I wanted to discuss the practice of what in modern terms has been called, “Mind-fullness” which is really just being aware and observing the thoughts, images, feelings, and general mental state you are in.

There is a great little quote, that I am not quite sure who is the person responsible for coming up with it, but it goes like this:

“The past is history, the future is a mystery, but today is a gift—that’s why they call it ‘the present’”

For many of us, being mindful might mean taking a back seat to your life as you observe your thoughts and emotions, but is really more than that.

It’s about being an active participant in choosing to not just jump on every passing and fleeting idea that your mind can conjure up. The mind runs at an incredible speed and if we try to keep up with it it might actually be detrimental.

detri (Latin) = to wear away

mental = mind

So essentially wear away of your mind.

With the onslaught of so much information from so many sources, like social media, news, YouTube, etc. it can all be so daunting. But with the daily use of meditation it can seem less overwhelming.

I want to state that I am in no way an expert in meditation, in fact, I am a bit taken back when people pay big bucks to learn from some so-called meditation “guru”.

Meditation is a personal experience and really has nothing to do with spirituality although many spiritual traditions incorporate this tool into their practice it does not mean it is religious nor spiritual.

I have meditated off an on for some 30 years and as I stated before I am no expert.

I use it as a tool to do as the late great self-help and business philosopher, Zig Ziglar, likes to call it, ” a check up from the neck up.”

In calisthenics, we are sometimes so focused on the physical that we sometimes can negate and even avoid caring for the mental and emotional components of our health and well-being.

I implore you to take a look at mindfulness and the practice of meditation.

There are many forms and although I have not tried them all, I can say that like anything in life it comes down to finding the one the works best for you.

To learn more about the benefits and how I meditate you can check out a past post I wrote:
https://www.calisthenicsmag.com/real-benefits-meditation/

In fairness, I believe in keeping it simple.

If you want to meditate just stop what you are doing, however please do not try this when driving or operating any type of machinery.

Close your eyes, because by closing ones’ eyes you eliminate some 70% of external stimuli, and just focus on your breath.

If it  is loud or noisy where you at, then take your hands and place them gently on your diaphragm, between your navel and your chest.

Just observe as your hands rise and fall, with each inhalation and exhalation.

The amount of time you do this for is not important. What is important is that you are now focused on the present. For many of us this is how we feel when we practice calisthenics.

No thoughts of the past, or things that we have to do in the future. We are in the now.

I hope this post helps.

And I wish you a Happy New Year.

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.