The Mindful Athlete Book Summary

In 'The Mindful Athlete,' George Mumford unveils the transformative power of mindfulness in sports and life. Through poignant anecdotes and practical guidance, he illustrates how athletes can tap into their full potential by cultivating awareness and focus. Mumford, who has worked with elite athletes, reveals the mental blocks that hinder performance and offers techniques to overcome them. This book is not just for athletes; it's a call to anyone seeking greater excellence and balance in their pursuits. Discover how mindfulness can lead not only to victories but also to profound personal growth.

By George Mumford

Published: 2015

"To be mindful is to be aware, to be present, and to fully engage with the world around you, unlocking the true potential within yourself."

Book Review of The Mindful Athlete

“George helped me understand the art of mindfulness. To be neither distracted or focused, rigid or flexible, passive or aggressive. I learned just to be." —Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan credits George Mumford with transforming his on-court leadership of the Bulls, helping Jordan lead the team to six NBA championships. Mumford also helped Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom and countless other NBA players turn around their games. A widely respected public speaker and coach, Mumford is sharing his own story and the strategies that have made these athletes into stars in The Mindful Athlete: The Secret to Pure Performance. His proven, gentle but groundbreaking mindfulness techniques can transform the performance of anyone with a goal, be they an Olympian, weekend warrior, executive, hacker, or artist. When Michael Jordan left the Chicago Bulls to play baseball in 1993, the team was in crisis. Coach Phil Jackson, a long-time mindfulness practitioner, contacted Dr. Kabat-Zinn to find someone who could teach mindfulness techniques to the struggling team—someone who would have credibility and could speak the language of his players. Kabat-Zinn led Jackson to Mumford and their partnership began. Mumford has worked with Jackson and each of the eleven teams he coached to become NBA champions. His roster of champion clients has since blossomed way beyond basketball to include corporate executives, Olympians, and athletes in many different sports. With a charismatic teaching style that combines techniques of engaged mindfulness with lessons from popular culture icons such as Yoda, Indiana Jones, and Bruce Lee, Mumford tells illuminating stories about his larger than life clients. His writing is down-to-earth and easy to understand and apply. The Mindful Athlete is an engrossing story and an invaluable resource for anyone looking to elevate their game, no matter what the pursuit, and includes a foreword by Phil Jackson. "Self-consciousness is when you’re focused on how you’re doing instead of what you’re doing. We have to learn how to push and challenge ourselves, but not in an insensitive way. Honing your performance really comes down to being comfortable with being uncomfortable."—George Mumford

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To be mindful is to be aware, to be present, and to fully engage with the world around you, unlocking the true potential within yourself.

The Mindful Athlete

By George Mumford