Everyone at some point in their life will experience even a low-grade form of anxiety. Around 40 million people in the U.S. struggle with it. With your busy schedules, career, and personal relationships it’s challenging to find time to pursue your passions and hobbies. Anxiety can be debilitating and hinder productivity.
Today, many people are turning to yoga to relax, calm down, and let go of daily stressors including anxiety.
Asana and meditation teach you skills to address stress and helps to soothe your soul. Yoga is becoming progressively famous all over the world. It is now close to a $3 billion industry of online providers, studios, and yoga-related accessories including sustainable mats, and mala beads.
These days, people are seeking natural and holistic approaches to de-stress and tame their anxiety. “Yoga is an excellent way to improve your overall health and help you find a sense of calm. We are seeing a lot of yogi’s use Japa Organics specifically for their yoga routines” says Cody B., who is the founder of an online CBD store Japa Organics.
Yoga isn’t the only tool to help you cope with stress. With the increasing legalization of hemp-derived products and marijuana, there are new ways to handle anxiety. CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It shares the same similarities with THC, but there is one important difference. CBD doesn’t contain psychoactive properties and won’t get you high. CBD will, however, deliver a calming effect and relaxing vibe that is proven to make a difference in those who are regularly stressed.
CBD oil offers a gateway into meditation when you’re practicing sitting postures or your final resting pose. Many meditation practitioners and yogis report that CBD provides an expanded level of awareness, a positive outlook on life, the unveiling of new insights, and a transformation of old negative mental patterns.
What Is CBD?
CBD is also found in other plants such as kale, and broccoli, but it’s more abundant in the hemp plant. CBD is taking the health industry by storm thanks to its therapeutic benefits without psychoactive effects. Yogis turn to CBD for pain relief as it reduces inflammation. CBD is legal across the country and is sold in grocery, natural food, convenience, and health supplement stores. The word cannabis doesn’t have to be synonymous with smoking or vaping. The now-booming industry has bakeries and factories making CBD-infused gummies, cookies, gum, drinks, and oil making it tasty to consume.
Bringing CBD Onto The Mat
Yoga practice enhances the mood and overall sense of well-being. It’s no surprise that CBD products and meditation go hand-in-hand. Since CBD won’t get you “stoned,” it’s perfectly acceptable and safe to use during yoga practice or any other physical activity. Taking CBD during mediation and yoga include:
- Increased mood
- Pain relief
- Decreased inflammation
- Relief from depression and anxiety
- Relief from overthinking
CBD oil is a natural fit for a light yoga session and can elevate feelings of relaxation. It can also magnify your experience in a vinyasa, flow-style class, especially, if you have an overthinking brain when you hit the mat. After your yoga practice, CBD can provide relief from sore muscles and joints. Cannabinoids work with the receptors in the body and brain located throughout the endocannabinoid system. This system sends signals to your brain when you experience pain. When you take CBD, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system and stimulates the production of natural cannabinoids.
This process balances out the system and produces an anti-inflammatory response to relieve sore muscles post-yoga. CBD can prolong the feelings of pleasure long after you leave the mat. Our brain naturally produces Anandamide a neurotransmitter that makes us feel good but breaks down quickly in the body. Research suggests that CBD subdues the enzyme that breaks down Anandamide and prolongs the effects of pleasure during and after a yoga session.
How To Get Started
It’s recommended that you start out with 10-15mg of CBD oil and then slowly increase the amount as you become comfortable. There are several factors that consumers must take into account such as:
- The weight of the individual
- The concentration of CBD
- The severity of the condition being treated
- The user’s body chemistry
“There is no one size fits all dosage, so it’s important to start gradually. CBD oil tinctures tend to act faster than softgels. CBD oil can take up to two hours before you notice any of its effects, but some people notice effects within 20 minutes. It’s crucial that you stay consistent when taking CBD oil.
Taking it sporadically won’t provide the same benefits or results as it does when taken on a regular basis. When combining CBD oil with your yoga practice, you’ll notice an elevated consciousness and a deeper awareness of your body. As your yoga class unfolds, you’ll likely be unsure where yoga ends and CBD begins.