Elite athletes already operate at the edge of human performance—so any measurable improvement is rare.
Yet in a scientific study, elite shooters who learned Acem Meditation performed better in competition the following season. The control group—who received sport psychology training—did not show the same improvement.
Interestingly, the difference only showed up under pressure, not during regular training.
This suggests meditation doesn’t enhance skill—but helps athletes stay composed and perform at their best when it really counts.
The key? Learning to stay mentally open and effortless under stress—rather than just pushing harder.
And this insight may apply far beyond sports—to any high-stakes setting where performance matters.
Links
Learn more about research on nondirective meditation.
Explore in-depth studies and summaries of research findings at:
nondirectiveresearch.org
Research references
Solberg EE, Berglund KA, Engen O, Ekeberg O, Loeb M. The effect of meditation on shooting performance. Br J Sports Med. 1996;30(4):342-6.