by Alice Paulse, photography by Pixabay
The weed industry is popping off! But this time it has to do with your fitness… We’re talking about the world’s first marijuana gym.
Introducing Power Plant Fitness Gym… that’s all in the name (hah). Based in San Francisco, the website states that the gym “will integrate cannabis into one’s daily routine of wellness”. The Power Plant Fitness gym will allow its members to consume marijuana both before and after their workouts.
Does Marijuana Have Fitness Benefits?
Well, the guys at Power Plant believe it will provide optimal states of wellness and peak performance. The founder of Power Plant Fitness, Jim McAphine said that the plant “can help get you into the zone, into the eye-of-the-tiger mode. If you use it right, weed take the things you love and lets you love them more,” he claimed.
Although actual research on the drugs effect when it comes to fitness and whether it’s good or bad for athletes. McAlphine is not the first to use the drug as part of his training method though. There are some athletes who make use of the plant, including one runner who said the drug helped him with recovery.
READ MORE: The Deal With Cannabis: Here’s How Weed Really Affects Your Health
One runner said that “As I started getting into longer distances like marathons, I noticed my mind-set was very similar when I’m running and when I’m high. If I don’t smoke before a run, I’m constantly thinking about the miles and how much further I have to go, rather than just enjoying the experience.”
While weed may not sound like an ideal substance to ingest before lacing up your sneakers, it turns out our bodies naturally produce similar compounds after exercise. Research has shown high levels of anandamide, a cannabinoid naturally produced in the body, in the bloodstream of people after exercise.
That runner’s high you love? An assistant professor of biology at Eckerd College said that “whether natural or marijuana induced. It can minimise distraction and help exercise be not just a means to an end but an enjoyment.”
READ MORE: Could Weed Keep You Sane?
Power Plant Fitness Gym
McAlphine’s plan for his gym which opens in May will include marijuana performance assessments, weed-assisted fitness plans, and a line of Power Plant’s own edibles- “made for pre-workout focus and post-workout recovery.”
He hopes to extend the Power Plant Fitness centres in Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Denver, and Portland, Oregon.
So I guess the only question that’s left is ask, is whether we should be lighting up before hitting the gym or after?
If you’re in need of palliative pain relief, you could soon be able to make use of medical marijuana to ease your symptoms.