Turns Out a Little Meditation Goes a Long Way (and is FAST acting!)

I’m personally ambivalent about most professional sports and athletes, and the same goes for LeBron James. That said, I am impressed with how he deploys mental skills to help him be one of the best professional basketball players.

It turns out there’s more to meditation, beyond its utility in helping you stay calm and ride with confidence.

Recent research finds that even short meditation sessions (as little as 15 minutes) can result in significantly improved motor control and focus.

Let’s get into it!

The Study

The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, looked at how a 15-minute mindfulness meditation session affected motor control and cognitive functions like attention and inhibition.

They had 55 participants, both experienced meditators and newbies, either do a guided mindfulness meditation or listen to a podcast.

Then they tested them on hand coordination tasks and cognitive tests.

The Findings

Even one short meditation improved coordination and motor control.

Meditators maintained tricky "anti-phase" hand movements better, where each hand moves opposite the other. This kind of stability requires intense focus and inhibition.

Their selective attention also increased after meditation. They focused better on relevant details while screening out distractions.

But meditation didn't reduce how much visual distractions affected their coordination. It improved ignoring internal impulses more than external stimuli.

Both groups benefited, suggesting you don't need long-term practice to see effects. But experienced meditators improved motor inhibition the most.

Implications for Riding

Riding requires integrating many physical and mental skills - balance, coordination, focus, inhibition of reflexes, intentional control.

Researchers think meditation's present-moment focus enhances inhibition, while the concentration benefits attention.

This explains the improved coordination and motor control after meditation. Riders need to inhibit reflexes while precisely directing their movements.

The boosted selective attention could also help riders stay focused amid distractions. Though external distractions may still interfere.

While meditation isn't a substitute for the physical repetition of riding, it can target the cognitive abilities riding demands. Think of it like mental "cross-training."

What a Load of Gobbledygook!

In layman’s terms what that all means is meditation can make you a better rider by training your brain.

Riding is both a physical and mental skill. Your body has to learn the right motions, but your brain needs the right wiring too.

Meditation conditions your brain by exercising key skills like focus, discipline, and control over your body.

After meditating, riders should be better at "blocking out the noise" and zeroing in on precise riding cues. Their bodies should follow their mental commands more accurately.

It's like meditation helps install the mental "software" that powers smooth, responsive riding.

So while you're training your body by riding, meditation trains your concentration and coordination "muscles" too.

It's cross-training for your brain to build the mental fitness and agility that excellent riding demands. The mind and body work better together after working out apart.

Just like how core exercises lead to better balance in the saddle, meditation sharpens your focus and inhibition "core" for riding.

The mind-body connection goes both ways. Physical work benefits your brain, and mental work benefits your body. It's about training both in harmony.

Wanna Add Meditation to Your Riding Routine?

IMHO, meditation is often overlooked as a performance technique by many non-pros and amateurs because A) they’re not aware of how often the professionals and experts use it to excel, and B) it seems TOO simple. Perhaps they think something like “I don’t have the time for that, and how in the heck could just sitting there with my eyes closed for 15 minutes actually do a darn bit of good?”

Or maybe it’s just that nobody has ever helped them understand how to do it, and it sounds a little too “woowoo.”

Either way, I encourage you to test it for yourself. I’ll lay you dollars to donuts it’ll work for you too.

Before you get to 15 minutes of meditation, start with just 5 minutes (or even just 1 minute) and work your way up.

Here’s how to get started:

Find a quiet space, sit comfortably, and close your eyes. Breathe slowly and deeply.

Focus completely on each breath, feeling the sensations. When thoughts arise, gently return to your breath.

Start by meditating before you ride - your coordination, attention, and control could show improvements.

You can also meditate anytime to build cognitive skills over time. But aim for consistency, not long sessions.

So consider making meditation a regular part of your equestrian training. It's a simple, accessible way to work "smarter" and condition your brain for the barn.

Interested in learning more mental skills, free?

CLICK HERE to save your seat for our next free “Develop Unshakable Confidence” mini-mental bootcamp coming soon!

Until next week, thanks for reading!

Adiós, mi amigos!

Abe