{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/yoga/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_3170-markdown","title":"The Essential Holiday Gift Guide: 4 Experience-Based Gifts to Celebrate the End of 2020","slug":"the-essential-holiday-gift-guide-4-experience-based-gifts-to-celebrate-the-end-of-2020","content":"As the holidays approach, we're entering the gift-giving season. But 2020 has been such an odd year, and it got us talking around the office, the Zoom office, that is. We asked ourselves what kind of gifts would be best for our friends and family? \n\nWe collectively thought it should be something with significance, especially since we may be celebrating at a distance. Our answer is to give experience-based gifts, something that will bring a smile to our loved one's faces and perhaps a lasting positive impact.\n\nWe published [4 Experience-Based Holiday Gift Ideas for An Unusual Holiday Season](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/4-experience-based-holiday-gifts-for-an-unusual-holiday-season), and we follow with some additional ideas to get your holiday gift-giving juices flowing.\n \nHere are 4 more \"Experiential\" celebratory gifts to bring 2020 to a resounding close:\n\n\n\n### 1. Give the Gift of a [Yoga Practice](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-and-yoga-a-match-made-in-heaven)\n\nSince the start of the pandemic, in-person yoga classes have been a thing of the past. If you miss the community vibe of getting your downward dog on, you can get the next best thing. Online yoga classes with a teacher who gets to know you. \n\nIt may not be the same as going to the yoga studio, but some yoga teachers, like [Nat Kendall](https://www.natkendall.com/), have the ability to create connections, busting down the Zoom barrier and create community.\n\nNat is a recording artist (he gets a good chant on in every class) and a devoted student of yoga. He shares his wisdom about yoga in a heartfelt and grounded practice that is accessible for beginners and challenging enough for long-time practitioners. \n\nNat's teachings pour through online practices in an inspired way. He also teaches the necessary techniques for good yogic form with insights that enlighten your spiritual path and yogic journey. \n\n\n\n### 2. Give the Gift of Microdosing: One-on-One Personal Coaching\n\n[Microdosing](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/microdosing) is all the rage for both cannabis and [psychedelics](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/psychedelics). It's the practice of consuming small amounts of a substance in a \"[sub-therapeutic, or sub-threshold](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/microdosing-a-better-way-to-take-cannabis), amounts so low that they wouldn’t produce the whole-body effect of a full dose, but high enough that a cellular response could be observed.\"\n\nNumerous health benefits come from microdosing cannabis or psychedelics. These benefits vary based on the substance. For cannabis, microdosing may help with **chronic pain**, **anxiety**, and **sleep**. With psychedelics, people have anecdotally reported that it helps **alleviate depression** and **anxiety** and may increase the feeling of **focus** and **creativity**. But, if you're new to either, how do you get started? \n\n[We think a personal coach](https://www.bliss-theory.com/) is a good entry point and a safe way to explore unchartered territory.\n\nAt different times, Pamela Hadfield, co-founder of HelloMD, [transformed her physical and mental health](https://www.bliss-theory.com/blog/tales-of-a-suburban-mom-microdosing-cannabis-for-my-migraines-and-then-lsd-for-depression) microdosing cannabis and then psychedelics. She's a well-known educator and advocate for alternative paths of wellness and has been featured in **Rolling Stone** and **Forbes magazine**.\n\nPamela is also the Founder of [Bliss Theory](https://www.bliss-theory.com/) where she offers [one-to-one coaching for women](https://www.bliss-theory.com/whats-bliss-theory). The Bliss Theory coaching philosophy is based on transformational thinking principles and step-by-step personalized guidance on microdosing cannabis and/or psychedelics. \n\n\nChani's best-seller \"You Were Born for This\"\n\n### 3. Give the Gift of a Self Guided Astrological Reading\n\n[Chani Nicholas](https://chaninicholas.com/) is a Los Angeles-based, New York Times best-selling astrologer and author of You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance (HarperOne, January 2020). She is AWESOME, and we love her book, which is the guide to all-things astrological.\n\nOK, here's the cool and the gift-giving part. You can go onto Chani's site and [input the birthdate details of the person](https://chart.chaninicholas.com/) you want to gift-give, and it pulls up all the relevant information for that specific chart. \n\nIn her book, \"Chani shows how your birth chart -- a snapshot of the sky at the moment you took your first breath -- reveals your unique talents, challenges, and opportunities.\" Fun! \n\n\n\n### 4. Give the Gift of Self Knowledge and Growth\n\n[One Commune](https://ww2.onecommune.com/) is the online spot for personal growth. Their online courses feature some of the most enlightened thinkers of our time, including Deepak Chopra, Russell Brand (an amazing thought leader on addiction and recovery), Marianna Williamson, and more. Whether you're looking for spiritual growth, optimal health, or a way to impact the world, there's a fascinating course waiting.\n\nHappy gift-giving from the HelloMD Team!\n\n### Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online [Telehealth service HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/get-started/). Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/14b42/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/f836f/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.jpg 200w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/2244e/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.jpg 400w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/14b42/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.jpg 800w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/47498/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.jpg 1200w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/2d2b9/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.jpg 1254w","srcWebp":"/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/58556/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/61e93/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.webp 200w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/1f5c5/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.webp 400w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/58556/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.webp 800w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/99238/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.webp 1200w,\n/static/02c6940835d162ce4e59ecc89e84b9c7/3c324/9ed3ef914499f27c5c312e8c541347a1.webp 1254w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_3136-markdown","title":"6 Simple Exercises to Help You Breathe Easier & Increase Immunity","slug":"6-simple-exercises-to-help-you-breathe-easier-and-increase-immunity","content":"Natural strategies such as breathwork, yoga, and essential oils can also help support the immune system and reduce irritation and inflammation in the respiratory system. \nHere are a few [non-invasive and generally safe things](https://www.thehealthy.com/respiratory/home-remedies-shortness-of-breath/) to try when breathing isn't easy.\n\nIf you're feeling breathless from anxiety, take a deep breath, or several. Breathe in slowly and release the breath slowly too. This helps to calm the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a role in the \"fight or flight\" response. A regular breathing practice can also help to keep the respiratory system healthy, but if you have a respiratory condition like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or asthma, it's wise to check with a medical provider before giving it a try.\n\nBreathing exercises have also been recommended to patients suffering from COVID-19 and even as a preventative measure. It turns out that the better condition your lungs are in, the better your system will be in fighting the novel coronavirus. The best way to get your lungs in tip-top shape is the old fashioned way – with regular aerobic exercise. \n\nBut, simple breathing exercises can help to strengthen your lung capacity as well. Deep breathing allows your body to clear secretions in the lungs and this practice is especially helpful for people who are unable to exercise. \n\nHere we outline 6 different ways to support your respiratory system and increase your overall immunity.\n\n### 1. Simple Breathing Exercise\n\nThis exercise is perfect for people who are looking for deeper relaxation or are unable to undertake any strenuous aerobic activity. \n\nSit tall in a chair, relax your belly and your shoulders - close your eyes. Inhale deeply and allow your belly to extend with your deep breath. Hold the breath for a few seconds and exhale slowly until all the air is released. Repeat for as a long as possible. If you are sick, allow yourself to cough so that your lungs may release any additional secretions. [According to Bruce Levy]( https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/lung-health-covid19.html), chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, this “exercise is a preventive measure “that gets out the secretions sitting in the gravity-dependent portions of your lungs and decreases your risk of pneumonia and infection”\n\n### 2. Wim Hof Breathing Exercise\n \nWim Hof, is an extraordinary man and endurance athlete, also known as the \"IceMan\". He is known for his extreme ability to withstand freezing cold temperatures and set a Guinness Book World record for swimming 57 meters under ice. He also set a record for running the fastest half marathon, while barefoot, over snow and ice.\n \nWim Hof attributes his superhuman abilities to three \"pillars\": cold therapy, breathing, and meditation. With these, he has not only been able to achieve enormous goals but also to increase immune response.\n\nThe Wim Hof breathing technique can be learned through his online course which includes a series of breathing techniques, meditation exercises, and cold water immersion (which is not as bad as it sounds). Learn more about the [Wim Hof Method](https://www.wimhofmethod.com/practice-the-method) on his site.\n\n### 3. Yoga\n\nSome research suggests that yoga [can help to improve lung function](https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/anatomy/lungs)\n in people with COPD and asthma. The slow and meditative movements of yoga practice typically include breathwork as well. Yoga can help to open the chest, strengthen the lungs and improve the flow of oxygen throughout the body. Yoga can also help to calm anxiety and reduce panic attacks, which can also cause dyspnea and hyperventilation.\n\n### 4. Steaming with Terpene-Rich Essential Oils\n\nSteaming with peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils can help to open up the airways, reduce congestion and make breathing easier. Add a few drops to a pot of hot water, and breathe in the steam as it rises. Repeat as needed for comforting relief of temporary congestion from respiratory infections, colds and flu.\n\n### 5. Herbs and Spices\n\nA variety of [herbs and spices](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/supporting-the-immune-system-during-cold-and-flu-season-with-plant-based-supplements)\ncan help to relieve mild breathing problems too. A cup of steaming, hot green tea can reduce symptoms of bronchitis and clear congestion in the airways, and so can brews made from ginger, turmeric and lemongrass. A [recent study](https://lunginstitute.com/blog/6-natural-treatments-for-copd/) also indicates that the ancient herb panax ginseng shows promise as a treatment for COPD. Add a bit of honey for taste and some additional antioxidants.