I like to smoke pot and work out.
To the ill informed or the uninitiated in the magical ways of the sacred plant, this can seem like a very contradictory practice.
In fact though, that notion could not be further from the truth.
Getting high and working out is one of the least talked about and least appreciated pleasures of fitness. Lifting weights is fun when you’re under the spell, cardio is cool too, but for me, nothing compares to getting really high and hitting the heavy bag.
2 tokes of the good is usually all it takes to start the enchanted wave – 3 if I wanna go deep.
As its spirit enters my system it flows from the lungs into the bloodstream and as it passes through the body slowly every cell along the way sighs a collective “ahhhh…” and accepts the pleasure of the enchanted state.
Music is a must. I’ve got a punching bag set up over matts in my garage, and I’ve got a speaker dock for my ipod.
“I wanna be a billionaire” starts things off as I begin to shadow box. I’ve got a timer on the wall that fires off a loud bell every 3 minutes and lighter bells every 30 seconds to let me know when to work, sprint, and when to rest. By the second round of shadow boxing is over The Black Keys have taken over the tunes and the sweat has started to flow.
For me the initial goal is always the balance between concentration and losing myself completely in the movements. That’s where the love is. When the two of them sync up perfectly together the body flows smoothly from technique to technique, never stopping to admire the work, always using the breath as a mantra to hold the frequency.
There’s two common times in my life where I always feel like I have to write my feelings down right there and then because it is a special and fragile vibe that I’m tuning into, and I want to hold onto as much of it as possible.
One is when I’m out and I’m having a great time with some friends, and I’m just catching a buzz and I go to the bathroom to take a leak.
I’ve come to some life altering revelations about friendships and what’s important in my life while pissing into a urinal and reflecting on the wonders of this temporary experience on this floating rock. I always think that I need to step aside and write down how I feel right then and there while I’ve got a hold of this, the slipperiest of thoughts, but I never wind up doing it.
I usually wind up just hanging out and having fun, but somehow I almost always eventually lose the magic of that precious inspiration as the night goes on, and then I have to wait until a similar night in a similar urinal to recapture that fuzzy picture again.
The other time I feel that way is right after I get done getting high and working out, and that’s where I’m at right now. I’m dripping sweat onto the keyboard wearing a soaked t shirt and sitting on a folded towel. If I showered before I sat down to write this I’m pretty sure I would have lost some of what I’m feeling right now.
There’s a sweet wisdom that reveals itself out there in that garage. It doesn’t give me any complete answers, but it allows the human consciousness a brief respite from the monkey body and offers a clearer view of what it really is that we’re dealing with in this life.
By the time I’ve moved from shadow boxing to putting the gloves on and bouncing in front of the bag waiting for the bell to go off I’ve settled into the favorable groove.
As every combination is fired off and feet and fists slam into the bag the lungs must be filled and exhaled. The feet must pivot in response to the moving hands. The hands must torque and swing with the arms to penetrate deep into the bag with the kick. My mind juggles focus on technique with constant regulation of the breath and an appreciation of the music. All three dance together in a beautiful storm of moving meditation, discipline and inspiration, and if my mind is true and I commit to the trance I can lose myself in the wave.
So much of our perspective is swayed and affected by the state of the body. You don’t even realize how little independence the mind normally has from the pull of its biological vessel until you find a way to completely silence that inner chimp.
3 rounds of shadow boxing, 5 hard rounds of kicking and punching, and then finally 2 rounds of jumping rope and 5 more rounds of stretching. The monkey shoots his fix and goes offline, leaving behind a mind free and light.
I want to smile and laugh. I want to hug friends and loved ones. I want to somehow tap into this feeling and extend it through my day. My whole body is buzzing with freedom and energy – free of the stress and tension and energized with positive energy and a newfound appreciation for the wonders of the world around me.
I’m hoping that writing this down is going to help me corral some of this frequency. I’m hoping that careful focus and reflection on how I’m feeling exactly right now will aid me in my personal evolution. I’m hoping I can move through this life more freely with less resistance, and that I can elevate the course of my own path because of it. I’m also hoping that the honesty and momentum of these thoughts vibrating around in my mind right now can bounce off these typed words and resonate with you as well.
I’m writing all this down with hope, for all of us.
Life can be really fucking beautiful, but man is it a tricky thing to manage.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fake Jemaleddin Cole, Kyle Allester Koster. Kyle Allester Koster said: Joe Rogan has really selected a title reflective of his piece here. http://blog.joerogan.net/archives/2264 [...]
