“I have attended a TON of professional development programs in my career, but none as gratifying—or as personally impactful—as Inner Edge Meditation Training for Mental Performance in Sport.

Over several days, Chad McGehee and Scott Anderson guided us through a masterclass that blended the science of meditation with something that is often overlooked in professional training: direct experience.

The biggest takeaway wasn’t a new framework, protocol, or piece of research.

It was a quiet call to “Know the path in order to help others walk the path.”

As coaches, practitioners, and leaders, it’s easy to accumulate knowledge. We read the books, learn the science, and teach the concepts.

But there is a difference between knowing about a practice and being willing to walk the path yourself.

One of the retreat’s key messages was that the practitioner is part of the intervention.

Our presence matters.

Our awareness matters.

Our ability to regulate ourselves matters.

In many ways, our nervous system is teaching long before our words are.

For me, that was a powerful reminder that who we are becoming matters just as much, if not more, than what we know.

Grateful to Chad, Scott, and the community of practitioners who shared the experience with me.

Still processing the lessons.

More importantly, still practicing.

The real question isn’t whether the tool works. It’s whether we’re willing to do the work.”