Last Updated on 14th September 2020

Dee Dussault's book, Ganja Yoga: A Practical Guide to Conscious Relaxation, Soothing Pain Relief, and Enlightened Self-Discovery was a groundbreaking guide to finding balance using cannabis with spiritual practice.

Ganja yoga is exactly what it sounds like: smoking pot before you practice and sometimes during. According to ancient texts, this isn't new: Yogis have been using herbs to supplement practice for millennia. Smoking with intent, devotees are on a journey to enlightenment through yoga and ganja. The focus is on self-discovery. Both yoga and weed, Dee writes,

“bring a shift in consciousness that allows one to become more open to psychological, emotional, and energy states that aren't usually operational in the grind of daily life.”

Dee coined the phrase ‘ganja yoga’.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Newsweek, & LA Yoga and referenced to across international press from all corners of the globe.

The Extract spoke to Dee, the first teacher ever to offer public cannabis enhanced yoga practice on the week of her 10 year anniversary.

I understand this is ganjayoga's 10th anniversary. How will you be celebrating?

I’ll be celebrating the tenth year of my company with a tour to the North East, where it all began. Ganja Yoga started as a small class in my living room and now has certified teachers that I’ve trained in over a dozen cities! I’m also releasing Ganja Yoga Online.

How many certified ganja teachers do you have across the continents?

I have sixteen Ganja Yoga teachers in over a dozen US states, including Oklahoma!

What's the best strain to use?

It really depends on the person, but Indica and CBD and what makes it special are usually most relaxing.

Who was your mentor?

I have someone I learn new approaches to yogic safety from, Katy Bowman of Nutritious Movement. She is a biomechanics teacher. My yoga teacher, Ananda Shakti, is my spiritual inspiration. She is incredibly devoted to aligning her consciousness with the universe. There are many others, mostly women, but these two are my greatest influencers.

Explain Biomechanics to a novice?

It's the understanding that the body is constantly responding to the loads we place (or don’t place) on it, and the realization that from a cellular perspective, we need frequent and varied movements, beyond what is taught in yoga.

Is it possible to get into more poses with cannabis and achieve a more altered state of consciousness?

Yes and yes. Cannabis is anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever, so it helps soften muscular tension and allows the poses to be more approachable. The altered state of relaxation and mindfulness that cannabis brings helps the practitioner to stay present to the yoga practice, free of anxiety.

RELATED: Who are the top 10 CBD companies?

How did you market your business? – tell me about your trajectory?

My first class had nobody show up, so it’s been an interesting ten years! Part of my success was that I invited people to leave a review on Yelp without pressure. I also collaborated with as many people as possible, to share and tap into each other’s networks. I spent very little money, but a lot of time, getting to where I am now.

What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you since starting your business?

Receiving an email from HarperCollins asking if I wanted to write a book was pretty interesting!

What does the future hold?

I’m launching Ganja Yoga online this September, so along with the tour, there’s lots of exciting stuff happening in Ganja Yoga land!

Take me to a higher plane

Cannabis is having a moment in the wellness world but hashish is more traditional. Same plant just a different form. Sadhus or yogis in India are a religious sect or a holy person in Hinduism who follow a path of spiritual discipline. These Sadhus live a spiritual life and smoke a LOT of hash while doing so. India’s holy men say goodbye to both their possessions and their families and lead a life of celibacy and yoga in search of enlightenment.

Like Rastafarians lighting up a big spliff, the purpose is a journey to a higher plane.

While Sadhus can be divided into a gazillion different sects, most follow either the god Vishnu (the preserver) or Shiva (the destroyer, and thus, the rejuvenator). Shiva is generally depicted meditating alone in the Himalayas, his eyes half-closed from the effects of his hash rather than the harsh rays of the sun! By becoming social outcasts and smoking ganja the sadhus can claim that they are only trying to emulate Shiva. It’s the Shiva way. Cannabis is seen as a gift to Shiva.

According to Hindu beliefs, when a Sadhu dies he leaves his body and floats off to Mount Kailash, the source of the Ganges River and the home of Shiva.

Tantra THC

Dee Dussault also offers tantra and sex coaching to people all over the world. Yes – she uses cannabis to enhance the experience. Historians have argued that ganja was a vital part of ancient tantric sexual rituals in India, where yogis used cannabis smoke as a form of sacred incense, before having what they called — of course — “High Sex.”

Tantric yoga is a spiritual tradition that uses all human experiences for enlightenment. It allows greater relaxation, pleasure, connection, well-being. Touch is important, breathing; a complete feel-good sensual belief system. While it is about much more than just sex, Tantra encourages the exact types of experiences provided by both good sex and a good buzz. Proponents talk of an out-of-body experience. Being really present. Mind-body connection aligned.

Tantric sex is actually an ancient Hindu practice that has been going for over 5,000 years, and means ‘the weaving and expansion of energy'. It's a slow form of sex that's said to increase intimacy and create a mind-body connection that can lead to powerful orgasms. Sting, the singer always springs to my mind when ‘tantric sex’ comes up in popular culture probably because of the legacy of a throw-away comment he made to a publication that has followed him around ever since! The idea of tantric sex is a spiritual act,” he pointed out during the interview.

“I don't know any purer and better way of expressing a love for another individual than sharing that wonderful, I call it, ‘sacrament.' I would stand by it. Not seven hours, but the idea.” Besides, he added, “Seven hours includes movie and dinner!!”

The Ayurvedic Perspective on Marijuana

Ayurvedic texts describe marijuana used as medicine as a “nectar,” but used recreationally as a “poison.”

Is it conducive or counterproductive to achieving the ultimate end goal?

“THC is considered tamasic in Ayurveda,” says Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. John Douillard, who leads Yoga Journal's Ayurveda 101 online course. “Tamasic drugs hide things like pain and emotions.” He explains that years of overstimulation and the emotional ups and downs of life can wear out the mind, making it prone to addiction, withdrawal, dissociation, and self-medication with drugs and alcohol.

CBD more palatable as an Ayurvedic medicine

While Douillard agrees that CBD oil can be beneficial for neurological and musculoskeletal inflammation, he points out that CBD oil did not exist in Ayurvedic times.

“Marijuana was used in some spiritual settings to help still the mind, but never for any length of time because of the tamasic dullness of the mind it can create,” he says.

Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. Staying grounded – a different route than ganja yoga to

find inner-peace.

Could cannabis enhance your yoga practice?

Cannabis combined with yoga takes you out of yourself. It is more freeing, according to Dee. Classes are on the rise in states like California and Colorado where recreational cannabis is legal and CBD classes in other states have queues out the door.

With CBD taking the world by storm, it was only a matter of time before it found a way into an exercise studio in the UK. A class in London offers a combination of stretches and cannabinoids to help loosen up. In Cannabliss, a new class from Gymbox, “exercises and stretches akin to a yin yoga class, as well as mobility and meditation exercises” are done while wearing a CBD patch, which should, in theory, make stretching easier by relaxing you. Expanding consciousness and anything that benefits the mind, body and spirit is in high demand.

Ganja yoga may not be to everyone’s taste but at its core is self-healing, mindfulness and body lengthening. Ready to stretch the mind and the glutes? Students sit on their maps and roll a joint, some use vape pens whole others munch on their edibles and get into their yoga positions and plank. All for the deeper connection to the Self. Are you open to getting mindful and free? Do you prescribe to this route of enlightened self-discovery?