Sport science can quantify many aspects of human performance but the spiritual dimensions of sports experience cannot be fully understood through measurement. However, the spiritual experience of sport – be it described as ‘flow’, ‘transcendence’ or the discovery of meaning and value – is central both to our basic motivation to take part in sports, and to achieving success. Sport and Spirituality: An Introduction explores these human aspects of sports experience through the perspectives of sport psychology, philosophy, ethics, theology and religious studies. It includes discussions of: Spirituality in the postmodern era Spirituality, health and well-being Theistic and atheistic perspectives on sport and the spiritual Nature and transcendence – the mystical and sublime in outdoor sport Applied sport psychology and the existential Spiritual perspectives on pain, suffering and destiny Sport, the virtues, ethical development and the spirit of the game The Olympic Games and de Coubertin’s ideas of the ‘religio athletae’. This groundbreaking text will be a valuable resource for students of sport and exercise studies, sports coaching, physical education and sport and health psychology. This book should be read by all those interested in the preparation, performance and well-being of athletes.

Despite the growing literature on spirituality and its positive impact on well-being in health psychology, education, occupational psychology and leisure studies, it has been less examined in sport studies. Meaning and Spirituality in Sport and Exercise: Psychological Perspectives examines the many forms of spirituality in sport from a psychological perspective, from moments of transcendence and finding deeper meaning and value to prayer before an important competition or in adversity, such as a career-threatening injury. Based on the latest research and the Nesti’s experience in applied sport psychology service delivery, this book covers a range of novel topics linking spirituality to athlete development, injury, exercise motivation, and ageing athletes, and offers applied, practical guidance for sport psychologists working with spiritual athletes. Offering a unique contribution to the study of spirituality in sport, and to sport psychology practice, this book is vital reading for any upper-level student or academic working in sport and exercise psychology, religion and sport, or the philosophy of sport, and any practising sport psychologist.

The "wide world of sports," as it's often called, has quite obviously become a cultural phenomenon. In the United States alone, sports generate more than 400 billion dollars annually. However, for its many athlete-participants, coaches, fans, and investors, it provides much more than simple monetary value. While some critics see modern sport (especially those known for their rather intense physical contact) as somewhat "brutish" or even, "uncivilized," sport itself, when played with proper intentions, provides unlimited opportunities for positive human growth, including even that of a spiritual nature. Known perhaps as "the greatest of Christian missionaries," St. Paul, who also gained the title, "the athlete of Christ," for his frequent use of athletically-themed metaphors throughout the New Testament, encouraged the faithful to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NAB). While his exhortation may seem challenging, participation in sports provide a refreshing opportunity to embrace such a deep spirituality, rather than providing an impediment to it. In the first year of his Pontificate, Pope Francis acknowledged both the importance of sport as a worldwide cultural phenomenon, while also recognizing within it the inherent and numerous opportunities for growth in the Christian spiritual life. He said, "I ask that you 'live your sport' as a gift from God, an opportunity not only to bring your talents to fruition, but also as a responsibility to God and all of the human family." Within "Sport & the Spiritual Life: The Integration of Playing and Praying," we are challenged to view sport not simply as yet another worldly distraction, amusement, or task on an already hectic schedule, but rather to view it as an opportunity to discover God "in the here and now;" to communicate with Him in every play; every movement; every moment... To ultimately recognize that sport is a "school of virtue" wherein we learn that God transforms even our most profane activities into sacred ones wherein He may be glorified and we may have the honor of praising He who is most deserving.

The research studies included in this Special Issue highlight the fundamental contribution of the knowledge of environmental history to conscious and efficient environment conservation and management. The long-term perspective of the dynamics that govern the human–climate ecosystem is becoming one of the main focuses of interest in biological and earth system sciences. Multidisciplinary bio-geo-archaeo investigations into the underlying processes of human impact on the landscape are crucial to envisage possible future scenarios of biosphere responses to global warming and biodiversity losses. This Special Issue seeks to engage an interdisciplinary dialog on the dynamic interactions between nature and society, focusing on long-term environmental data as an essential tool for better-informed landscape management decisions to achieve an equilibrium between conservation and sustainable resource exploitation.

This text presents the best of the literature available on the relationship between sport and religion. The collection includes ground-breaking studies as well as recent articles from popular and scholarly publications. Sport and Religion is organized into four parts that - consider the case for and against sport as religion, - examine the potential of the sport experience as a path to religious insight, - analyze the significance of the pervasiveness of religious gestures in sport, and - explore the impact of religious views on perceptions and behaviors in sport.

Despite the growing literature on spirituality and its positive impact on well-being in health psychology, education, occupational psychology and leisure studies, it has been less examined in sport studies. Meaning and Spirituality in Sport and Exercise: Psychological Perspectives examines the many forms of spirituality in sport from a psychological perspective, from moments of transcendence and finding deeper meaning and value to prayer before an important competition or in adversity, such as a career-threatening injury. Based on the latest research and the Nesti's experience in applied sport psychology service delivery, this book covers a range of novel topics linking spirituality to athlete development, injury, exercise motivation, and ageing athletes, and offers applied, practical guidance for sport psychologists working with spiritual athletes. Offering a unique contribution to the study of spirituality in sport, and to sport psychology practice, this book is vital reading for any upper-level student or academic working in sport and exercise psychology, religion and sport, or the philosophy of sport, and any practising sport psychologist.

"Spirituality of Sport focuses on the energy of a benevolent God that humans experience as joy and the impetus to play, dance and compete. In exploring and developing a healthy spirituality for body and soul, Saint Sing tells many personal anecdotes and those of her fellow athletes and coaches. She discusses briefly the history of play and sport, from the ancients to such moderns as Michael Jordan, including St. Francis' own play. She describes spiritual and religious trends and reaction to sport and play, the ideal of a balanced person (body, spirit and soul) and connection to the inner athlete, ethical values for Christians engaged in sports, a model of play as energy that is archetypal in nature. She offers sports visualization techniques in the form of prayer and positive reinforcement of the body image.