We shouted at the TV screen with excitement. The year was 1994 , and our team had finally made it to the playoffs.For the first time since 1972, New Yorkers had a shot at being the NBA champions.<\/p>\n
Led by all stars like Patrick Ewing and John Starks, there was no way we could lose! We just knew<\/i> that shiny gold trophy would be coming home to the Big Apple. Full of pride in our city, we watched as our beloved Knickerbockers dribbled up and down the court. Quarter by quarter, we got closer and closer to bringing the title back to New York and winning it all\u2026And then, we lost.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Houston Rockets beat the New York Knicks 85 to 78, and I was so disappointed that I never cheered for I hadn\u2019t thought about New York\u2019s home team in years, but when I Googled Trey Burke, the guy who\u2019d be showing my kids how to shoot free throws\u2013I learned a few things about mindfulness, meditation, and manifesting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this year, Trey Burke left his mark in New York. His on the court skills made him a popular addition to the team.<\/p>\n In an interview with the New York Post, the 6\u20190\u2033 point guard explained how meditating changed his mindset on the court. \u201cI started studying the mind more in high school,\u201d he said. \u201c[There] was a technique of meditation that I used to use before every game where I would get to a state of mind where I focus in on my breathing, and I take about 10, 15 minutes to clear my mind from any thoughts, and then I just close my eyes and I just focus on what I want to see in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n After he began practicing meditation, Burke says, \u201cI was more confident, more efficient.\u201dVisualizing how he wanted to play during game time helped him to become one of the team\u2019s most talented players.<\/p>\n The technique isn\u2019t just for professional basketball players\u2013being mindful allows us all<\/i> to focus on the present moment. When it comes to the classroom, kids can benefit from practicing mindfulness too. Mindful.com defines mindfulness as the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we\u2019re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what\u2019s going on around us. Being mindful allows us to focus, regulate our stress and decrease anxiety.<\/p>\n \u201cFor children, mindfulness can offer relief from whatever difficulties they might be encountering in life,\u201d mindfulness teacher Annaka Harris<\/a> told the New York Times. \u201cIt also gives them the beauty of being in the present moment.\u201d<\/p>\nthose bums<\/del>\u2026I mean, the team, again. But when my sons got the chance to play ball alongside one of the season\u2019s top players, I couldn\u2019t say no.<\/p>\n