Pot’s anti-inflammatory properties and, yeah – its ability to relax the mind and (in some cases) stimulate focus, could mean it’s the secret weapon you never knew you needed in your gym bag.

It’s not typically thought that smoking pot can actually boost your physical performance (except from maybe motivating you to actually get off the couch to get some snacks), but turns out, there are some ways it can actually support your best gym game.

According to one athlete, integrating small amounts of cannabis into his daily routine (2.5 to 5 mg, in various forms) actually helped aid his training, recovery and performance: 

“I used (a close friend’s) vapor pen a little bit after my long mountain runs. I noticed that it calmed me down, decreased the pain and swelling, and helped me to sleep better without muscle spasms. It was truly amazing to go from six to eight ibuprofen each day to just a few puffs of the cannabis vapor pen each night.”

Pot’s anti-inflammatory properties and, yeah – its ability to relax the mind and (in some cases) stimulate focus, could mean it’s the secret weapon you never knew you needed in your gym bag. And, additionally, if you’re one of the 70% of endurance athletes who take ibuprofen before workouts to stave off muscle soreness, a micro-dosing strategy could be a much healthier option than what you’re already doing.

Research has shown that anti-inflammatory painkillers taken before a workout – especially if it happens to be a small handful, can do damage to your bod – particularly, your liver kidneys, and intestines. (If someone uses ibuprofen before every exercise session for a year or more, ‘intestinal integrity might be compromised’ – meaning, small amounts of bacteria and enzymes could leak into the bloodstream.) So, yeah – counter-intuitive habit. If you struggle with stiffness, swelling and pain post-workouts, this strategy is definitely worth considering for the sake of the long term. 

And, aside from the fact that small amounts of pot is gentler on your organs, being a little buzzed (just a little  – we’re talking micro-dosing here), could help you stay present for your workout in the moment, too. When you’re able to focus your full attention on the present moment–the feeling of your body moving, your breath, your surroundings, it makes the workout way easier than checking your timer every 5 minutes and wishing it was over already.

The aforementioned athlete who discovered micro-dosing improved his workouts, Brock Cannon, put it like this: “I was more focused on every step, the colors were richer, and the sounds clearer to me. I felt grateful to be there, grateful for life, and grateful for each part of nature that I felt connected with. Normally during runs, I lose attention and my mind runs very quickly, wandering in a million different directions. But on cannabis, I get a keen sense of awareness, focus, and enjoy the journey more.”

So, a more focused workout equals a more enjoyable workout, and greater satisfaction afterward. More chance you’ll want to do it again, too. So, integrating pot into your life could actually help support you in living a healthy active lifestyle? It may not be the common assumption, but we’re so here for it.

Categories: WELLNESS