![\"Triathlon.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/96\/import\/assets_c\/2010\/08\/Triathlon-thumb-250x187-17269.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span>When we are learning a new sport, the initial
\nstages are filled with self-consciousness and deliberate testing and
\napplication of what we are learning. When we get to a certain proficiency
\npoint, absorption into the activity can occur. This happens when our bodies
\ncome to know what to do and how to move and we can let our trying or thinking
\nminds get out of the way. Typically, this makes for the best performance and
\nthe most enjoyment. However, as we grow more expert and can relegate the
\ncomplex motor and sensory skills required for the sport to an unconscious
\nlevel, we open the door once again to the storytelling mind. The Zen teacher
\nShunryu Suzuki said, “the beginner’s mind knows many possibilities; the
\nexpert’s few.” I see this process in action around playing tennis, which I have
\nsome proficiency a, but do infrequently. When I return to the court my body
\nknows how to stroke, especially my forehand. And the first few minutes of
\nvolleying are wonderful, with great smooth strokes that place the ball low and
\ndeep. After a few minutes, though, I lose that beginner’s mind and start thinking
\nand trying too hard, and my game deteriorates accordingly. Thinking is
\nincompatible with performance. A defense against this re-incursion of the mind
\noften develops naturally as we increase the degree of difficulty required for
\nthe sport – fiercer opponents, steeper slopes, more efficient turns, and so
\nforth. The increasing demands on moment-to-moment attention bring the mind back
\ninto a state of required concentration. However, some activities do not lend
\nthemselves to this ratcheting-up of expertise and instead require increasing
\nstamina (running and road biking, in particular). These activities are
\nespecially vulnerable to the storytelling mind and its potentially deleterious
\neffects. Alternative ways to keep the mind focused are needed during these
\nactivities. Expertise itself does not insure focus, and can soon reach a point
\nof diminishing returns.<\/p>\n
\n<\/font><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Meditation. What images does this word bring to mind? It mind be a saffron-robed longhaired Indian swami or a seated and smiling Buddha. While the mention of the word meditation may evoke exotic images, it can also be more accessible and approachable than you might think. In fact, I would suggest that all athletes have…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,9,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buddha-101","category-mindfulnesss","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\n
Mindfulness in Sport: The Embodiment of Awakening (Part One) - Mindfulness Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mindfulness in Sport: The Embodiment of Awakening (Part One) - Mindfulness Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Meditation. What images does this word bring to mind? It mind be a saffron-robed longhaired Indian swami or a seated and smiling Buddha. While the mention of the word meditation may evoke exotic images, it can also be more accessible and approachable than you might think. In fact, I would suggest that all athletes have…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2010\/08\/mindfulness-in-sport-the-embodiment-of-awakening-part-one.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mindfulness Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-08-15T16:17:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/mindfulnessmatters\/files\/import\/assets_c\/2010\/08\/Triathlon-thumb-250x187-17269.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Arnie Kozak\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Mindfulness in Sport: The Embodiment of Awakening (Part One) - Mindfulness Matters","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Mindfulness in Sport: The Embodiment of Awakening (Part One) - Mindfulness Matters","og_description":"Meditation. What images does this word bring to mind? It mind be a saffron-robed longhaired Indian swami or a seated and smiling Buddha. While the mention of the word meditation may evoke exotic images, it can also be more accessible and approachable than you might think. 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Dr. Kozak's ability to translate ancient healing traditions into pragmatic applications suitable for modern lifestyles through the use of metaphors have made him a strong voice in healthcare and business. Beginning with a journey to India in the 80\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s where he took the Bodhisattva vows from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Arnie Dr. Kozak began his lifelong practice in mindfulness meditation. Intent on finding a way to bring the practical healing attributes of mindfulness he began incorporating these techniques in his private practice. In 2002 Dr. Kozak created Exquisite Mind in Burlington, Vermont as a vehicle that could expand his wisdom to larger audiences beyond individual psychotherapy to professionals and corporations, health care providers, public groups and, most recently with Exquisite Mind Golf, amateur and professional golfers. His award-winning new book, Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants: 108 Metaphors for Mindfulness (Wisdom Publications, 2009) is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring translation of mindfulness practice through the inventive use of metaphor applicable to our daily lives. In addition to his work with Exquisite Mind, Arnie Kozak, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist\u00e2\u20ac\u201dDoctorate has been a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Vermont and is a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine. He has studied and practiced clinical psychology, meditation, and yoga for more than 25 years. He has studied with several meditation masters, including S. N. Goenka, Larry Rosenberg, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After receiving his bachelors degree with honors from Tufts University, he was awarded a Presidential Fellowship to get his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University at Buffalo. He completed his training as a Psychological Fellow at the Harvard Medical School. Prior to founding the Exquisite Mind in 2002, Arnie worked ten years in the private sector for the PKC Corporation consulting on mental health content for this revolutionary software company.","sameAs":["http:\/\/exquisitemind.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/author\/akozak"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Triathlon.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/mindfulnessmatters\/Triathlon.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span>When we are learning a new sport, the initial