Skiing and mindfulness have more in common than you might think. I recently had the great pleasure of spending a few days skiing in Utah with dear friends. We were joined by a fantastic mountain guide, Sylvie, whose advice had as much to do with life and how to live it as it did with how to ski down the mountain. (Thank you, Sylvie!) As she spoke, I kept thinking that her words had a meaning far beyond skiing. They were terrific lessons in life. So, I want to share these with you today!
Be Present
In skiing, if your mind drifts, as it so often does, into fear, doubt, worry, and catastrophizing, your body tenses up, and you lose control. On the slopes and in life, living mindfully means being present in each moment rather than being lost in the past or worried about the future. If we embrace the present moment, we will set ourselves up for a truly beautiful ride!
Find Your Flow
Good skiing is about rhythm, balance, and flow—not forcing things. Life works the same way. When you stop resisting or trying so hard to control things, you can relax and flow with whatever comes your way. Everything will feel smoother and more manageable.
Lean Into Challenges
Like in life, skiing teaches us to lean into challenges rather than resist them. If you stiffen up or try to fight the mountain, you’ll likely fall. But when you relax and flow with the mountain, embracing the challenges as an opportunity to learn, you will find greater freedom and ease. The same applies to life: the more you accept the present and flow with life’s natural rhythm, the more ease and flow you will feel.
Embrace the Falls
Every skier falls; it’s part of the sport. As my husband likes to say, “If you don’t fall, you’re not trying hard enough.” The key is to get back up, adjust, learn from the fall, and keep going. In life, setbacks are inevitable, but resilience and adaptability make all the difference, and where learning and growth happen.
Breathe and Relax
Tension makes skiing harder. When you relax your body, your movement becomes more fluid. Sylvie encouraged us to repeat the mantra “relax” with each turn as we headed down the mountain. In life, stress and our need for control cause us to tighten our grip, create tension in the body, trigger our Fight or Flight Response, and cause the release of stress hormones, which all negatively impact focus, performance, and wellbeing. But by frequently taking a deep breath and consciously relaxing the body, you experience greater clarity and ease as you move through all those twists and turns on the mountain and in life.
Look Where You Want to Go
Your body follows your gaze in skiing—if you stare at obstacles, you’ll hit them. On the slopes and in life, focus on where you want to go, not what you fear or are trying to avoid. Similarly, in life, if you stop focusing on the things we don’t want and instead live with greater intention and envision the life you do want, you can create that life one moment at a time.
Enjoy the Ride
Skiing isn’t just about reaching the bottom; it’s about enjoying the ride. Life isn’t just about goals—it’s about savoring the journey and all the moments along the way. Stopping as you go to notice and be grateful to be on the ride, through all its twists and turns, makes life so much better!
So, the next time you hit the slopes—or just go about your day—remember to breathe, relax, stay present, and enjoy the ride!
❤️,
Cheryl
Cheryl Vigder Brause is Co-Founder and Lead Instructor at Pause to be Present. She is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of mindfulness and meditation. Cheryl enjoys speaking, writing and teaching about the power of these ancient practices and how to integrate them into your modern life to help you live a healthier and happier life.