words, then repeat your inspirational phrase.
- Don’t be afraid to try out a few different mantras for athletes. Mantras will mean different things to different people, so we recommend trying more than one out so that you can identify your favorites and see what works best for you.
What are some mantras I can try?
Choosing a mantra might seem overwhelming, but not to worry, because but we’ve got a few favorites that we’ve compiled for you here. Check out these mantras for athletes!
“I’ve got this”
This one is a favorite of Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez. Sometimes you can be your own biggest cheerleader, just by reminding yourself you can do it.
“Because I Can”
This one is ideal for motivating yourself whenever you’re feeling like the underdog. Why train harder? Because you can!
“Why not you? Why not us?”
We highly recommend doing this one with your team or partner, as it’s not only self motivating, but also supporting of your teammates game too!
“I do it for love”
Sometimes, reminding yourself why you’re still in it is what you really need. That reminder of why you love the game so much can really re-awaken the fire you have to compete.
“Next Play”
This one is especially good for those times you find yourself getting hung up on one mistake. Use this mantra to help keep your eyes on the prize.
“My setbacks are my motivation”
We like this one particularly for when you’re coming off an injury. Getting back in the game is tough and having the patience and mindset to keep moving forward is key.
Happy meditating!
