Yoga While High: The Pros, the Cons and the Right Dose

Yes, you can do yoga high, and plenty of people do: a moderate dose of cannabis can help some practitioners relax, breathe deeper and get out of their heads on the mat. The catch is dose and format. Too much weed throws off your balance, can drop your blood pressure and turns focus into fog, so the sweet spot is a light buzz, not a couch-lock.

Yoga is known for what it does for body, mind and spirit, and cannabis has long been used for its relaxing and medicinal properties, so it's no surprise people want to combine them. Here's a look at the relationship between yoga and cannabis, the arguments for and against mixing them, and what to keep in mind before you roll out the mat.

What is "cannabis yoga"?

"Cannabis yoga," sometimes called "weed yoga," has caught on as a trend in places where weed is legal, like Colorado, California and Canada.

The idea is simple: pair the ancient practice of yoga with cannabis, on the theory that it can deepen the connection between body, mind and spirit while you flow.

Fans of the practice say cannabis brings a relaxing quality that complements yoga. Dee Dussault, founder of Ganja Yoga in San Francisco, for example, argues that cannabis can help "quiet the ego" and get practitioners out of their heads, making the experience more embodied and offering some pain relief along the way.

Yoga and cannabis: a little history, then and now

History shows a long-standing bond between cannabis and spirituality, especially in regions that are now Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan and India.

According to ancient Hindu texts such as the Vedas, the gods created cannabis on top of Mount Mandara, and Shiva, one of the main Hindu deities, brought it down to Earth for humans to enjoy. Cannabis is said to be his favorite food and to play an essential role in humanity's spiritual evolution.

That said, some traditional schools of thought, like Ayurveda, raise questions about cannabis use. Ayurveda recognizes the plant's holistic properties, but it also warns that there are limits to how much you should use.

Physician and spiritual teacher Alakananda Ma points out that while cannabis may have potential benefits on the spiritual path, using it indiscriminately and outside the right cultural context can cause problems and end up working against your practice.

What are the pros and cons of doing yoga high?

Pros of meditating with cannabis

The potential upsides of ganja yoga, meaning yoga practiced after consuming cannabis, vary from person to person, but they can make a real difference on the mat:

• Better focus: Many people find that a moderate dose helps them concentrate during practice without getting overwhelmed by the high.
• Relaxation: Cannabinoids like THC and CBD, known for their calming effects, may help people unwind, control their breathing and connect more deeply with body and mind during yoga.
• Heightened senses: Some people notice their senses sharpen when they're high, which can make the sensory side of yoga richer.
• Fewer inhibitions: If you get nervous or anxious before class, cannabis can act as a natural social lubricant and help you push past those emotional barriers.

Cons of meditating with cannabis

Still, mixing yoga and weed has some potential downsides worth knowing about:

• Worse coordination: Some people struggle to coordinate their movements precisely when they're high, which can make certain poses or transitions harder to nail.
• Low blood pressure: Cannabis affects blood pressure in different ways, and in some cases it can lower it, which can leave you dizzy or lightheaded when you come up too fast during practice.
• Less focus: A moderate dose may sharpen concentration, but a big one can do the opposite and make it hard to stay present on the mat.
• Discomfort: High doses of THC can make some people feel lousy, which kills the vibe and makes it tough to find any mental calm during practice.

Flower or concentrates: which works better for yoga?

If you're into yoga and you also enjoy weed, the question comes up sooner or later: what form of cannabis pairs best with your practice, flower or concentrates?

Smoking or vaping flower before yoga

A lot of yogis who like cannabis find that smoking or vaping flower gives them a more balanced experience than concentrates like hash, shatter, cannabis oil or BHO.

That may be because well-cured buds carry a wide range of fresh terpenes, the aromatic compounds behind each strain's smell and flavor, which aren't always present in every concentrate (it depends on the quality of the extraction).

For some practitioners, flower is simply the best option before a yoga session.

Edibles and yoga: timing is everything

Wherever weed is legal, and even in plenty of places where it isn't, edibles keep growing in popularity. One advantage is that they can produce a long-lasting effect that feels like it goes on forever, which is great news for people with a high tolerance.

For some yogis, edibles pair beautifully with practice. But you have to think about when you take them and how strong they are.

Eating one right before class may barely do anything, since it can take 2 to 3 hours to feel the full effect.

And if the edible is too strong, you can end up way too high to focus on class. Edibles and yoga have their appeal, but dialing in the right timing and dose takes some experimenting and a healthy dose of caution.