Elevating my Experience

Why did it take me so long to arrive at the idea of incorporating cannabis into my yoga practice, you ask? I could not tell you. It is such an obvious match made in heaven that all I can do is laugh at myself for not considering it sooner. Sure, I find myself stretching and moving through poses at home when I smoke some weed, or sometimes even throwing a class on my phone to do from my bedroom. For whatever reason I never decided to partake before heading to the studio for a class until this weekend.

I signed up for Saturday’s Restorative Yoga & Reiki class at my studio knowing it would be uncharted territory for me. More of a vinyasa flow girl, I had never done true restorative yoga or Reiki, and I was excited. 

For anyone unfamiliar with these practices, restorative yoga involves holding gentle poses for an extended period of time (usually 5-7 minutes), with the support of props. Reiki is a Japanese healing practice in which trained practitioners use light touch–or sometimes no touch at all–to channel and balance energy. I have been aware of it since I was a child and I have seen it practiced on others, but having never done it before, I really had no idea what to expect. 

Introducing cannabis to this experience was really a no-brainer once the idea landed in my head. Prior to class, I sparked one of our gas pump pre-rolls and packed my mat. My husband dropped me off and took our daughter on a dinner date while I got beyond blissed out in my class. A total win for the family, I’d say. 

Not only do I have #noregrets about using cannabis prior to my class, I actually believe I owe the deep level of relaxation I felt and mystical experience I had to it. I was fully present in my body and open to stillness, something that can usually trigger impatience for me. My muscles melted into my mat and my mind quieted. I was fully available to non-judgmentally receiving the practice.

I am not embellishing when I say that while the first Reiki practitioner had her hands on my lower back, I felt like my whole body was floating a few inches off of the ground. When the next practitioner came to work on me, I could feel vibrations coming from her hands and radiating through my body. I figured she must have been moving her hands to achieve this, but when I opened my eyes and peeked at her working on my neighbor, she was completely still. I could not believe it. 

The Science Says So, Too…

A 2023 study published by the University of British Columbia offers some scientific evidence that supports my experience. Curious about whether contextual factors such as setting and activities impact the effects and therapeutic benefits of cannabis, researchers had one-half of study participants complete a 45-minute yoga class following consumption, and one-half participate in the normal activities they would otherwise engage in (watch TV, socialize, eat, do a hobby, etc.). Well-being outcome assessments indicated that the individuals in the yoga condition scored significant improvements in “mysticality of experience and state mindfulness.” The proof is in the pudding, my friends. 

Lifting Your Practice

Are you curious about elevating your yoga practice by incorporating cannabis but feel stuck on how to start? First, I recommend being familiar with the studio you are practicing at prior to bringing weed into the picture. Knowing what to expect and being comfortable can reduce any potential external factors such as nervousness or anxiety throwing off your chill. 

Next, be sure to use a product, strain, or method of consumption that is tried and true for you. Knowing what you’re in for will help you make the most informed decision regarding what effects will lend themselves best to the experience. I chose Silver’s Gas Pump strain knowing that it is uplifting and energizing but also calming to my mind. There are other products that really get my thoughts going, which certainly has a time and place outside of my yoga practice. 

Finally, consider the type of class you are taking. Perhaps you don’t want your first go at this to be in a power flow class that is heavy on balances and inversions. Or, maybe you do! Mindfulness and self-awareness are key. 

As the 75-minute class came to an end and our savasana wrapped up, I could hear my two-year-old giggling and running around outside, waiting to pick me up. That sound, forever my favorite, brought me back to my body and sealed my practice. I knew I was exactly where I should be. Two days later, I’m still riding that high. 

This post was written with a cup of matcha and, you guessed it, Silver Therapeutics’ Gas Pump strain. Matcha is a powdered-form of tea made from crushed young Japanese green tea leaves. Due to its preparation methods, you end up consuming the whole leaf, boosting its antioxidant and energizing effects. While it does contain caffeine, the presence of L-theanine mitigates any unwanted energy crash later in the day. If you ask my husband, it tastes like grass, but don’t we love grass around here? Speaking of which, Silver’s Gas Pump strain is a delightful hybrid with limonene that strikes the perfect balance of uplifting and relaxing. 

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