Just finished my morning workout. ’twas mostly a series of stretching and loosening exercises, followed by a lot of squatting.
When the workout ended, I went back in the house, sat on a chair and feel asleep.
Needing a nap after a workout is a good sign; your body is releasing growth hormone and adapting to stress.
Most of the time you won’t need a nap after a workout, but when you feel the need arise, go with it. Napping is natural. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about – unless your entire day is nothing but naps.
When it comes to evening workouts, I find that Combat Stretching and Dao Zou are two great ways to unwind your mind.
Dao Zou, or reverse training, relaxes the brain and nervous system, allowing you to let go of the stresses of the day. As you move in reverse, you unplug from the noise, the news and the nincompoops.
Moving in reverse improves balance, mobility and awareness while also eliminating pain in your hips, knees, ankles and lower back.
It also helps take away the unpleasant feelings of being in a funk. As you unplug from the normal way of moving, your brain releases feel good endorphins, and for no particular reason, you let go of unpleasant ideas and fill your mind with good things to think about.
I first began practicing Dao Zou nearly 20 years ago, and as I look back, I can see that moving in reverse was a pivotal and monumental step in the ideal direction – especially when it comes to health and emotional well-being.
If you practice Dao Zou in the morning, you’ll be ready to take on your day with gusto.
If you practice at night, you may be enjoying the best sleep you’ve had in a long while, with incredible dreams as an added bonus.
It won’t be a nap, that’s for sure.
Give Dao Zou a whirl and let me hear how it works for you.
Matt Furey