\n\n### 6. Vitamins and Minerals\n\n A healthy diet supports the whole body, but [some foods can be especially beneficial](https://www.cleaneatingmag.com/clean-diet/7-natural-sources-for-stronger-healthier-lungs)/for the respiratory system. New Research reveals that Vitamin D can promote a stronger resistance to respiratory infections, and Vitamin C can help keep the entire immune system strong. Flavonoids, found in many foods such as blueberries, red grapes, tomatoes and grapes, also support a healthy immune system and reduce levels of inflammation that can contribute to breathing problems. So can quercetin, a chemical found abundantly in apples. \n\nThe causes of breathing problems are many and varied, and so are the treatments aimed at relieving them. If you have a chronic respiratory condition or another health issue that interferes with breathing, it's important to work with your healthcare provider to find the best way to manage your condition. But in many cases, cannabis and other natural remedies can support the body's own defenses and help you breathe easier, too.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/ee604/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.png","srcSet":"/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/69585/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.png 200w,\n/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/497c6/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.png 400w,\n/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/ee604/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.png 800w,\n/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/7d97b/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.png 842w","srcWebp":"/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/58556/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/61e93/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.webp 200w,\n/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/1f5c5/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.webp 400w,\n/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/58556/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.webp 800w,\n/static/6b610e6d71ae94ca98fe2d3d5546e002/cdb7b/8b3a2e3afca619337d2d46aedf81bfa8.webp 842w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2853-markdown","title":"5 Cannabis Strains to Enhance Your Yoga Practice","slug":"5-cannabis-strains-to-enhance-your-yoga-practice","content":"here’s nothing quite like yoga after consuming cannabis to leave you feeling relaxed, balanced and synchronized. If you haven’t tried this growing trend, it’s pretty simple: You take cannabis before practicing yoga. Marijuana’s relaxing and pain-relieving properties can help improve your physical experience, calm your busy mind and allow you to sink deep into yoga’s meditative state. \n\nOf course, as simple as the idea is, the strain of cannabis you choose can have a big impact on your experience. Some strains may contribute calm and pain relief, while others may lead to unwanted effects like a muddled mind or feeling jittery. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nHere are our picks of marijuana strains that may help you get the most out of your yoga session. \n\n### 1. Grape Ape Can Help You Relax & Quell Your Aches & Pains\n\n\n\nFor those looking to sink into a relaxing yoga session, the most common starting point is an indica marijuana strain with calming effects. Indicas tend to produce the most relaxing effects, which can be a big help during a yoga practice. \n\nAmong indicas, [Grape Ape](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7ce671d520d60009f4f4c0) is one popular indica option to try. It’s known for its sweet, grape flavor and aroma, and for imparting:\n\n* Carefree relaxation\n* A clear mind\n* Pain relief \n\nGrape Ape can melt away the tension before you start to stretch, leaving you calm, uplifted and pain-free for your yoga session. \n\nBut be forewarned. Grape Ape is also well known for its sedative and hunger-inducing effects. If you’re sensitive to these effects, Grape Ape may be too much for you. Instead, opt for a hybrid like [GSC](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7ce3c1d520d60009f4f4b6/gsc) or a sativa like [Super Lemon Haze](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7ce2f6d520d60009f4f4b4/super-lemon-haze). \n\n### 2. Northern Lights Can Help Quiet Your Mind During Yoga\n\nAnother indica that works well for cannabis yoga is [Northern Lights](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7ce57ed520d60009f4f4bb/northern-lights). \nThis popular indica marijuana strain has a sweet, earthy and spicy aroma with hints of pine, and is prized for the dreamy and relaxed euphoria that it imparts to consumers. \n\nLike Grape Ape, Northern Lights is known to:\n\n* Relax the body\n* Relieve pain\n* Uplift mood\n\nBut unlike Grape Ape, the high with Northern Lights can be very cerebral. If you need a little something to slow your mind down so that you can stay focused on the physical sensations of yoga, this is a great choice. \n\nNorthern Lights is also known to induce appetite and sleepiness, so like Grape Ape, it shouldn’t be consumed by those who are sensitive to these effects. The last thing you want is to feel too sleepy or hungry to stay present in your yoga practice. \n\n### 3. GSC Provides a Balanced, Uplifted High\n\n\n\nIf you’re one of those people who doesn’t do well with indicas because they make you too hungry or sleepy, there are other kinds of marijuana strains you can try. \n\nOne option is to go with a balanced hybrid strain like [GSC (formally known as Girl Scout Cookies)](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7ce3c1d520d60009f4f4b6/gsc). This popular strain is sweet and earthy with hints of a cookie-like aroma. It’s beloved by many for its grounded high, which doesn’t energize or sedate, but leaves the consumer feeling energetically balanced, calm and uplifted. \n\nAnother