12 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Meditate

Sharper competitive edge

Sure, getting loud and fired up is a great way to prepare for competition—check out these pump-up songs elite athletes use to get their psych on. But quiet-time can work as well: Research shows that athletes who completed a six-session program based on mindfulness replete with recommendations to continue the practice at home were more likely to report being in the zone when on the field or court, rate their own performance as better, and also experience less sport-related anxiety. These benefits of meditation lasted long after the mindfulness sessions were over and well into the athletic seasons. The program is now the basis of a new book called Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement: Mental Training for Athletes and Coaches.