History

The new culture in legalized states is adding cannabis to yoga classes. This seems like a likely pair as cannabis helps calm the mind, eases anxiety, and helps one focus inward – sounds like a yoga class right? Exactly.

The Vedas, ancient Hindu text, references the use of cannabis as early as 2000 to 1400 B.C. Cannabis was referred to as a source of happiness, released one from anxiety, and helped achieve the end goal of Nirvana. There are many stories of Lord Shiva (a well known yoga God) using bhang (drink made from the leaves and flowers of cannabis plant), or burning ganja as an incense or smoking it to calm the mind and restore the body. According to Hindu texts bhang is known as one of the most effective natural medicines know to mankind. Texts also reference that Shiva utilizes bhang to keep himself in a highly meditative state of complete bliss and mindfulness.

Doesn’t cannabis make you feel instantly calmed and more focused the second it touches your lips and is in inhaled into the lungs? Coincidence? I think not.

Using cannabis to dive deeper into your yoga practice seems like the next logical step as more states are legalizing and people are choosing cannabis over other substances for recreational purposes. While it can be debilitating at high dosages a small puff (or two) before a yoga flow can do wonders. Ever sit down on your mat and instantly start thinking of a 100 irrelevant things and while the teacher is offering that you calm your mind and thoughts all you can do is the exact opposite? Ya me too. Cannabis helps calm the chatter in the mind, allows you to focus your thoughts inwards and focus attention back onto the body.

Cannabis guides the thoughts to expand into levels of consciousness that are hard to reach when practicing mediation. Meditation all of a sudden becomes slightly easier as the breath starts to come and go with ease as it should. Alignment in poses starts to make more sense as you are more focused on your own body and mind connection, not what the student next to you is doing. This pairing allows you to focus on yourself, dive a little deeper into your practice seeking out higher levels of consciousness, and truly expand through the mind and into the body.

Check out future blog posts of studios around the U.S. adding cannabis and yoga classes into their weekly mix and decide if it’s a good match for your practice! Or hey, if you’re not into getting high with a bunch of strangers light one up and drop onto your mat now. You’ll thank me I promise.