Author: Kylie Hecht

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook! In today’s post, I interviewed one of Oregon’s cheerleaders to discuss her college experience as an athlete and how she manages her mental health while balancing school and athletics. Above is Mia Saucedo, a member of the University of Oregon’s cheerleading team. Saucedo is entering her third year on…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook. Today I will be telling you about DC Scores, a nonprofit that combines soccer with poetry and spoken word as well as service learning. It aims to empower kids to be emotionally and physically healthy.  Washington, DC, a city renowned for its rich history and vibrant culture, is also…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook. Today I am going to talk about the journey of Naomi Oaska. Naomi Osaka is more than just a tennis prodigy; she is a trailblazer who has transcended the boundaries of her sport to become a powerful advocate for mental health. Born on October 16, 1997, in Chūō-ku, Osaka,…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook! Today, we’re diving into some compelling infographics that visually and data-drivenly demonstrate how athletes and people in sports can enhance their mental health. I’ve recently started following a Twitter page called BelievePerform (@BelievePHQ), which shares infographics about how culture change consultancy can improve team health and drive profits. I…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook. Today we will be discussing sexual assault in sports and the impact it has on mental health. I wanted to focus on how sexual assault victims in sports do not only impact women but men as well. Sexual assault in sports has garnered widespread attention in recent years, predominantly…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook. Today I will be talking about the impacts on sexual assault on athletes in sports. Larry Nassar’s name has become synonymous with one of the most egregious betrayals of trust and abuse of power in recent memory. As a former USA Gymnastics team doctor and a physician at Michigan…

The Triumph Beyond the Medals Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook! Today we will be discussing a professional athletes journey through depression. Michael Phelps, a name etched in Olympic history for his extraordinary feats in swimming, transcended the pool to become a beacon of hope and resilience in the realm of mental health. Behind the…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook! I am excited to discuss the positive impact of the NFL Life Line Program with everyone today. In recent years, mental health has emerged as a crucial issue, not only in healthcare but also in the realm of sports. Athletes, like anyone else, face mental health challenges, from performance…

The Pressure to Perform Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook where we will be talking about eating disorders in the sports world. the dynamic world of athletics, where physical performance is often the measure of success, there exists a silent yet significant challenge that many athletes face: eating disorders. Contrary to popular belief, these disorders…

Welcome back to Kylie’s mindful playbook, where today we are diving deep into the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation (AAADF). Mental health has become an increasingly prominent topic in recent years, and organizations like AAADF play a crucial role in advocating for and supporting individuals, particularly athletes, who grapple with anxiety and depression. The…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook. Today, I’m delving into my perspective on mental health as I’ve grown up. While I’ve participated in various sports, I want to focus on the impact of mental health on competitive dancers. The world of dance often goes unrecognized and misunderstood compared to more popular sports. There’s a lot…

Welcome back to Kylie’s Mindful Playbook, where we are discussing the influence of sports brand influencers and their significant contributions to mental health. Today, I will delve into an article from The New York Times titled “Silent No More: Women’s Pros Prioritize Mental Health.” In this piece, Rory Smith explores the historical reluctance of elite…

Growing up in an era dominated by social media and intense peer pressure, I used to see sports as nothing more than a stage for comparison. From competitive soccer to dance and high school volleyball, I constantly measured myself against others, letting self-doubt overshadow my skills, especially during the challenges of Covid-19. However, stepping away…