根據筆者的經驗,靜觀訓練是其中一個能培養出抗壓力及心靈韌性的重要訓練。有硏究顯示,靜觀訓練有助培養欣然接納挫敗的態度,從而加強運動員在比賽期間的集中力,使運動員對改善戰術及動作抱持開放態度,令運動員願意接受並適應各種挑戰,完全投入於比賽中,發揮出應有水平 (Josefsson et al., 2019)。
靜觀訓練對大腦之影響
其實大腦和身體肌肉一樣,都需要透過鍛練來提升能力。神經科學家里克漢森博士(Dr. Rick Hanson)提出,靜觀訓練可幫助建立神經元可塑性(Neuroplasticity),意即通過訓練可以改變一個人的態度以及思想模式。我們的大腦會不斷生長變化的,即使是成年人的大腦仍有可塑性(Plasticity),具有繼續改善的空間。研究顯示,大腦經過靜觀訓練後,有關部位的灰質(Gray matter)會增厚而相關的功能也會因而增強。靜觀修習不僅能增厚前額葉皮層(Prefrontal cortex)和減低杏仁核(Amygdala)的活躍程度,也能增厚海馬體(Hippocampus) 的灰質。弗蘭克加德納教授和其團隊發現,運動員參與八週的靜觀課程後,海馬體的灰質明顯增厚,並能同時增加島葉(Insula)的厚度,以幫助我們增強體內的感受性覺知,使我們更容易體會自身情緒的轉變(Garden and Moore, 2012),從而培養出新的態度和思想模式。即使面對相同的訓練及比賽情況,亦能有新的體會及經驗。
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