benefit of GSC is the strain’s powerful body high, which can ease tension, pain and nausea. Its cerebral high is also powerful. And while most who take it remain fairly functional, it can lead to a feeling of time slowing down, which can really enhance a yoga experience. \n\nRELATED: [THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOGA & CANNABIS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/58a38cc01689ad0017e8493b/the-connection-between-yoga-and-cannabis)\n\n### 4. Super Lemon Haze Can Give You an Energy Boost Before or After Yoga\n\n\n\nIndicas and hybrids are usually recommended for new cannabis yoga practitioners. But if you’re familiar with cannabis strains and know that sativas work best for you, [Super Lemon Haze](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7ce2f6d520d60009f4f4b4/super-lemon-haze) is a great sativa-dominant option for cannabis yoga. \n\nA vibrant and zesty strain, Super Lemon Haze is sweet, tart and lemony with strong citrus notes. \nIt’s a highly energetic strain, making it a great option for those who get tired during yoga and need an extra boost—either before or after the workout.\n\nIt’s also an incredibly uplifting, euphoric and relaxing strain (for those who can handle the energy). Super Lemon Haze also imparts a pain- relieving body high, and a clear, relaxed cerebral high that fits in great with any yoga practice. \n\nOn the other hand, for those sensitive to the energetic effects of sativas, this cannabis strain could cause negative effects like anxiety or headaches. If you find that you react this way to sativas, stick to a hybrid or indica strain for your cannabis yoga practice. \n\n### 5. High-CBD ACDC Will Help With Pain & Focus Without Psychoactive Effects\n\n\n\nAll of the options already mentioned are strains with a high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.This works great for many, but isn’t right everyone. Some experience unwanted effects from THC such as:\n\n* A less than functional mind\n* Anxiety \n* A racing heart\n\nIf this has happened for you, or you’d like to ease into cannabis yoga with a more mild option that won’t leave you feeling too high, try a strain rich in cannabidiol (CBD) like [ACDC](https://www.hellomd.com/products?strainId=5a7cbe97d520d60009f4f4a5). \n\nACDC has an earthy and woody aroma with notes of pine. And with a 20:1 CBD-to-THC ratio, ACDC probably won’t impart any psychoactive effects.\n\nStill, ACDC can help with pain and tension, as well as reduce your overall anxiety. This can aid yoga by improving your ability to move and stretch without pain, and by calming your mind while leaving it clear and focused. Take ACDC before yoga to improve your experience, or afterwards to aid in recovery. \n\nPhoto credit: [Janet Orzechowski](https://unsplash.com/@rosalie2015)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana/) index of articles. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/14b42/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg","srcSet":"/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/f836f/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg 200w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/2244e/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg 400w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/14b42/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg 800w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/47498/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg 1200w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/0e329/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg 1600w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/02768/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.jpg 3662w","srcWebp":"/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/58556/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/61e93/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp 200w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/1f5c5/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp 400w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/58556/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp 800w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/99238/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp 1200w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/7c22d/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp 1600w,\n/static/598454c8e124de5dd0de77c36d365cb9/83969/0350220af06c7eeff1a27cede8b16971.webp 3662w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2813-markdown","title":"Cannabis & Yoga: A Match Made in Heaven","slug":"cannabis-and-yoga-a-match-made-in-heaven","content":"At HelloMD, we often discuss the transformative power of cannabis and the healing aspects of combining cannabis with exercise. For professional or serious amateur athletes, cannabis is often used to intensify mental focus or to help aid sports recovery, due to its excellent anti-inflammatory properties.\n\nI’ve personally found that microdosing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) will soothe my painful muscles riddled with lactic acid and ease overall inflammation. Microdosing has been a great addition to my yoga practice; it allows for a deepening of my practice and freedom from stressful thoughts that accumulate throughout the day.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### The Healing Power of Cannabis & Yoga\n\n\n[Register now and use code \"om_hellomd\" to save 10%](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-omrising-gathering-norcals-best-yoga-music-mindfulness-fest-tickets-45945706846).