Mindfulness of breathing is the simplest and most direct path to reaching and retaining ‘the zone’ of relaxed concentration, and can also quickly re-establish a neutral state, for instance following a series of poor shots.
Mindfulness and ‘the Zone’ are synonymous; the first trains the mind to achieve stillness, the second is the experience of stillness while in motion.
A quiet mind allows the body to move with fluidity, power and effortlessness and also enhances the performance of accurate and precise motion. Over-thinking the technical aspects of motion, disrupts the signals sent to the brain’s motor-system, and results in clumsy, ineffective movement, as your muscles will fire incorrectly, thus disrupting your swing sequence.
The ability to perform under pressure is best achieved by quietening the internal dialogue and controlling the body-chemistry, both of which can be achieved by focusing on your breathing, which in turn activates the ‘relaxation response’ and prevents ‘paralysis by analysis’.
