Footballer Raheem Sterling says meditation has made him a sharper player, partner, father, and friend. Using that knowledge, he’s now championing, challenging, and changing conversations around mental health, especially among the young.
Since becoming our Global Ambassador in November 2021, the England midfielder has been busy raising awareness around the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, even launching his own Headspace collection — ‘Power of Mind’, available in-app with a free 14-day trial.
Raheem teamed up with our meditation teacher Dora Kamau for a seven-session series that’s designed to help you feel calmer under pressure, be more focused at whatever task is at hand, and build more self-confidence. In short, cultivate resilience.
Together with his 1692 Foundation, Raheem is keen to break down stigmas around mental health. “I wish I could tell my younger self that all it takes is your breath, a little focus, and an appreciation of being in the present. Your mental health is your most important asset.”
“Meditation has been a game-changer for me.”
– Raheem Sterling
Stay on the ball
Meditation helps us focus more, whatever the task.
Get in the zone
It leaves us better able to handle pressure.
Game-changer
And cultivates more patience and kindness.
"We only get one mind. Makes sense to look after it."
– Raheem Sterling, Footballer and Headspace Global Ambassador
Power of mind collection
Power of mind: it’s strength of mind, peace of mind, and presence of mind. Meditation is the skill that allows us to access such a mindset … and that’s why Raheem created his own collection in the Headspace app, to allow you to get your head in the game, at work, at home, in sport.
Meditations
The expert guidance of Headspace teacher Dora leads a variety of exercises to help train the mind, cultivating more calm, clarity, and compassion.
Conversations
Raheem and Dora chat about the experience and benefits of meditation, and how this mental skill can be applied to our everyday life.
Animations
Headspace is meditation made easy, and these fun animations offer techniques, stories, and teachings to help you build your meditation practice.
“By learning how to meditate, we learn how to connect to a peaceful place within us.”
– Dora Kamau, Headspace meditation teacher
"You breathe. You focus. Everything else fades."
Raheem first integrated meditation into his training regime ahead of the UEFA European Championship 2020 (played in 2021) when he was widely acknowledged as England’s stand-out player. He credits meditation for allowing him to be mentally sharper on the pitch. It’s fair to say a stronger mind might have also played a part in the 2021-22 English Premier League season when he secured his fourth title with Manchester City. “You breathe. You focus. Everything else fades,” he says of meditation. That is a huge benefit of the practice for athletes — it helps to build a true performance mindset. It helps cultivate power of mind.
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