The Art and Science of Ganja Yoga

If there is one thing that could make yoga so much more relaxing and rejuvenating, then it would be ‘ganja yoga’. Consuming cannabis while doing yoga or “Ganja Yoga”, a term coined by yogis who are also advocates of cannabis, is slowly gaining popularity.

Yogis who have experienced the effect of yoga while being high have said that it has improved their journey in ways they could not have imagined.

A lot of people will think that this is a rather bizarre combo, but there are many known benefits to ganja yoga that a lot of people ought to know. If you are looking to enhance your practice, then this is definitely worth a try.

The Roots of Ganja Yoga

The history of yoga and cannabis together go way back to ancient times where meditation for spiritual wellness is greatly valued.

The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, is a wide collection of ancient texts about yoga practice and meditation written during the second century in Patanjali, India. These texts talk about cannabis and its relation to meditation in detail.

Yogasutras 4.1 states that:

“Cannabis use allows for a quieting of the outside world, and the ability to focus more totally on the interior process of meditation.”

It suggests that cannabis can have the same sedative effect like yoga.

Contrary to popular belief, the miracle plant actually helps you steer clear of negative and jumbled thoughts, as it clears the mind.

Kriya Yoga master Swami Satyananda Saraswati adds that,

“…by infusing ganja or some hallucinogenic drug, the chemical properties of the gross body change. The heart slows down, the breathing rate changes, the brain waves alter and the mind becomes calm and still. Is it not possible to arrive at the same point through Kriya Yoga?”

The concept of cannabis yoga is said to be only new to the western part of the world.

Today, the enhanced meditational practice is being called by different and popular names like; “Ganja Yoga”, “420 Remedy Yoga”, or simply “enhanced yoga”. Regardless of what it is called, cannabis yoga is a rising trend especially in countries like Canada and legal states in the U.S.

How is Ganja Yoga Done?

Ganja yoga can be done in several ways. Some practitioners consume cannabis prior to the class, while others pass around a joint or a plastic bag filled with vapor, commonly known as a vape balloon.

Some of the reasons why people choose to consume cannabis before a class is to relax their muscles to achieve a more tranquil state of mind. On the other hand, the sharing of a joint or balloon also fosters unity and establishes positive energy among the practising group.

There are certain do’s and don’ts, or as we will call ‘Ganga Yoga Etiquette‘ when participating while high. You don’t want to be collapsing on your neighbour during class because you lost balance, feeling sick or have lost your focus.

1- Make sure you are balanced. If it’s your first time practice it at home to ensure you know how to achieve balance in positions.

2- Breathing is important in yoga and if you find that cannabis inhalation is causing you short of breath consider other methods such as edibles or vaping before class.

3- Focus. Don’t overdo it, you want to keep a clear mind and goal while in session, so don’t over do it on the cannabis vapor, know your limits.

The Many Benefits of Cannabis and Yoga

Yoga and cannabis do pretty well in helping people relax on their own, but what are the benefits when you combined the two?

It’s not so much about achieving a deeper sense of relaxation, but it’s more about creating a better experience for both practising yoga and using cannabis. With these in mind, a clear mental state alongside a calm disposition can definitely help a lot of people in achieving the peak of relaxation.

As mentioned, the pairing has many benefits – both medically and psychologically. Medically speaking, cannabis helps people who have muscle problems in participating in yoga classes since it relaxes the body altogether.

The herb on its own is known to be an effective pain reliever as discussed in our article Cannabis for Pain Treatment and Management for various conditions like scoliosis and arthritis. There’s also a sense of balance one could achieve while doing cannabis yoga.

Practitioners have a lot of good things to say about this rising wellness trend, and they are all singing the same tune – it is a life-changing experience that made each yoga class more fulfilling and efficient than ever.

Experience it Yourself

For cannabis advocates, enthusiasts, and yoga practitioners, this synergistic pairing is a dream. Many practice yoga due to their stressful lives at home and work. These individuals are in hope of achieving total relaxation even just for 60 – 90 minutes, and with ganja yoga, their experience can be even better– making those pockets of calmness worthwhile.

If you are looking into practising cannabis yoga, you may experience enlightenment and clarity in the clouds.

Would you personally try ganja yoga as a wellness practice?

Rae Alson

She's a mother to three dogs, and she tries to live life as happily as she can. She's a huge fan of pop music, and she has this habit of listening to albums all in one go. When she's not busy writing, watching movies and attempting to create tasty dishes in the kitchen are what she does with her time. Professionally, she's been in digital advertising and content writing for more than five years.