Top 10 zen forest meditation tips for hockey players

1. Breathe.
Focus on your breathing for a while. Just pay attention to your breath going in and out of your nose and lungs and body.

2. Count breaths
Count ten breaths, in and out, and start over. Repeat.

3. Anger Management
Q. Feel yourself getting angry, losing your cool, getting hot?
A. Breathe. Go to No. 1, above.

4. Sitting
On the team bench, or in the penalty box, you might have a minute or two to meditate. Instead of wasting energy by talking, or yapping, you should meditate, focus, and get your head in the game.

5. Advanced
Sitting on the team bench, skate blades flat on the floor, hands & hockey gloves on lap, spine straight, focus on you breathing. Count ten breaths and then start over.

Note: The goal is to clear your mind.

6. Qi Gong
While doing seated meditation, draw energy in. Imagine your legs and feet have roots that draw energy up and into your body. Release some of that energy, and your breath, when you take a slapshot, or execute any of the skills of your sport.

7. Skating Meditation
You can skate and meditate at the same time, sometimes. Skating to the face-off circle, waiting for the puck to drop, focus on your breath, clear your mind, as in No. 1.

8. Walking Meditation
Walking to the locker room, to the ice, to and from the team bus, slow down and focus on your breathing for a bit.

9. Before And After The Game
When you have more time, meditate for twenty minutes in the morning and the afternoon. Use the sitting, skating, or walking methods described above.

10. Sleeping Meditation.
Sleeping is not the same as meditation. Meditate as you fall asleep, when you wake up during the night, and in the morning.