More and more people, even in the West, are approaching the practice of yoga. This is to fully exploit the undoubted benefits that this ancient discipline originating from India offers to practitioners. Even if we don't all know exactly what it consists of, we are immediately able to identify a person who does yoga . It will be stretching and forcing the body into poses that are difficult to strike. And even more difficult to maintain, in a state of apparent calm. Do you know the effects of cannabis on yoga? Read the whole article to discover the connections and relevance between two things, which are only apparently very different. Specifically we will talk to you about:
- Yoga for spirituality
- Yoga for the well-being of the body
- Yoga and cannabis light
- The help of CBD
Yoga for spirituality
But in the terminologies of Indian religions, yoga is seen above all as the path to take to achieve spiritual salvation . A practice that involves the body but also the mind , and for which perseverance, self-control and concentration are required. A philosophy that over the centuries has developed its own vision also in matters of ethics and theology .
Regardless of the height of the goals and the results within the practitioner's reach, it is certain that yoga improves and deepens self-knowledge . It gives awareness of the mechanisms in place in our body and which regulate its functioning. Breathing, heartbeat, accumulation and dissipation of heat . Mechanisms that we don't particularly pay attention to during the normal activities of daily life (unless we are professional yoga teachers!).
Yoga for the well-being of the body
Add to this that yoga gymnastics lengthens and firms the muscles, highlights one's postural errors and helps to correct them. It relaxes the mind and soothes tension, stimulates the release of endorphins (the famous "happiness hormones"). And this explains why it is successful even among the least "mystical" Westerners. In short: it is not necessary to understand and embrace Indian religious philosophies: those who are not interested in the path to spiritual salvation. However, yoga offers excellent tips for saving the body.
And in fact, when we commonly talk about yoga in the West, we now mean a series of physical activities that often have little to do with yoga as traditionally understood. Activities that combine body gymnastics and breathing control exercises, psychophysical techniques that combine meditation and relaxation.
In addition to the enormous variety of yoga "lessons" (self-taught learning is strongly discouraged), different techniques have also arisen: different ways of obtaining the same benefits. One of these, for example, is " hot yoga " which, as the term suggests, consists of practicing yoga indoors. With a controlled temperature of around forty degrees and a high level of humidity in the air. The advantages of this apparent form of torture are many: sweating and drinking are an excellent detox. The heat then protects the muscles and helps them relax, and stimulates cardiovascular activity.
In an activity strongly based on stretching, warming up and relaxing the muscles are in fact an essential condition for the practitioner. Under penalty of tears, sprains or, in the best of cases, incorrect execution of the prescribed positions and movements.
Yoga and cannabis light
On another side, in parallel with the spread of yoga, some proponents of cannabis light have decided to attempt a transversal approach. To combine the practice of yoga with the consumption of CBD. Or if we want to put two passions together.
Now: we must immediately state that, in general, the yoga-cannabis combination is certainly not a recent new-age invention. In fact, cannabis is mentioned in the Vedas (sacred texts of Hinduism) as one of the five sacred plants. And images of Śiva smoking chillum are found everywhere . It is easy to find testimonials and documentation on websites about the experiences that yoga practitioners or teachers have had under the influence of THC. It can be briefly observed that in the case of sporadic THC users, not everyone was enthusiastic about the combination. Preferring to keep the two things separate. This should not be surprising: the effect of some varieties of cannabis, taken in large quantities, can be very strong. For some, this can interfere with the concentration needed for yoga practice.
The yoga-cannabis combination may have the advantage of being able to do without the psychoactive effects of THC. To limit ourselves to the well-known typical properties of CBD oil, which on paper are well reconciled with the search for introspection and relaxation. Starting from a purely physiological point of view, it is known that, for example, CBD has relaxing properties. It soothes arthritis, is an anti-inflammatory, but above all it is an effective muscle relaxant.
The help of CBD
Experience has shown how taking CBD can help prepare the muscles for the subsequent stretching to which they will be subjected , constituting a sort of pre-stretching. Preparing the practitioner for what will be the physical part of yoga. Something not very different from the function ( one of the functions) of controlled heat in hot yoga. With the difference that exercising at forty degrees centigrade is not accessible to everyone (there may be interference with blood pressure, or it may be inhibited for those following particular therapies). The CBD present in light cannabis plants does not have this drawback. The decrease in muscle tension also promotes mental relaxation, and the body and mind are now ready to cross the legs on the mat.
Furthermore, CBD is the legal active ingredient, unlike THC, although it improves sleep cycles it does not induce real torpor . Extremely dangerous risk for a yoga practitioner, who must relax but not sleep. This peculiarity makes it a useful aid to introspection, without clouding concentration.
The news has just arrived these days: Hemp embassy is the first company in Milan that has started yoga courses among cannabis cuttings, held by master Davide Oggioni. Therefore, in addition to the direct influence of CBD on the consumer mentioned above, the (confirmed) theory is that the session bears better fruit if it is hosted in a natural environment. The masters noticed a greater immediacy of the practitioners in reaching the right "state" for each single phase of the lesson (the "asanas": the individual positions to be assumed gradually). For their part, practitioners assert that even just the typical omnipresent and light scent and the simple sight of the plants arranged around induce further relaxation. And they facilitate concentration and therefore immersion in the experience.
A final consideration can be added, linked to the concept of sensitivity , a consideration that yoga and cannabis light have in common. Without going into the specifics of the functioning of the endocannabinoid system or the difference between the two substances, we will simply say that the effect of CBD is certainly much gentler than that of THC. This effect must be "sought", supported, listened to (and it is a two-way relationship: even CBD supports rather than imposes itself). It is a "fragile" effect, which when it arrives must be protected or dissipates. The regular consumer knows this. And this condition of availability, listening and waiting for the effect is very similar to the activity of availability, listening and waiting required by the yoga exercise.
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