All around Denver yoga classes are including cannabis friendly vinyasa flows and guided plant-based meditation to their schedules. Bend & Blaze has been a trailblazer for this pairing starting back in 2015. Today there are over 50+ people showing up weekly to have a chance to unwind through cannabis and yoga. Cultivated Synergy and Yoga Instructor Amanda Hintz host the class in the RiNo District where companies are able to co-work and host private industry events. This week’s Bend & Blaze’s 420 kickoff class was sponsored by Focused Labs, a concentrate company, and Herbal Cure a local dispensary in Denver.
The class was hip-hop themed with a wide variety of instrumentals from 2Pac, Drake, and Eminem. The second the class started and I settled into child’s pose I began to feel at home in my body. My mind was clear, there was no anxiety in my breath, and my body started to release tension. I could feel the breath rising and falling in the rib cage allowing my hips to release and sink deeper into the mat with each round exhalations. Using cannabis as a way to connect your own mind, body, and spirit Is a great tool to dive deeper into your practice.Don’t expect to casually move through the poses in this class. Long holds in Warrior II, challenging balances from Tadasana to Warrior III, and Malasana squats were all in the mix. While the class was demanding using cannabis as a supplement allowed the body to move more freely without any preconceived notions. I was able to drop into poses easier than normal and by using the breathe I was able to lengthen and move with ease.
After working up a decent sweat for about 30 minutes we moved to the floor. This was the reward after a hard workout. My muscles had lengthened through the standing series and as a result I was able to stretch much deeper during floor work. Bending forward in paschimottanasana with Biggie playing in the background “It was all a dream” I felt like I was truly living a dream. The connection between mind and body is real and can be achieved a little easier through the assistance of cannabis.For those leery about the connection between the power of the plant and yoga I encourage you to try a small dose of cannabis before a yoga class or your own home practice. The cannabis receptors naturally found inside our bodies in the Endocannabinoid System react to the THC when one inhales. While people react in different ways and can sometimes become anxious or nervous while smoking, using cannabis during a yoga class should have a healing and calming affect. Utilizing cannabis before a yoga session allows you to slow down the mind, focus deeper on the mind body connection that is intended in yoga, and truly relax into the poses.Ending the class in savasansa with the smooth sounds of Drake was a perfect finish. I left the class with my mind feeling relaxed yet my body felt nourished and energized. For anyone looking to add cannabis to their yoga practice Bend & Blaze is a great place to start.
After working up a decent sweat for about 30 minutes we moved to the floor. This was the reward after a hard workout. My muscles had lengthened through the standing series and as a result I was able to stretch much deeper during floor work. Bending forward in paschimottanasana with Biggie playing in the background “It was all a dream” I felt like I was truly living a dream. The connection between mind and body is real and can be achieved a little easier through the assistance of cannabis.For those leery about the connection between the power of the plant and yoga I encourage you to try a small dose of cannabis before a yoga class or your own home practice. The cannabis receptors naturally found inside our bodies in the Endocannabinoid System react to the THC when one inhales. While people react in different ways and can sometimes become anxious or nervous while smoking, using cannabis during a yoga class should have a healing and calming affect. Utilizing cannabis before a yoga session allows you to slow down the mind, focus deeper on the mind body connection that is intended in yoga, and truly relax into the poses.Ending the class in savasansa with the smooth sounds of Drake was a perfect finish. I left the class with my mind feeling relaxed yet my body felt nourished and energized. For anyone looking to add cannabis to their yoga practice Bend & Blaze is a great place to start.