\n\nThe marriage of cannabis and yoga feels like a match made in heaven, as both have been incredibly healing forces in my own life. Since puberty, I experienced debilitating migraines, which traditional pharmaceuticals could not treat effectively. Over time, I found myself increasingly reliant on Vicodin, until a friend suggested I try medical marijuana. Within six months of starting a high CBD-low THC protocol, I had left my Vicodin behind and was preventing my migraines altogether. \n\nRELATED: [HOW ATHLETES GET A BOOST FROM THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a442705100a820006562f3d/how-athletes-get-a-boost-from-the-endocannabinoid-system)\n\nDuring these years, where my health often felt like a struggle, yoga was my constant companion. An equalizing force, both mentally and physically, yoga always made me feel like a reset button was within my reach. Whether it’s been a life-threatening illness of someone close to me, a stressful health condition or a really bad day at work, yoga has been, and still is, my go-to solution. Maintaining a consistent practice hasn’t always been easy, but has felt like my insurance policy for overall physical and mental wellness, especially under times of extreme stress. \n\nLiving in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve had the luxury of choice when it comes to top-notch yoga studios and teachers. Through the years, my favorite studio has always been Yoga Tree, a multi-studio retreat founded by Tim and Tara Dale, featuring some of the country’s best yoga teachers. (Pictured below is Peter Walters, one of Yoga Tree's illustrious teachers.)\n\n\n\nYoga at this particular studio goes beyond a standard Vinyasa practice, often incorporating live music and a focus on the deeper meaning behind yoga and its overall effect on body, mind and soul. So much so that I often refer to going to class at Yoga Tree as attending my “church.”\n\n### Om Rising: The Premier Playful Yoga Retreat\n\nWith that said, it was extremely exciting to hear that Tim Dale is launching [Om Rising](https://www.omrising.org/), a new, weekend-long NorCal yoga + music festival, nestled in the woods of Mendocino County—where yoga luminaries like Peter Walters, Mark Morford, Christy Brown and Sonya Genel, among others, will be leading various yoga sessions. Musical artists such as Jai Uttal and Suzanne Sterling will be performing throughout the weekend as well. \n\nWhen HelloMD was asked to participate at the event, in conjunction with the women’s cannabis networking group Ellementa, I was ecstatic because as stated above, I think that yoga and cannabis go together about as well as chocolate and peanut butter—really, really well. \n\nTim Dale, founder of OM Rising, says, “We’re thrilled to open up the dialogue, reduce the stigma and start the conversation around the health and wellness benefits of cannabis and CBD at Om Rising as just one of many unique offerings for the first year of our gathering.” \n\n\n_Om Rising will take place on the beautiful grounds of Camp Navarro._\n\n### The Ellementa Playground at OM Rising\n\nOm Rising will offer a cannabis 101 class (for ages 21 and over) in a large, grassy, outdoor amphitheater, as well as a microdosing class for therapeutic purposes by Ellementa leaders Laurie Light and Tali Eisenberg. In addition, festival attendees will be able to experience The Ellementa Playground, powered by HelloMD, which will be a “magical, interactive space where you can get in touch with your inner child,\" says [Ellementa CEO and co-founder Aliza Sherman](https://www.hellomd.com/people/5a035b540e36d90757847313/alizasherman).\n\nShe adds, \"Play is the key word for the free-form activities where you can play joyfully, chill out, get creative and connect with cannabis and CBD experts who can feed your curiosity.” Aliza and I will also be speaking during the weekend, sharing our experiences about the transformative nature of both yoga and cannabis. \n\nJoin us for [Om Rising](https://www.hellomd.com/events/5b7a0a12f983c60007971fa3/the-om-rising-experience), NorCal’s new yoga + music festival on Oct. 5–8, 2018. Get your yoga on in the stunning redwoods with the Bay Area’s most beloved teachers on over 200 acres in Mendocino, CA. \n\n**Use promo code “om_hellomd\" to save 10% on your ticket.**\n\n**Note:** This is B.Y.O.C. Cannabis won't be provided during this event. \n\nPhoto credit: [Matthew Kane](https://unsplash.com/@matthewkane) (main image)\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/14b42/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/f836f/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg 200w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/2244e/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg 400w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/14b42/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg 800w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/47498/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg 1200w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/0e329/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg 1600w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/00216/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.jpg 3639w","srcWebp":"/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/58556/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/61e93/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp 200w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/1f5c5/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp 400w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/58556/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp 800w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/99238/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp 1200w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/7c22d/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp 1600w,\n/static/3c92aac63c1fe3f8a6d0acbef5ac371f/15cef/b94f1e41cda6c49342319876a8a14369.webp 3639w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2753-markdown","title":"How Mindful Awareness Can Give You a Better Cannabis High","slug":"how-mindful-awareness-can-give-you-a-better-cannabis-high","content":"In the last two articles of our cannabis for newbies series, we got into the nitty gritty of cannabis tolerance and how to manage it, whether you want to [maintain a low tolerance](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5abec477f24d1300077ccbb5/3-ways-to-keep-your-cannabis-tolerance-under-control)—or a [high one](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5b4536628904b90007731aca/the-benefits-of-building-up-your-cannabis-tolerance). Now, we shift gears to talk about mindful awareness. This powerful practice, which has a wide range of health and well-being benefits, can also be used to help improve your cannabis experience. Could mindfulness be the key to finding your best cannabis options?