Joe, as usual, another interesting read. Credit where credit is due… Your positive outlook, good vibes, the interesting discussions, your excellent UFC commentary, and of course the funny ass shit you come up with has absolutely played a part in my changing my attitude and persevering through some pretty rough times. I just turned 50 and the last 7 years SUCKED. In more ways than one you helped. Thanks for that. Fortunately, that era has passed. I’m in a great place now. Also, looking forward to your book. I recently published a 440 pg. hardcover book on Danelectro’s {ask Bravo, he’ll know what a “Dano’” is}. Title is Neptune Bound…The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide. There’s a couple of YouTube vids on it. Love to send you both a copy, let me know where. My wife and I are going to UFC 118 {I live 60 mi. So. of Boston}. If I see you I’ll be sure to say hello. Take it easy Joe…Doug T.
Thank you for this.
Hell yeah Joe!
So here’s my story. I’m 35 and have a good job, nice house, great family. I grew up around weed smokers and never had a problem with it, just never smoked more than a couple times in High School. I joined the Air Force right out of High School. So I only hung out with other guys in the Air Force for my early adult life. I was drinking just about everyday, usally only a couple drinks after work and a few more on the weekends.
So the morning you where on Adam Carolla’s Radio show, I was on my way to this “Wellness Training” my company was really pushing. Basically it’s just teaching all the fat people I work with that you can’t sit around and watch TV and eat shit on be healthy. So you’re really selling the Benefits of smoking and I remember talking about how you and Eddie train in BJJ while high and how the NBA guys almost all smoke. I had never hear that. Of course I know some off the NBA guys smoked, but never THOUGHT about why. I used to play alot of basketball so it total made since as soon as you said it. So I go into this wellness class, and they are talking about how you can have 1 drink a day, anymore than that is really bad for you. Right then it all clicked. I was like shit, I should just start Smoking weed! It just so happens I had started Longboarding(skateboards). I love the sport and when I smoke and ride…Holy shit, just like you wrote “It’s Magical” I’m so more relaxed and in tune with my body it’s crazy. I don’t really even tell anybody for the same reason you state. People just don’t know and don’t want to know. So longboarding is my BJJ…If you’ve never seen this type riding it’s so fun. Anyone athletic at all can ride one without getting hurt, all the tricks take time and patients just like moves in BJJ. Check it out…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rXwBmGyMRo
Damn what a great post.
Thank you for helping me realize I’m not crazy. For the last six months I’ve been smoking a few times a week before my daily workouts. The workouts I get high before tend to not only be more intense and gratifying but have really kicked up my fitness.
I’m more willing to try new and different exercises, my heavy bag work seems easier while being both more intense and greatly more enjoyable, and the mix of coming off a high and the release of endorphins at the end of the session is immensely fulfilling.
Despite all these things I thought I was nuts for wanting to get high before working out. Still learning to listen more to my body and brain instead of my “programming” and friends.
-Fawkes
Beautiful man.. I totally feel where you’re coming from, and I one day wish to be as mentally free as you and can evolve as a human being to reach my true potential. Preferably without some of the DMT trips lol.
and yes i know my name is spelled wrong… highlyevolved420 was too many characters.
[...] joe rogan had a good post this morning about smoking pot and working out. one good nugget yogis will [...]
Joe,
you are an amazing writer! You perfectly captured and conveyed the feeling that comes after a great workout.
Your thoughts, writings, and on stage performances are truly inspiring!
Much respect and thanks!
I realize this is completely off topic, but I found a great ted talk relating to a bit from shiny happy jihad. “Why is that loud?….taptaptap” He knows. Check it out mang.
http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_ridley_when_ideas_have_sex.html
Joe,
There’s an amazing documentary on youtube called Quantum Communication. I know you dig this kind of shit – as do I. I didn’t have anything to do with this doc, but its great. it’s in like 12 different numbered sections on youtube. Here’s the first one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyvS45gvv3s
It’s about quantum physics and shit. The last like 4 videos are kind of redundant but watch the first few.
you’ll dig it the most.
Ben
There’s much that’s very poetic in what you wrote, Joe Rogan. You’ve mentioned before about your love for working out and exercising, and in this it really shines through. “The caveman gene” is how you’ve put it. A down-to-Earth celebrity. Very refreshing.
boov, yes it was very poetic! Joe, if or when you release a book, I’m definitely buying it. I love reading thoughts that come from a deep thinking mind, It makes me feel like I’m not alone contemplating the things that I do. I really like your view on your own existence. This life is crazy. I have a heavy bag that *was* hanging in the garage. I gave it a couple punches just for shits and turned around to do something else and the damn thing fell. I’ll probably have to go up in the attic of the garage and reinforce the anchor point. Anyway- Sometimes when I’m doing something monotonous like push-mowing the lawn, my body goes on autopilot and my brain just starts going deep. I have all these realizations and positive thoughts, but sometimes I think they should stay in my head… whenever I get a chance to write them down, the feeling of it never translates… it’s like words can’t describe it as well as I picture it in my mind as a whole. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
- Daphanie.
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I like to smoke weed and play hockey.
You should check out this book called “Body Mind Mastery”. It talks about achieveing that same state of mind in sport.