In 1975, Arnold Schwarzenegger was juggling Mr. Olympia, a film, and real estate investments. The high-pressure work environment these days often requires performers to find effective ways to manage stress and maintain their mental health. At this point, meditation helps people stay calm and gather their emotions so they can work more creatively with mental clarity.

On October 9, 2023, Schwarzenegger appeared on the Jay Shetty podcast, where the host asked the Austrian Oak about his meditation practice. In response, Arnold said he used meditation in the 70s, specifically during his 1975 Mr. Olympia competition. At that time, he was juggling many things, including finishing his movie Stay Hungry. He was also investing his money in real estate.

So, with so many things on his hands, Arnold said he “Did not know much about how to isolate and just concentrate on one thing at a time.”

According to the podcast, at that time Arnold encountered a meditation teacher and began practicing, which helped him find mental clarity.

Schwarzenegger said, “So I'm hanging out with this guy, this skinny rat down on the beach. He's a Transcendental Meditation teacher. But he never talked about it, so I said, 'Yeah, I feel frantic. I mean it's like, everything is a little bit overwhelming for me.”

So Arnold started visiting Westwood to take some Transcendental Meditation and learn all about meditation.

And interestingly, it helped him. He said, “And when the summer was over, it wasn't that hectic anymore. What I learned from meditation was how to, first of all, rejuvenate the mind and kind of disconnect the mind.

But also what I learned was how to focus on one thing at a time and to just look at that with no peripheral vision. So that nothing comes in. Just focus on this and don't think about anything else.”

In a simple world, Arnold learned to focus on one thing at a time because he learned that no one can do too many things at once.

In the end, the 7-time Mr. Olympia also admitted that if he feels the same way again, he will meditate again to relax.

Apart from meditation, Schwarzenegger also discussed the benefits of yoga for reducing stress.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s view on yoga

According to Fitness Volt, in the January 21, 2025 edition of Arnold’s Pump Club Newsletter, Schwarzenegger discussed the cognitive benefits of yoga.

He said, “The Most Underrated Benefit Of Yoga

If you’ve ever rolled out a yoga mat, you’re doing more than just improving flexibility—you could be rewiring your brain for better cognitive health.

A new study suggests practicing yoga regularly may enhance brain function, reduce stress, and support long-term cognitive health.”

The research says yoga safeguards the brain by combining controlled breathing, physical movements, and mindfulness.

Arnold said the researcher “found that yoga improves memory, attention, and decision-making skills and increases activity in the parts of the brain that improve focus.”

Even yoga helps older people who are experiencing cognitive decline.

Schwarzenegger said, “Another study looked at older individuals who were at risk for cognitive decline. Those who did yoga had less cognitive impairment (compared to those doing memory training) and had lower levels of gray matter and inflammation.”

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil