Working Out and Dream Recall

[00lefty]

I thought I saw this thread before but I can't find it anywhere. So here goes. Ever since I've started a DJ, I've been recalling at least two dreams a night, and wake up after each one. However, I noticed that on days where I actually do a hard weights workout (rather than a just-get-by one) I have absolutely no dream recall, and sleep all through the night. Obviously, the latter is because my body is tired, but what about the recall? Has anyone else experienced this and/or found a fix to it, other than setting an alarm for the middle of the night?

[tre13]

I've read that thread before as well and have had the same experience - a tired body means I have poor recall. I haven't seen any tips to overcoming this. I think I read in Robert Waggoner's book (Lucid Dreaming - Gateway to the Inner Self) that the night after doing yoga many people report lucid experiences. So maybe a light workout helps but a heavy workout kills recall.

[Fantersam]

I remember there was a thread about that before. But I dont know why it should kill recall I also workout 4 times a week. Maybe its because you're too much attached to the idea that working out kills recall. Edit: http://www.dreamviews.com/f15/exerci...-sleep-109787/ here it is, looks like exercising has not a big influence on REM-sleep. Its just the believe what kills the recall, I think.

[Dark_Merlin]

Personally I found the complete opposite - on the days where I'd go running and work out I'd have much better recall and have a way better chance of having a lucid dream! I think your problem does come down to the attention you're paying to the idea in your head that working out is bad for recall. Exercise is good for the body and the mind - keeping healthy keeps your dreaming healthy!

[starfox69]

Maybe its because you're too much attached to the idea that working out kills recall. I don't think it's a placebo effect, because I doubt he went into lucid dreaming think that a work out will kill his recall. It may be the fact that you are sleeping for the whole night, if I don't wake up between dreams I have a much harder time remembered all of them, but then again I'm a high school athlete so everyday is a hard work out

[Alucinor XIII]

I have no evidence for this, but I think a good workout has the REM-Rebound effect. It makes sense to me anyway. After a hard workout, your body needs rest. If I recall correctly, Deep sleep is where most of the restorative aspects of sleep occur, which is dreamless sleep. So, early on in the night your body is mostly in deep sleep to repair and build muscle after a strenuous day. But the REM sleep (where vivid dreaming occurs) is important as well, so perhaps it makes up for it later in the night-- thus a REM Rebound? When I worked out 6 days a week, I had high energy and pretty vivid recall. But I always got 8 hours of sleep at least, too.

[00lefty]

I have to agree with Starfox, if I sleep all through the night I have no recall. I've been working out a lot this week and have had decent recall, but I've focused on mantras way more than usual.