Other ideas come to mind of new age people in tie dye esoteric colored clothing, singing and chanting strange things that border on the fringe between conspiracy theories and tin foil hat wearing propeller heads all the while humming and chanting mantras like Nam–myoho–renge–kyo.

Yes those are versions of meditation, that mainstream media, television and the movie industry would have you believe.

However they are so far removed from reality and the true intent of meditation.

As you have come to know, I enjoy breaking down things to their finer parts and examining the truth behind them.

So let’s do just that.

The literal word, meditation, has it’s origins in Latin from the word meditatio,  and from a verb meditari, meaning “to think, contemplate, devise, ponder.”

As you can see, this hardly has anything to do with any type of religious connotations, nor does it have anything to do with being eccentric or chanting mantras.

All of these ways that have been propagandized in the media as meditation are just mere techniques.

Like exercise.

Some choose to exercise their bodies by running, and others by yoga, and still other by CrossFit.

There is no right or wrong choice of exercise.

It depends on the person.

Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb.
Pythagoras

Meditation is very similar in this respect.

I have been meditating since I was 10 years of age.

I did not take classes or join a local meditation gym.

I did not meditate because it was prescribed by a specific religious sect.

I simply chose to meditate.

I didn’t know that it was called meditation, at the time. I wasn’t even aware of what I was doing. The technique I do was something that just came naturally to me and pretty much do the same form of meditation to this day.

I sit quietly.

I do not use mantras (man means mind & tras means instruments) nor do I chant.

I just sit quietly.

All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.
Blaise Pascal

I truly believe that meditation has helped me with my Calisthenics training because I am more body aware as a result of being more mind-full.

How I meditate is quite simple.

I close my eyes while sitting in a cross legged position (although it’s not required, you could meditate with your eyes open and standing) to block out any extraneous stimuli and to help me get more centered and focused.

Then I observe, all the thoughts and images that race pass by your mind.

When I explain to others what meditation is like, metaphorically speaking, I share this story.

Imagine, you are sitting inside a coffee shop, and you are facing a large window.

Outside there are cars racing by in either direction, a bus passes by as well. People walking in either direction on the sidewalks with bags in their hands, some listening to music and others talking to one another. There is a man with a brief case. A women walking her dog. A mother with her infant in a stroller.

The scene is full of sights and sounds, that you would find in almost any town or city.

Each of these instances, is similar to a thought or image or emotion that races pass mind.

As each of these passes, you simply just observe with no judgement or prejudice or opinion.

You just observe.

You take notice of those thoughts, images and emotions that seem to pass more often and you take a mental note of how you feel.

How does your body feel?

How do you feel emotionally?

But you never judge or label, you just observe, you just are present in the moment.

I realize many of you, by now, are thinking, what the heck is this guy smoking? And some of you may be thinking, can I get some of whatever it is?

All kidding aside.

I believe, that Calisthenics, is a physical form of meditation, sort of like yoga.

Body weight exercises force one to be present in the moment.

There is no judgement, or making wrong.

It’s just pure body movements.

For those of you that love Calisthenics as I do, you will greatly benefit from meditation.

It is something that I do twice a day, morning and night, when I wake up and right before I go to bed.

And like physical exercise, quality is far more important than the quantity of time spent meditating.

Do what comes natural to you.

For me meditating on a daily basis has made the difference in the world when it comes to being centered and focused.

It costs nothing to meditate and everything not to.