“Research shows that mindfulness gives athletes greater access to flow states.”

In this episode of the Mindspace podcast, Joe speaks with Pete Kirchmer, Mindfulness Coach and Program Director of UCSD Center For Mindfulness mPEAK (Mindful, Performance Enhancement, Awareness & Knowledge). The mPEAK curriculum builds on the foundation of MBSR to help people cultivate an optimal mindset for performance and life around it. Pete works with athletes, executives, leaders, musicians, dancers, law enforcement, military personnel, first responders and anyone else who pushes themselves towards excellence. He is also developing the mPEAK Coach Training program, for mindfulness teachers who want to work with performers.

The interview explores the rich territory around mindfulness and performance. As many practitioners know, mindfulness can enhance focus, clarity, and purpose. And yet it is not obvious how to integrate the practice into the goal-oriented context of performance. After all, mindfulness is typically associated with acceptance of present-moment experience and a detachment from outcome, whereas performance is all about outcome. Joe and Pete take a deep dive into these issues, exploring:

- How to make sense of the apparent paradox between mindfulness and performance
- The link between mindfulness and flowSome concrete examples of how to bring mindfulness into performance experiences
- How Pete uses his own mindfulness practice to sustain his own energy and passion
- Some experiences Pete has had working with clients who you would expect to be highly skeptical about mindfulness training

If you or your organization are interested in this approach, Mindspace has an experienced team of Mindfulness Coaches in Montreal, including Joe, who can guide you through mindfulness training and its integration into peak performance. Please reach out at mindspacewellbeing.com or info@mindspacewellbeing.com.