\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### What Is Mindfulness?\n\nA popular buzzword these days, mindfulness is also a powerful practice. To be mindful is to maintain a present, moment-to-moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions. The practice also involves taking an open, loving attitude towards everything you’re experiencing. \n\nWhile our instincts are to distract ourselves from pain, pushing negative experiences away, mindful practices encourage us to pull those experiences closer and turn our full attention towards them. When we stop fighting these sensations and embrace them, they often lose their hold on us, diminishing in intensity or vanishing altogether. \n\nMindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation practices, but over the last few decades, scientists and medical professionals have begun to study its usefulness in modern medicine. Now, [studies showing the many benefits of mindfulness are pouring in](http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition). The regular use of mindfulness practices has been shown to:\n\n* Reduce chronic pain\n* Boost the immune system\n* Decrease stress and depression\n* Improve memory and attention skills\n* Improve your abilities as a spouse/partner and as a parent\n\n### Mindfulness to Better Understand Cannabis’s Effects on You\n\nMindfulness can also be invaluable in understanding and refining your personal cannabis use. It can help you get more in touch with your physical sensations; this can be the key to finding products that are particularly suited to you.\n\nCannabis’s active ingredients can offer a wide range of potential medical and recreational effects. When you take into account the many different strains, chemical components and various methods of taking cannabis, it’s clear that cannabis is a extremely complex plant. \n\nTo add to that complexity, people can react quite differently to the various cannabis options. A strain that makes one person feel energized and relaxed may make another individual feel anxious and lethargic. Research shows that [87% of cannabis consumers ultimately choose only one to three cannabis products that they use regularly](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf). If you’re just getting started, a crucial step is to find out which products, strains or methods of using cannabis work best for you.\n\nBy paying more attention to the subtle signs that your body is giving you, you’ll be better able to distinguish what cannabis options are working—and which are making things worse. \n\nRELATED: [HELLOMD MINDFUL HAVEN EVENT: CANNABIS, YOGA & SOUND BATHING](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/596002c4756dcd0ac7daad67/hellomd-mindful-haven-event-cannabis-yoga-and-sound-bathing)\n\n### Noticing the Warning Signs When Trying a New Marijuana Strain\n\nTo give an example, I recently tried a strain of cannabis I’d never used before. At first, the strain gave me some energy and a little bit of a euphoric sensation. But after a few minutes I began to notice a few warning signs. My jaw felt clenched. My heart rate was accelerating. I could feel a slight bit of tension in my forehead.\n\nFor me, these are all signs of increased anxiety, which I can easily get from marijuana strains that are too energetic for me. As soon as I noticed these effects, I stopped using that strain and haven’t had more since. \n\nIn the past, I may not have noticed these effects from the cannabis. I may have noticed the energy and the euphoria that came with the first few inhalations, and then thought I needed more when the anxiety started to hit.\n\nOr more likely, I wouldn’t have thought about it either way, because I wasn’t paying attention. I would've continued to use the cannabis strain until the really uncomfortable side effects had truly set in. Then, intense headache, anxiety and muscle tension would overwhelm me. When it was too late, I would’ve realized my mistake.\n\nBut with regular mindfulness practices, my ability to notice these signs has increased. Now, it’s very rare that I get unwanted effects from cannabis. When I notice early signs, I can switch to something else and avoid a negative experience. I can also take notice of the strains that work especially well for me.\n\n### Harnessing the Power of Your Own Awareness \n\nMindfulness practices can help bring about a greater understanding of:\n\n* How cannabis is affecting you\n* What cannabis product is working best\n* How different types of cannabis interact with your individual needs and biochemistry\n\nIn fact, one of the most important and overlooked factors in cannabis use is your own awareness. To get the right effects, you need to know what to ask for. To know what to ask for, you need to know how you feel, both to begin with and after you’ve used cannabis. This requires a lot of self-awareness.\n\nThis is a crucial step in the process of finding the best cannabis strains and methods for you. By harnessing the power of mindful awareness, you can better hone in on the cannabis options that work best, and tackle each step in your cannabis journey with grace and ease.\n\n### Cultivating Your Own Mindful Practice\n \nIf you’d like to cultivate your own mindfulness practice, you can do so in a number of ways. You can:\n\n* [Start a sitting meditation practice](https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-how-to-do-it/).\n* [Go to a course on mindfulness-based stress reduction](https://www.webmd.com/balance/tc/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-topic-overview).\n* [Take up a mindful physical practice such as yoga](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/597798584ce06012ff1d1641/cannabis-yoga-and-relaxation-an-interview-with-dee-dussault).\n\nWhat’s key is taking regular opportunities to immerse yourself fully in the sensations of the present moment. \n\nIn the next installment of our Cannabis for Newbies guide, we’ll share some mindfulness exercises that include cannabis. You can use these any time to increase your mindful awareness as well as improve your cannabis experience. \n\nPhoto credit: [Mikita Karasiou](https://unsplash.com/@starpollen)\n\nNeed a doctor’s recommendation? [You can consult with one of HelloMD’s knowledgeable doctors](https://www.hellomd.com/); it's easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/14b42/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/f836f/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg 200w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/2244e/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg 400w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/14b42/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg 800w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/47498/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg 1200w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/0e329/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg 1600w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/de132/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.jpg 3638w","srcWebp":"/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/58556/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/61e93/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp 200w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/1f5c5/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp 400w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/58556/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp 800w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/99238/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp 1200w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/7c22d/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp 1600w,\n/static/f59a396e00088cb786f4da1589e10a60/833d2/0901f39991a9795c74efc2bfedb0b883.webp 3638w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2372-markdown","title":"Elevate + Flow: A Cannabis & Yoga Retreat","slug":"elevate-flow-a-cannabis-and-yoga-retreat","content":"On Sept. 30, HelloMD was pleased to attend Elevate + Flow, a yoga and cannabis retreat hosted by [Geyser Peak Ranch](https://www.geyserpeakranch.com/home). Susan Hauser, renowned instructor at [New Om World Yoga](https://newomworld.com/), led the yoga portion of the event and Ona.Life helped curate the participation of top marijuana brands in the day-long health and wellness event. \n\nGeyser Peak Ranch is a spectacular four-generation family-owned property of 1,200 acres overlooking the Alexander Valley. Nielma Hock, co-owner of the ranch and the Elevate + Flow organizer, regularly hosts high-end cannabis experiences, inviting members of the cannabis industry to help normalize the conversation around marijuana. Her events are perfect for the “canna-curious” as well as those already well-versed in cannabis knowledge.\n\nNielma’s passion for shattering old stigmas about marijuana and introducing guests to a different side of cannabis comes from her personal experience of witnessing a cancer-stricken loved one refuse cannabis as medicine, despite its potential to help.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n\nRuby LaGranduer of LaGranduer sparkling beverages.\n\n### Cancer Battle Inspires Marijuana-Infused Events\n\nA few years ago, Nielma’s mother battled cancer. During the process, she was given multiple pharmaceuticals to deal with the pain associated with the disease as well as for the side effects from chemotherapy. But due to the stigma she felt for the plant, she refused cannabis and [Marinol, an FDA-approved pharmaceutical made with synthetic THC](http://www.marinol.com/patient/about-marinol). \n\nNielma reflects, “To this day, I think about how much better my mom’s quality of life would have been had she just opted to reach for cannabis instead of the pharmaceutical drugs. Cannabis may not have extended her life, but it may have allowed her to have the presence of mind to have more lucid hours spent with me and the people she loved. When someone is at their deathbed, every minute counts. I often think about how the stigma of cannabis robbed me of precious time with my mom.” \n\n### Cannabis Education at Elevate + Flow\n\nThe day began with [Pamela Hadfield, co-founder of HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/people/pamelahadfield), addressing the largely new-to-cannabis crowd on the health and wellness aspects of the plant. She began with her personal story of crippling migraines and [how she solved her own health crisis and got off opioids with the help of medical marijuana](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5595d75d3264380006170000/migraines-how-i-got-off-pain-meds-and-found-relief-with-cannabis). \n\nDuring her talk, she educated people on the [science of cannabis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55da2ff26430380006690000/cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential) and how it affects the [CB1 and CB2 receptors](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56ba6fd0023cd900080000b3/is-your-endocannabinoid-system-in-balance) in the body. Pamela also spoke about [the concept of microdosing](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59c1b07e93afe720b53117a1/microdosing-a-better-way-to-take-cannabis) and the need to go “low and slow.”\n\n### Yoga & Top Cannabis Brands Close the Retreat\n\n`embed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ1bW81Dmij/`
