Cannabis enhanced yoga is a practice that combines the use of cannabis with yoga practices. It is thousands of years old and started in South Asia.
The practice has gained popularity in recent years, as more people are discovering the benefits of combining cannabis with their yoga practice, and I was the first Western teacher to offer public cannabis-enhanced classes, … back in 2009 (!), when I started Ganja Yoga.
Ganja Yoga Is About Using Quality Cannabis, Accessible, Relaxation-Based Yoga, And Community Connection For Health And Wellness.
For some people, any old cannabis will do, but not for us. And, the yoga we do is slow, safe, simple, all-levels, and biomechanical. That’s paramount.
And, if we were to add to the list of key elements of Ganja Yoga, we’d also include…
1. Mindful Consumption Of Cannabis
It’s important to consume cannabis with full presence and appreciation. After-all, she’s doing so much for us. Mindfulness can help to enhance the overall experience of the Ganja Yoga, and improve the mind-body connection and healing. At Ganja Yoga, we encourage mindful, even intentional cannabis use (though, we meet people where they’re at and don’t force a sacred approach onto people).
2. Cannabis Strains
The second element of Ganja Yoga is the selection of the right cannabis strains. Different strains can have different effects on the body and mind, and different effects for different people. Some strains contain terpenes that can help to enhance focus, while others can help to relax the body and reduce anxiety. It is important to choose a strain that is appropriate for your needs and goals, and this will take research and practice. Much practice, heehee.
Track your fave strains with our new Cannabis Strain Journal, and let us know which ones work best for your GY practice!
3. Holistic Yoga Practice
The third element of cannabis enhanced yoga is the actual yoga practice. This includes a variety of accessible physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation practices. The holistic practice of yoga help to improve flexibility, strength, balance, mental clarity and peace, … and might even move us toward enlightenment, - said to be the goal of all yoga. Speaking of which, the next key element is meditation.
4. Meditation
After mindful consumption, ingesting a choice cannabis strain, and practicing a gentle, safe, accessible and relaxing yoga flow, - now it’s time for dessert.
We lay back and get super-comfy (since relaxation is the first step to meditation), and then we practice allowing thoughts to come and go, without attachment. This practice can bring immediate relaxation, and over time, the neural groove created from practice makes relaxation even easier to attain next time.
Meditation Is The Fruit Of Our Yoga Practice.
Even one minute in Savasa (Corpse Pose) can honor and cement your time on the mat, though 5-20 minutes of meditation after practice is most-righteous.
5. Connection With Community
Though many of us like to practice Ganja Yoga Online at home so we can exhale loudly without feeling self-conscious (... does anyone else do that…?), a huge part of Ganja Yoga is the community.
When you get to class someone passes you a joint.
When you do the Zoom class, the teacher encourages sharing with the group.
At our most recent Hybrid Livestream Training, we had 50 people from five different countries.
Heck, people have become engaged after meeting at Ganja Yoga classes!
Hanging With A Like-Minded Community Is Crucial In These Tumultuous Times.
Once in a while, see if you can find ways to connect with other Ganja Yogis, either virtually or in-person, and reap the rewards. Even supporting each other on social media can be super connecting.
Ok, so there you have the key elements of Ganja Yoga:
Mindfulness
Strain appreciation
Holistic yoga
Meditation
Community
If we had more time, we probably could think of another dozen key elements, but we’ll stop here for today and share more another time.
Of course, how the ancient South Asian and modern Indian Sadhus practice cannabis-enhanced yoga is pretty different from what we might do in modern yoga studios, but we are all looking for peace, and we all deserve it. … On that note, have a blazed and beautiful day, and I shall talk with you soon!
Thanks for being a part of the Ganja Yoga family!!
