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CHAPTER 11Meditation and Relaxation

“I just love it. It's like a washing machine for your brain. It's beautiful. It's graceful. It's exciting. It's delicious. It's one of the great sounds of all time to be, and to hear that water rush by you, either in a boat or standing in it.”

—Henry Winkler, Emmy Award–Winning Actor, on the meditative qualities of fly fishing

My college roommates and I, having seen Caddyshack more times than we care to admit, have been quoting Chevy Chase's character since our freshman year: “Be the ball, Danny.” In the context of this hilarious comedy, the line induces laughter. It's delivered a little tongue-in-cheek, and yet it is also the underlying theme to the entire film. Danny Noonan, who works as a caddy to Chase's Ty Webb, carrying his bags around the course for some pocket cash, really wants to be a pro golfer himself. While the movie is full of quotable lines and amazingly funny sequences, it has held up over time because underneath all the laughs is a meditative message about letting go of the pressures society has placed upon you and allowing yourself the space and relaxation to fully take advantage of the gifts you have at your disposal.

Welcome to the New Age

The trends have changed immensely since Caddyshack debuted in 1980, particularly society's view of eastern philosophies and practices. While I can't recall any pro athletes pointing to meditation as part of their training regimen when I was a kid, today I can point to Steph Curry's ...