Can Working Out High Really Boost Your Performance?

• Danielle Joseph of TrapVibez Fitness spells out the dos and donts of working out high. 
• Learn how cannabis has the potential to improve your performance. 
• Danielle is also involved with cannabis expungement and helping victims of the War on Drugs. 

8-minute read

Working out high with Danielle Joseph

When it comes to working out high, Danielle Joseph is your girl. As both an attorney and fitness instructor, she’s been doing it all for years. So, when she was laid off at the start of the pandemic, Danielle didn’t sit on her laurels or spend 2020 just baking sourdough bread. Instead, she birthed TrapVibez Fitness. TVF is a Black-owned brand based in the Bay Area that brings together fitness and cannabis. If that’s not enough to love, when she’s not leading a fitness class, Danielle can be found hard at work as a lawyer working with entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry and donating her time to help victims of the War on Drugs with the expungement of their convictions. She filled us in on everything you need to know about working out high.

What’s the biggest myth about working out high? 

The biggest myth about working out high is that you’ll be too tired or paranoid to have an effective workout.

What potential benefits can working out high offer?

I introduce cannabis to a lot of people who have had a bad experience with it or don’t use it at all. I start with a microdose. Or just CBD, so there’s no psychoactive effects at all. Then, they can actually experience the recovery, the reduced inflammation, and the relaxation that comes with cannabis. When people actually feel those benefits, along with a fitness class, then they’re like, oh, yeah, this is something I want. How do I get more of this experience? How do I get more of these products? What other products can I try? That’s what I’m passionate about—piquing their interests in this experience that we’re creating. And erasing the stigma, too.

What makes TrapVibez Fitness Different?

We hone in on the pieces of fitness that are outside of movement. These are the things we don’t necessarily learn—like being mindful about what you’re putting into your body. Fitness isn’t just how you move, but your mental health, too. I ask people questions like these. How much water are you drinking? What are you eating? How are you sleeping? What’s your stress level? Are you in a relationship? Do you have kids? They’re like, hold on, I just want to know how to get a six pack. Why are you asking me all of this? Because we have to start inside out. I understand it’s uncomfortable to even have these conversations. But I want to show people the value of living well, both mentally and physically.

Where does the name TrapVibez come from?

At the onset of the pandemic, I started getting together with like-minded individuals from the wellness, nutrition, and cannabis spaces. We wanted to create this concept of getting out of your comfort zone in order to live a healthy lifestyle. So our motto was Taking Risks And Prospering—that’s where TRAP comes in. We call ourselves “trappers”.

How does TrapVibez incorporate cannabis into fitness? 

We incorporate cannabis into fitness by offering various cannabis products to our clients before, during, and after classes. Our classes include barre, cycle, yoga, stretch, and meditation.

What’s the most common thing people say after they experience TrapVibez? 

The most common thing people say to us after their experience is, “When’s the next one?”

How can we make working out high effective?

I think the biggest issues with ineffectiveness are that people aren’t microdosing or consuming properly based on their endocannabinoid system. That’s why there’s that stoner, lazy, paranoid stereotype. And oftentimes, when I’m talking to people who tried working out high and don’t like it, it’s because they experienced those feelings. It was just too much for their system. So, start very, very slow. You can always go up, and, oftentimes, you don’t feel the effects until 30-45 minutes into your workout. Then, all of a sudden, you’re super high. So if you took 20mg and your ECS should only have 5-10mg, then that’s not going to be a great feeling. You would never want to touch cannabis ever again.

What are the dos of working out high? 

Do educate yourself on the various ways to consume cannabis. That way, you can determine what’s right for you. Do start with microdosing and go slow. And do listen to your body. Research and be patient. Give yourself grace and time to catch up to the plant—especially with THC.

What are the don’ts? 

Don’t work out high without us. Invite us to the sesh, too! The biggest don’t is overdose, overindulge, or over-consume.

