GANJA YOGA MYTHS

In my fourteen years of teaching Ganja Yoga, I’ve come across many naysayers and various criticisms of the pairing  As my practice has evolved and continues to, the myths have not.

Which shows how slowly some myths about cannabis take to dissolve out of the cultural zeitgeist.

Here are the top 3 myths I clarify on a consistent and regular basis. Have you heard any of these before, or perhaps, believed any of them yourself?? 

Myth #1: Ganja Yoga Is ‘Cheating’ Spirituality

The last time I wrote about this topic was when I wrote my Harper Collins best-selling book Ganja Yoga in 2017, and occasionally I still hear this kind of thing from yoga teachers and other spiritual practitioners. The book addresses this myth in more depth, but for this blog post, let’s start with the fact that we’re each on our own unique spiritual path. 

One person may belong to an organized religion. Another person may experience their spiritual journey in solitude. One person may devote their lives to sacrifice as their spiritual path, whereas others may meditate, or dance, or revel in nature.

However We Choose To Journey Through Life Spiritually, There Is No Person’s Judgment That Can Be Higher Than Ourselves. We Are The Only Ones We Need To Prove Something To. 

We choose our path based on our unique history, beliefs, upbringing, … and heck maybe even our karma. We are all on our own spiritual path, - regardless of how we decide to practice, display, or devote ourselves.. Our path and practice will be different from anyone else’s. I cannot emphasize this point enough. 

As such, - however we choose to enhance or assist our spiritual practices, - whether it be with incense, a meditation cushion, an ancient prayer book, or cannabis, is totally our own thing. Not for the commentary of others.

Just as we choose to use a yoga block to facilitate our physical state, some of us will choose cannabis, cacao, Ayahuasca, or other plants  to facilitate our mental (and often physical) states. 

If others think we are cheating or bypassing, but not willing to look at how they also use tools to facilitate their practice, well, - we can just send them love and move on with our lives. It’s so nice to just stay in our lane!

Myth #2: Cannabis Is Numbing & Addictive

First

addiction is a real thing. A topic I never take lightly, due to my experience with family addiction in my teenage years. I completely understand the potential for dependency that comes with using cannabis, and myself and other Ganja Yoga Teachers all practice using the substance mindfully (just like we might practice mindfulness with carbs and sweets, social media and tv, work, shopping, and anything else that might be used without consciousness and intentionality ).

Second

Ganja Yoga emphasizes loving-awareness and mindful use, and if we find we’re using the medicine more as a mask, crutch, or numbing agent, we reassess, take a T-break (tolerance fast), and come back to the plant with a more respectful attitude.

Third

just because something can numb us to our emotions, or be used unconsciously or in a dependent-way, doesn’t mean that all use is addictive or harmful. If that were the case we would never use social media or eat any sugar. Some of us will enjoy a more hedonic path as our spiritual journey, and we don’t have to defend this openness to life to anyone.

Myth #3: Yoga Is A Sober Practice And Doesn’t Need To Be Enhanced.

Yoga is a great practice in all forms. It’s complete, comprehensive, varied, and ever-changing. And, for anyone who isn’t aware, had cannabis at its origin story.

In fact, cannabis was used spiritually all over the ancient world. Not in every lineage of yoga, not by every practitioner, and not endorsed by every guru. But, if you look back far enough, to the first yogic texts (The Vedas), cannabis is mentioned. So there. :)

Bonus Myth : Cannabis-Enhanced Yoga Is Dangerous

When people think Ganja Yoga is a bad idea, usually it’s because they think something about it may be dangerous. Often that’s because they don’t smoke pot all that much, saw a Cheech and Chong movie once, and assume me and my students will be hot boxing the room and then stumbling around like intoxicated goofs on our sticky mats. Not exactly.

First: You Don’t Have To Get Super Baked To Practice Cannabis-Enhanced Yoga.

It’s always an option, of course, but sometimes it feels right to do a smaller dose before a practice (or even a microdose, where the effect is only-barely-felt). CBD and topicals are a way to use cannabis and not get high at all. So, even intoxicated is an option, but probably not an ideal one, at least for people less experienced with cannabis and yoga.

Second, Weed Doesn’t Actually Make You All That Clumsy.

States with legal cannabis don’t have higher cannabis-related car accidents, for example. The theory is that cannabis might make drivers more aware and cautious. Fancy that!

I Won’t Kid You Though, - Sometimes Balancing Postures Become Slightly Harder When Under The Influence, But My Students Actually Tend To Report Greater Embodiment And Awareness, Even As They Topple.

It really depends on how much you consume: Start low and go slow, you can always add more as you go.And, a good Ganja Yoga Teacher is not going to instruct mixed-level students to do something that may be dangerous. The goal is to relax, connect, and find peace, not do Instagram-worthy poses. Your teacher (and your common sense) should make sure what you get up to in your yoga practice is safe, relaxing, and fun, in that order.

Conclusion: Myths Aren’t Going To Stop Us

These little stories about cannabis-yogis: That we’re “cheating” or bypassing, that we’re addicted or unconscious in our use, (that cannabis use is inherently dangerous), that yoga doesn’t “need” cannabis, and that enhanced-yoga is dangerous, - well, I hate to say it, it’s just the remnants of the Dark Ages we are coming out of regarding psychedelics. 

As more research into the safety and spiritual powers of cannabis and other medicines comes to the forefront, these myths will become weaker and soon, won’t even exist at all. If you encounter them, remember to have compassion for the person who’s repeating them. They too have been victims of a global anti-cannabis campaign, and it’s not really their fault. If they’re open to a genuine dialogue, you might share some of this. 

Or, maybe you just stroll away, roll out your mat, and move through a flow with peace in your heart. You are on a valid path!

APPRECIATE YOU!
XO D.