Basketball Society is releasing an interview series themed around mindfulness and meditation.
“Soul Talk: Tapping Into The Zone” is a special four-week interview series focused on the power of mindfulness and meditation. The series debuts on YouTube on Saturday, May 9. An interview with a different guest will release each Saturday for the rest of the month.
The series is powered by The Village and The Meditation Center of Chicago, which hosts weekly Soul Talk virtual meditation sessions.
The interview guests include WNBA legend Cappie Pondexter, cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Mark Ashton Smith, Ph.D., former NBA champion John Celestand, and flow state trainer Wilson Meloncelli. Each of the guests offers unique experiences and insights into the aspects of mindfulness and meditation and how it played a role in their careers.
In 2018, the NBPA (National Basketball Player’s Association) announced an initiative to provide players with access to mental health counselors. DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love, and many others have been outspoken about their experiences with panic attacks and other mental health-related challenges.
Going into the 2019-20 season, the NBA announced brand new mental health guidelines and rules that all 30 teams must follow. Teams must have a written action plan in case of mental health emergencies and must have one or two licensed mental health professionals as well as licensed psychiatrists available to players for managing issues when needed.
Just this week, the Big Ten Conference announced its mental health initiative during this month. They will be providing every Big Ten athlete with free unlimited access to the top mental fitness app Calm, which helps individuals reduce stress and anxiety and achieve improved focus and more restful sleep.
From Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, via an immediate e-mail release:
The Cabinet will be instrumental for us both short and long term, as we pursue our goal of creating and maintaining the most comprehensive mental health and wellness platform in college athletics.
Basketball as a whole has taken a meaningful step in this conversation.
Watch the announcement below from Basketball Society founder Martin Soaries for Soul Talk: Tapping Into The Zone debuting on Saturday, May 9 on YouTube.
