This post is about 2 post-exercise things that I do to optimize the short-term and long-term rewards of feeling good, looking good, and aging gracefully.
1. Complete rest pose.
Theory: After stressing your muscles/whole body, a relaxful rest allows the body to optimally respond to the exercise stimulus without the distraction of doing unnecessary physical or mental functioning. Thus growth hormone and other adaptive responses are maximized.
Practice: Between sets or after an exercise session, sit or lay down with eyes closed. This may provide an unusual experience of being relaxed while your heart is beating rapidly and while you are “sucking air”. When I do a complete rest pose, I notice that I gradually drift into a deeper and deeper pleasantness. When I have time after exercise, I will rest for 10-20 minutes in this way.
2. Music
Theory: Music sounds better during an exercise high due to the release of growth hormone and other adaptive responses.
- Corollary A: You can judge the quality of an exercise session by how good music sounds during and after the session.
- Corollary B: Listening to music during and after exercise is a further stimulus to healthful body responses.
Practice: During and after an exercise session, listen to music that you enjoy. After exercising, it is very pleasant to listen to music while doing a complete rest pose.
(To get the biggest rewards from exercise, I believe it is also useful to avoid over-training, avoid eating carbohydrates during a 1-2 hour post-exercise window, and avoid emotionally/mentally stressful situations at least during the 1-2 hour post-exercise window.)
