The perfect golf shot begins in the moments before you make your swing.
The golfer with the quietest mind during shot preparation and at address is always the one who makes the better shot as a quiet mind helps the body perform fluid motion.
The way to a quiet mind is simple – it is all about focusing on your breathing – but like any path to mastery, you must put in the time and effort off the course if you want to enjoy the results in your game.
Here is a quick re-cap on Seated Meditation (also known as Zen), which is the ancient art of focusing on the breath.
20 minutes practice, 4 times per week will not only quieten your mind, but help you to activate the ‘relaxation response’ and with it, the ability to swing with effortlessness, fluidity and power.
EXERCISE
- Sit upright on a hard-backed chair, with your palms on your knees or cupped together just below your waist – your right palm on top, thumbs touching. Tuck your chin under and hold the crown of your head up, as if it were held by a thread. Keep your eyes open and lower your gaze to look ahead and downwards, at a distance of approx. 3 ft.
- Relax your shoulders and empty your chest.
- Allow your awareness to lower to your navel area – t’an tien – and become aware of the sensation of breathing in and breathing out. Do not force your breathing, just relax and breathe naturally while focusing on the navel. Your breath will become slower and deeper.
- As you sit, thoughts will come into your mind and you may soon forget to focus on your breathing. This may take just a few moments! Gently bring your awareness back to your breathing and continue.
- You can practice counting each breath from 1 to 10 or following your breath, i.e. feeling the sensation of air filling and emptying from the body or listening to the sound of your breath entering and exiting the nostrils.
- Continue sitting like this, bringing your thoughts gently back to your breathing, each time you get distracted and your mind starts to wander. Stay present, mindful and ‘in the moment’.
- Do not judge the quality of your meditation simply continue to do your practice week by week.
