Have you ever wondered what sets top athletes apart beyond their physical abilities? It’s not just strength or skill; it’s the ability to stay calm under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and stay laser-focused when it matters most. In competitive sports, mental toughness is as vital as physical strength. Athletes constantly seek means to enhance concentration, handle pressure, and remain in shape while performing under stress.
Meditation on twin hearts is a guided technique developed by Grandmaster Choa Kok Sui, the founder of Pranic Healing. It’s designed to promote inner peace, emotional balance, and overall well-being by activating two key energy centres in the body, the heart chakra and the crown chakra. We spoke to Sumi Lazar, Pranic Healing Instructor, Healer, Trustee, World Pranic Healing, India, who explained this meditation technique and its benefits.
Benefits Of Twin Meditation For Athletes
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Meditation is beneficial for athletes because it helps them focus. According to a 2017 study, Quantitative Brain Waves (EEG) have shown that twin hearts meditation increases gamma brain wave activity (30-90 Hz), which is related to increased cognitive function, sensory perception, and enhanced attention span. This helps athletes reach the 'flow state,' where they can perform effortlessly and without distractions.
Competitive sports place immense pressure, eventually leading to stress and anxiety that degrade performance. In such cases, meditation lowers cortisol levels, the stress hormone, allowing athletes to keep their minds calm and focused. “Twin hearts meditation has been found to decrease heart and respiratory rates by 15-20%, an indication of being in a relaxed state. All these physiological effects enable athletes to remain calm when under pressure and perform their acts with accuracy,” said Lazar.
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Emotional resilience is required to overcome setbacks and maintain self-assurance. Meditation enables athletes to recover quickly from setbacks by cultivating improved self-awareness, emotional control, and optimism. According to a 2007 study, meditation increases the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to motivation and pleasure. Long-term meditators have higher serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine levels, neurotransmitters linked with happiness, motivation, and emotional health.
Physical Benefits
Recovery is the key to optimal performance. “Meditation enhances sleep quality by relaxing the nervous system and stimulating melatonin release up to 300%. Such quality sleep helps recover muscles faster, decreases fatigue, and has the athlete wake up feeling energised and prepared for practice or competition,” explained Lazar.
Twin heart meditation also impacts the physiological processes of the body. “It can decrease heart and respiration rates by 15-20%, enhancing skin conductance and promoting muscle relaxation, as measured by Electromyogram (EMG).” As a result, meditation promotes healthier cardiovascular functioning, muscle recovery, and general bodily health, added Lazar.
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Meditation as Mental and Physical Training
Neuroscientists and sports psychologists now equate mental training by meditation to physical strength training. “Physical exercises train the body in the same way that meditation conditions the mind to be clear, resilient, and perform optimally. Meditation on twin hearts specifically engages brain regions, such as the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex to enhance integration and attention modulation,” said Lazar.
Bottomline
Lazar concluded, “Twin hearts meditation improves cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall health, making athletes more competitive. From the world's top athletes to musicians to Tibetan monks, studies repeatedly demonstrate that meditators have higher gamma wave activity, resulting in improved focus, quicker reactions, and an extreme feeling of calm.”
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your professional if you are dealing with any health issue to avoid complications.]