Over 20 years ago, when I met with one of my teachers in southern Oregon at 6 AM to begin training, I asked him the obvious:

“Why do you train so early in the morning?”

Without hesitating, he said, “I take care of number one first. When I do that, I feel great the rest of the day. And if I don’t, I go through the day not only feeling less energized, but also a bit resentful of everyone I work with. I’m stuck taking care of them before I took care of myself. If I make sure I take time
for myself first, then everything else flows much better.”

I made a note.

Years later, same situation, different country.

I’m meeting Master Liu at 6 AM to train. We’re in China on Hainan Island and it’s already so hot I’m sweating without even moving.

I didn’t have to ask him why we trained so early; he told me before I could.

“We train in the morning before others get up. It’s more peaceful. We have the world to ourselves at this time.”

But with Master Liu, early morning wasn’t the only time he trained. It was just the beginning of training.

Sometimes he’d call me to meet him at noon – or in the mid-afternoon – or in the evening.

When I visited his home in Henan Province, his family showed me where he trained as a youth – and how often.

“Here’s where he punched the wall,” his mother pointed out. “He was upset one day and hit the wall. You can see the crack. It goes on for several feet.”

This morning I was up early, training. Not as early as 6 AM – but early enough to take in the sun’s early morning rays.

The phone rang. It chimed with messages and email alerts.

I trained right through them. I never stopped to answer – or to look.

Why?

Taking care of myself first.

If I neglect to take care of myself, what do I really have to give others?

This is why I almost always advise people to do their training in the morning, before you give anyone else a minute of your time.

Whether you start your day with exercise, prayer, visualization, meditation or a combination thereof, take care of numero uno first. When you do so, you’ll tend to treat those you come in contact with as if they’re “number one.”

For those of you looking for WHAT to do, exercise-wise, when you get up each day, you’ll find no better program than what I’m offering and teaching to members of the Furey Faithful.

Last week we put up several videos of the 2.0 version of Hindu Pushups that will work your entire body, inside and out.

Doing them “first” each day will set you up for success with others. You’ll feel energized and grounded because you did these exercises before you met with anyone to talk about anything.

Look at it this way: When your dog or cat has been resting and decides to get up, he stretches first. He doesn’t just get up and “go to work.”

What a whirld we’d live in if everyone got up and took care of himself or herself first, making sure he felt grounded, centered and energized before talking to or meeting anyone else.

Oh well, too big a picture there. How bout one person at a time getting up early and doing what gets him ready for the day.

Yeah, that’s more like it.

Consider being one of these people. It would be great to have you join me in this journey.

Yours,

Matt “Coach” Furey

P.S. If you think you already know how to do Hindu Pushups – think again. There’s a lot that’s never been revealed before in the 2.0 version. Come check it out. Come train with me.