Meet the founder
Sidd Sampla
Founder and Performance Psychologist
- MSc Health Psychology and BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist (CASES), Sport Psychology
- Chartered Scientist (CSci)
- Accredited Mindfulness Instructor (MSPE)
- Mental Health First Aider (MHFA England)
I help performers stay present, composed and true to themselves when the pressure is highest.
With over a decade in elite sport, I have dedicated my career to helping athletes achieve their best selves both on and off the field. I believe happy and well-supported individuals tend to be high-performing athletes, so my approach is straightforward and uncompromising: I treat the performer as a whole person first, moving past surface-level data to understand the individual behind the results.
Like my clients, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of growth and a love for sport. My approach is also shaped by over 13 years in the charity sector, where I specialised in autistic-affirming support and neuro-inclusive environments that help autistic children and adults thrive on their own terms.
Why I founded Mindful Performance
Too often, “mental toughness” is mistaken for “mental silence”, with performers told to suppress what they feel. That breaks their execution under pressure. I started Mindful Performance to give athletes a place where elite performance psychology and genuine care go hand in hand, and where how you feel is part of the work, not something to push aside.
The name reflects that blend of sport science and mindfulness. Performance is not solely about “doing”; it is about being present enough for your training to shine through automatically. I help athletes develop the clarity to master the moment and the composure to stay locked onto the process, whatever the pressure.
“Do the right thing. It’s that simple. Do the right thing when the right thing is not popular. Do the right thing when no one else is around.”
Nick Saban, my favourite quote
Master your inner gameto master the moment
It’s the idea behind everything I do. Here’s what it means in practice.
Your inner game
Everything that happens inside you when you perform: your thoughts, self-talk, emotions, expectations and the physical feelings of pressure. You can’t switch these off, and trying to usually makes them louder. Mastering your inner game means learning to notice them, make room for them and still choose what you do next.
The moment
The only place performance happens: this lap, this point, this shot, this decision. Mistakes already made and results not yet decided pull your attention away from it. Mastering the moment means bringing your focus back, again and again, to what you can control right now.
The process
Results follow from execution, and execution is made of small actions in the present second. When you stay locked onto the process, your training can come through automatically instead of being interrupted by doubt or fear of failure.
That’s why I work on clarity and composure: the clarity to know what matters and where your attention belongs, and the composure to stay centred and responsive, however much pressure there is.
The Mindful Core framework
The Mindful Core is the framework behind my work. Its four pillars are how you master your inner game, so you can master the moment.
Select a pillar to read more.
ACT-based approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) builds the flexibility to stay present and act on what matters, even when nerves and doubts show up.
MSPE training
Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) is mindfulness training that sharpens attention and helps you find flow.
Not sure where to start?
Say so. We’ll map out your primary mental block together, in a free initial chat.
