Article Submitted By: Green Love Denver
The practice of combining cannabis and yoga can be traced back to The Vedas ancient Hindu text in the Indian culture since as early as 2000 to 1400 B.C.
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Cannabis has been noted as one of the five sacred plants due to it’s uplifting qualities and its ability to release tension and anxiety when used purposefully.
In today’s culture, with cannabis legalization on the rise, many consumers are adding cannabis into their yoga practice.
People are realizing that weed and yoga are a match made in Zen!
Together, they create a deeper mind-body-spirit connection as well as help calm the mind during meditation.
What To Expect When Paring Weed And Yoga
Recognizing the intention behind consuming cannabis is the first step in the process.
Each individual should reflect upon their own reasoning behind using the plant medicine in conjunction with their yoga practice.
Whether it be to release tension or anxiety, alleviate chronic pain, or to help guide one into the present moment – the practitioner should set an intention before practicing.
When consuming for the first time before practice you should remain mindful of the effects of cannabis on the body. Fill up completely with the cannabis before exhaling.
Take note of how the mind and body now feel as the cannabis begins to regulate through your system.
It is important to be aware of your own personal experience with cannabis before practicing yoga.
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Everyone has varying levels of tolerance, and different strains affect each person differently.
Utilizing cannabis in meditation is a great way to drop into the present moment. The effects of cannabis in conjunction with breath work allows the mind to slow down, and thoughts to dissolve.
Best Strains For Yoga Practice
Try experimenting with strains such as Granddaddy Purple,that include the same terpene (scent) profile, linalool, that the Lavender plant has.
A strain like Granddaddy Purp helps to relieve pain, is anti-inflammatory, promotes sleep, and aids in alleviating depression and anxiety.
Pairing high CBD strains such as Harlequin and ACDC are great options for novice smokers, especially those who usually experience anxiety from weed.
CBD relieves pain, is anti-inflammatory, and reduces anxiety, all while being non-psychoactive.
Regardless of the method of consumption, each student should listen to their body and honor their relationship with cannabis. Understanding how the body reacts to the high allows for a more intimate yoga experience.
If you prefer consuming edibles before practicing, take note of how long the edible takes to enter into the bloodstream.
Often times, edibles take longer to digest than smoking or vaping would. Starting low and slow on a dosage is the best way to experiment with edible consumption for your practice.
How To Practice Yoga While High
When practicing yoga with cannabis, you should remain open minded about the experience.
Each teacher and class offers a unique experience for students to engage in. It is important for students to try out various classes in order to find a good fit for their own practice.
Whether the class is a more upbeat vinyasa flow paired with a sativa strain of cannabis (uplifting cerebral effects), or mellow movement enhanced by an indica strain (generally physically sedative) each class has its own benefits.
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Students should feel empowered to try new cannabis yoga classes appearing across the country. With so many different methodologies on how to pair cannabis and yoga, the options for self-exploration are endless.
Utilizing cannabis into your yoga practice should be an uplifting and invigorating experience. Cannabis opens the mind to new possibilities, the ability to problem solve more clearly, and allows for a deeper understanding of oneself.
When paired with yoga the end result can be euphoric.
What To Expect After A Cannabis Yoga Session
After finishing a cannabis yoga class the body and mind should be in a total state of relaxation and bliss.
The physical and mental benefits of yoga in combination with the health benefits of cannabis allows for a perfect pairing.
The cannabis plant holds many physical and emotional benefits that can help people reach their highest potential.
Utilizing cannabis and yoga allows one to heal both the mind and body in the safe space of their yoga mat.
I invite you all to explore the potential of adding cannabis into your yoga practice and share the experience with others.
As more people become educated on it’s benefits the more the movement will spread and prove beneficial to the mind and body.
This article first appeared on Green Love Denver.