I find exercising regularly is important to my health but also contributes to the quality of my meditation and my ability to concentrate on mindfulness.

My routine includes weight training, aerobics (walking & running) and stretching.

Having an anxious personality these workouts use up any adrenilin and other chemicals which may be flowing through my system during the course of a day.I also believe a fit body is better able to cope with lifes demands.

Through exercise I achieve a quieter mind as my body is far more relaxed and my breathing is improved.

Does Buddhism prescribe an approved way to exercise the body and prepare it for meditation?

Can mainstream exercise routines inhibit quality meditation?

Is exercise a part of a retreatants routine in Thai Watts and other Centres, and what form does this take?

Does Buddhism prescribe an approved way to exercise the body and prepare it for meditation?

Can mainstream exercise routines inhibit quality meditation?

Is exercise a part of a retreatants routine in Thai Watts and other Centres, and what form does this take?

From what I've read, the traditional practice is to do walking meditation before sitting meditation. Some Western monks do yoga to keep their body supple.

Personally, I try to keep my body in good condition to avoid suffering of various kinds. Ajahn Chah, on the other hand, wasn't attached to his body at all. When he got malaria or jungle fever he didn't see a doctor, he just took care of it with his mind.

I find doing a bit of Yoga helps, when practiced correctly Yoga is meditative in nature.

My routine is only about 15 minutes long but that's enough to help my physical wellbeing, though it doesn't improve my fitness or anything.

A few retreats include Yoga, many allow you to do your own exersise whatever that may be, though not so much in Asia.

I also, until the past few months, did weight training and cardio four or five times a week and found it to contribute to the balanced mental state needed for meditation, which I sometimes teach. If it takes the edge off, and provides you clarity and calm, then it is what you should do.

Ajchan Cha could probably make himself appear like Schwarzengger if he wanted. In 1979 in the UK, someone handed him a rosebud which he cupped in his hands. When he opened them a second later, it was fully opened. So I'm thinking a few thousand lifetimes before I can hope to start considering "walking next to him".