Founded by MaharishiMahesh Yogi
Founded by MaharishiAn esport expert says the practice of the Transcendental Meditation® technique improves peak performance with world champion athletes helping them to stay on top of their game.
Dr Owen Blake, Ph.D is a professor at Maharishi International University (MIU) who researched the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique for elite esport athletes. Professor Blake sat with host of Stillness in Success, Mustafa Nuristani, to discuss how to avoid the perils of gaming.
In 2025, it is estimated that the esports entertainment industry will reach over AUD$783.7bn (US$522.46bn) world wide.
More than 90 per cent of Australian households own a video game device, and the average age of a gamer is 34-years-old.
1 – How Transcendental Meditation Can Save Gamers from Mental Burnout?
The flashing lights, rapid-fire decisions, and intense concentration required in competitive gaming are pushing young minds to their limits. As Dr. Blake discovered in his groundbreaking research on esports athletes, professional gamers are retiring as early as 22-24 years old—not because their reflexes have slowed, but because their brains are simply exhausted.
2 – The Hidden Cost of Digital Performance
Modern video games are engineered to capture our attention systems. They flood the brain with dopamine while demanding split-second reactions and sustained focus for hours on end. Unlike traditional athletes who stress their bodies, esports competitors are overtaxing their neural networks, creating what Dr. Blake calls a dangerous imbalance between digital engagement and inner awareness.
“When you’re controlling a digital avatar, you’re spending time outside of yourself,” Dr. Blake said. “You become less grounded in your own sense of self.” This disconnection from one’s inner reality creates mental fatigue and early burnout.
3 – The Science of Mental Recovery
Research on Transcendental Meditation reveals why this simple, natural and effortless technique is particularly powerful for gamers. TM creates what neuroscientists call “global brain coherence”—a state where different regions of the brain work in harmony, in total synchrony. Studies show that regular TM practice creates orderliness in the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s executive center responsible for decision-making and self-awareness, and connects it with the rest of the brain.
This neurological integration is crucial for gamers because it provides the opposite experience of gaming itself. While gaming fragments attention across multiple stimuli, TM creates what researchers describe as “restful alertness”—a state of deep rest that allows the nervous system to recover from overstimulation while the brain experiences Alpha coherence. Alpha coherence is experienced when the brain is in its more calm state.
4 – Building Self-Connection in a Digital World
Perhaps most importantly, TM develops what Dr. Blake calls “self-referral”—the ability to connect with your inner knowingness and make decisions from a place of inner stability rather than external pressures. For gamers caught in the dopamine-driven cycle of digital rewards, this inner anchor becomes essential for long-term wellbeing.
Research indicates that TM practitioners show increased self-awareness and emotional regulation, skills that directly translate to better performance under pressure. Instead of being reactive to the game’s stimulation, meditating gamers can maintain what athletes call “the zone”—that flow state where peak performance feels effortless.
5 – A Practical Solution
It is the simplicity of Transcendental Meditation that makes it so attractive to athlete gamers. Just 20 minutes twice daily provides the opportunity for the body to gain deep rest to counterbalance hours of intense digital engagement – relieving the body from fatigue, tiredness, hormonal imbalances and anxiety. As Dr. Blake notes, “TM gives you an experience of unbounded awareness and absence of time and space—the exact opposite of the confined, time-pressured world of gaming.”
Professional esports teams are beginning to recognize this connection. Those incorporating meditation practices report not only better performance but also longer, more sustainable careers for their athletes. While conducting his research, Dr Blake was a performance course and led the support staff for a professional league of Legends team competing in the highest European League (LEC)
6 – The Future of Gaming Wellness
As the gaming industry continues to grow to an estimated USD$733.33bn by 2030, the need for mental wellness practices becomes critical. TM offers a simple, scientifically-validated solution that doesn’t require gamers to give up their passion, instead giving them the opportunity to improve their skills and engage with gaming more sustainably.
Globally, there are approximately 3.32 billion active video game players. For the millions of young people spending significant time in digital worlds, Transcendental Meditation isn’t just a nice addition to their routine—it’s an essential tool for maintaining mental health and peak performance in our increasingly digital age.
