We are going to do a hockey player meditation.
So meditation is a powerful technique that athletes use to strengthen their focus and stay present.
Meditation helps us choose positive thoughts about ourselves and the sport that we love.
So first,
I want you to start by finding a nice tall seat.
You can sit with your legs criss-cross or you can choose to completely lay down,
Whatever feels best for you.
Once you are there,
Gently close your eyes and take a deep breath.
It may feel good for you to put one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart to help you connect with the feeling of your breath coming in through your nose and filling up your lungs.
Your only job right now is to relax,
To be still and to breathe.
To breathe in through your nose and out through your nose.
As you are breathing,
I want you to bring a picture in your mind.
Imagine yourself getting dressed for hockey,
Piece by piece putting on your gear and equipment.
Picture yourself leaning down to lace up your skates and then picking up your stick.
Notice how it feels to stand up in your gear,
In your skates and walk over to the gate.
As the gate opens and you step onto the ice,
Notice how it feels the moment your skate makes contact with the ice.
Feel the chill of the cold as you glide onto the ice for the first time that day.
Feel how good it feels to be in the rink,
How your body knows exactly what to do,
How you don't need to think,
You just trust.
Take a moment right now to check in with your breath.
Keep breathing slowly in through your nose and out through your nose.
Next I want you to imagine a scene.
The puck drops,
Your teammate wins the face off and passes it to you.
You are all alone on a breakaway and for the next few counts,
I want you to imagine what you do next.
Now let yourself celebrate however that went for you,
Noticing and remembering how easily it came,
How you didn't overthink it.
You trusted your instincts to know where to be and what to do.
Now see yourself skating over to the bench,
Leaving the ice and bringing with you this sense of trusting yourself.
Knowing that every time you remember to connect with your breath,
It helps you remember that you always have the right answers inside of you.
Whenever you are ready,
You can take a deep breath in through your nose and this time I want you to let it out through your mouth.
Notice how good it feels in your body and then gently open your eyes and let yourself come back into the room that you're in,
Into your space.
But notice this feeling of calm and focus that you have inside.
And I want you to remember that meditation is anytime you simply close your eyes and you're still and you connect to your breath and by connecting to your breath,
You remember the strength that you have inside you to win and to lose and to enjoy the game.
Thank you for meditating with me and this meditation is always available to you when you need it.
