You probably never heard of it, before googling it, neither did I. However, if you are wondering what Ganja Yoga is — it is a Yoga class where you get high in San Francisco.
For recreational use, cannabis is legal in San Francisco now as well as a few other places in the U.S. Slowly it is trickling to various locations throughout; however, California has been a huge advocate for the legalization of cannabis (other than Colorado).
In this new yoga class, you spark up a blunt, joint, vape, or bowl before getting started in your Cat-Cow. The teacher of Ganja Yoga is named Dee Dussault, has a book titled from the same name of the time, and has been a yoga teacher for 22 years. This yoga class works on exactly what the book is about, which is focusing on using cannabis for relaxation, pain relief, well-being, community, and overall, cultivating inner peace.
Ganja Yoga works on exercising while high to help the students’ brains calm down while working on their yoga techniques. Not only does it do that, but it helps in a way that brings their pain points to the surface and makes the student more mindful and calm while doing their yoga practice. Essentially, your brain is not all over the place like it normally is when you are sober, instead, it is calm and refreshed.
The class started in 2009 and came to SF in 2012. Since the recent legalization of cannabis in SF the class has doubled in size (why wouldn’t it!). It went from 10–15 students, who probably had a medical marijuana card (while it was still low-key) to 25 students each session. There are about 41 meet-ups you can see on the website from this year alone and about 2,669 members. The prices look $30 for a class but might change depending on where it is. That is about the standard rate for a yoga class. Nevertheless, this level comes with complimentary cannabis, that is unlike any other yoga class.
The class is friendly, and you witness students chatting and passing blunts around in a friendly environment. First timers strike up conversations with random students in the class and have fun before the class even starts. This environment creates for conversation, friendship, and calmness. That is what yoga is about, and cannabis only furthers that notion. The first half-hour is “smoke hour” and a non-judgement hour because some of these students may not be smokers outside of their comfort zone (i.e. their home, their friend’s house, etc.)
This yoga class is more than just yoga. This yoga class is friendship. While smoking the joint, blunt, bowl, vape you choose — you go around and introduce yourself. Let everyone know a little about who you are. Even if this is the first time and last time you go to the class, you have met some new friends and engaged in what it means to be high with other people. At the end of the class, you are offered a last and final joint, which does not get you high. It is a CBD pot strain that is used for medical purposes. Once again, it leaves you feeling on top of the world.
If you are near the Bay, check out this awesome yoga experience.