Personal fave cannabis product for working out high? 

I love the alcohol-removed, cannabis-infused mimosas by House of Saka. I drink them before my barre classes to increase energy and focus.

What dosage do you recommend for beginners working out high? 

A microdose for sure. But it truly depends on product potency and your ECS. I advise my clients to try CBD first. That’s usually where I start to break the ice. Because, for most people, the scary part of cannabis is the THC. They don’t want to feel too high or paranoid or stuck. So, when I introduce them to CBD, they receive all the healing properties from the plant without any fear of that. When I introduce THC, I always advise a 2.5mg dose. To start, most of the edibles come in, like 5-10mg. I tell people to cut them in half and start slow. I also advise being in safe environments, like our classes or their homes. 

What are the pros and cons of different consumption methods?

For heavy lifters, I love CBD bath bombs. I would also go to topicals. I even like the ones with THC or full spectrum. With my barre classes, our cycling classes, and intense workouts in general, I would always go for topicals to help with the recovery process. However, it’s also nice to introduce edibles in a stretch class or meditation. Or even to introduce joints or a beverage that can actually be coupled with the movements. You know the runner’s high? That’s kind of what I equate to what we can experience when we properly dose our endocannabinoid system.

Fave playlist for working out high?

TrapSlaps curated by TrapVibez Fitness—updated weekly on Tidal and Apple Music.

Which kinds of cannabis products are most popular with your clients in each kind of class?

At our Barre and Brunch class, it’s really popular to do a beverage, like a mimosa or something. And again, it’s only like 2.5mg in a little shot glass. With our cycle class, we usually do a topical after. We love to stretch after cycle class because it’s so intense. So, it’s fun to lengthen out the body and rub creams on yourself or have a smoke session after.

What other kinds of exercise combine well with cannabis? 

Every kind of exercise can be combined with cannabis, depending on the product and the client. In other words, there’s something for everyone.

COULD YOU RECOMMEND A FEW TYPES OF EXERCISE THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE GOOD FOR BEGINNERS TO START INTEGRATING CANNABIS WITH?

Barre, because you can do it anywhere, and it’s for everybody. No equipment necessary—all you need is yourself.  It’s a combination of ballet, pilates, and yoga. There’s always ways to modify the movements. You’re not only lengthening the body, you’re strengthening the body. And you’re doing high reps. So it’s really accessing different muscle groups.

How can people start working out high if they’re not in the Bay Area? 

We have online and on-demand courses, where we have doctors and medical professionals that we’ve partnered with that will give advice on how to properly dose their experiences. And we also offer a weekly newsletter where we’re constantly giving not only medical but legal and nutritional and physical advice on how to create an experience for yourself.

What benefits of working out high have you experienced personally? 

Working out high helps me get in the zone and recover faster. I find myself having more intense workouts and I experience less fatigue post workout.

What’s the best way to experiment with working out high at home? 

Microdosing. We also recommend signing up with TrapVibez Fitness on-demand 1-on-1 coaching.

Tell us more about your 1-on-1 coaching—can anyone do it?

Yes, we offer virtual 1-on-1 sessions. In our 1-on-1 sessions, we offer a more intimate experience. Not everybody is ready for group fitness and it can be intimidating. I think a 1-on-1 session with a personal trainer—whether it’s a virtual or in-person session—is very approachable.

You’re also actively involved in cannabis expungement—tell us about that. 

I partner with Success Centers of San Francisco and Minorities for Medical Marijuana to host cannabis expungement clinics in every legal market. Because I believe cannabis is medicine, it’s important for me to assist those who’ve been negatively impacted because of their marijuana related offenses.

How can we sign up for and keep up with TrapVibez? 

Please visit our website at www.trapvibezfitness.com and follow us on IG and FB @trapvibezfitness. And we also offer a weekly newsletter, called the Vibe Report, where we provide movement, nutrition, and cannabis education, empowering  our readers to customize their own wellness experience.