\n\nFollowing the educational discussion and audience Q&A, the group adjourned to a ridge overlooking the Alexander Valley. Here Susan Hauser led a music-filled, open-air vinyasa yoga session. The breathtaking scenery combined with Susan’s yoga expertise created a unique experience that left participants invigorated and smiling. \n\nRELATED: [THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOGA & CANNABIS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/58a38cc01689ad0017e8493b/the-connection-between-yoga-and-cannabis)\n\nWalking down the ridge and back into the ranch, guests were then able to engage with brand ambassadors from some of California’s top marijuana lines. The brands present represented the movement in artisanal, microdosed consumption such as [La Grandeur](https://www.lagrandeur.co/), a sparkling cranberry beverage; [Atlas Edibles](http://atlasedibles.com/), which offers incredibly scrumptious granola treats; [HMBLDT vaporizers](https://hmbldt.com/); [Ona.Life delivery](https://www.ona.life), which offered a wide array of cannabis brands; and [Garden Society](http://www.thegardensociety.com/), a wildly popular gourmet confection edible.\n\n`embed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZr3Cx-gGNq/`
\n\nNurit Raphael, co-founder of Ona.Life delivery, and one of the event coordinators, commented on the day saying, “I’m thrilled that we were able to bring together the network of cannabis industry leaders and brands with the community at large to make this elegant collaboration happen, and push the conversation around cannabis forward.”\n\nPhoto credit: [La Grandeur](https://www.lagrandeur.com)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3513513513513513,"src":"/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/14b42/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.jpg","srcSet":"/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/f836f/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.jpg 200w,\n/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/2244e/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.jpg 400w,\n/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/14b42/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.jpg 800w,\n/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/1d643/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.jpg 1115w","srcWebp":"/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/58556/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/61e93/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.webp 200w,\n/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/1f5c5/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.webp 400w,\n/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/58556/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.webp 800w,\n/static/bed6f8d0535e079c161dcca468c4c78a/ac735/a4b027cd54e29e2d66ee3ab5f2aaaf59.webp 1115w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2325-markdown","title":"Cannabis, Yoga & Relaxation: An Interview with Dee Dussault","slug":"cannabis-yoga-and-relaxation-an-interview-with-dee-dussault","content":"HelloMD interviewed Dee Dussault, the founder of Ganja Yoga, to learn more about her cannabis enhanced yoga classes, as well as her new book, also entitled ‘Ganja Yoga’. Helping people find bliss through relaxation, mindfulness, and sensuality, she has practiced yoga for twenty-two years. Now with the help of cannabis, Dee teaches private and public classes in San Fransisco that combine meditative yoga appropriate for every age and all levels.\n\nDee will be teaching at [HelloMD’s Mindful Haven](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hellomd-mindful-haven-an-afternoon-of-yoga-sound-bathing-cannabis-tickets-35982261914) event on Sunday July 30, 2017 which will feature cannabis, yoga, and an immersive sound bath.\n\n \n\n[PURCHASE TICKETS TO MINDFUL HAVEN & GANJA YOGA](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hellomd-mindful-haven-an-afternoon-of-yoga-sound-bathing-cannabis-tickets-35982261914)\n\n### Q: What’s Ganja Yoga?\n\nA: Ganja Yoga yoga enhanced with cannabis. In my permutation of it, it is yoga specifically designed to help people relax.\n\n### Q: Were you the first person to offer Ganja Yoga?\n\nA: Yes! I googled cannabis yoga in 2009 and I didn’t see any other listings online. Interestingly, I later found that Berkeley Patients Group had offered yoga classes at their dispensary, but you had to consume before coming to the class. That was in the nineties, so technically there was one class before me. I think a key differentiator is that the class was not getting high together as a social process before yoga. My Ganja Yoga class was the first to really offer this kind of experience and open it to the public, instead of just dispensary members. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n\nDee helping one of her students, courtesy @Ganjayoga \n\n### Q: What inspired you to start teaching Ganja Yoga?\n\nA: It was based on my personal experience. When it came to cannabis, I was a late bloomer. Not until my late twenties did I discover it because I felt that it made me really anxious and paranoid. Avoiding it all through college, I tried it again in my late twenties, and immediately I found that I just wanted to get on the floor and start stretching. My yoga practice had been active for about twelve years and I suddenly found that cannabis just naturally enhanced my experience. It made me want to explore poses in new ways and I found a new sense of curiosity and fascination. I believe cannabis and yoga go together like chocolate and peanut butter!\n\n### Q: What's a typical experience within your class?\n\nThe first half an hour is what I might call a ‘stoner social’. Classes have joints, vape pens, or edibles and the first half an hour of class is about consuming with the community. You are free to come as you wish and socialize with your fellow ganja yogis. Then there is a ninety minute practice that is focused on relaxation. Some yoga that is popular nowadays is about cultivating fitness or getting a “yoga body”, but this is really for all levels, anyone can do it. This type of yoga goes back to basics and uses cannabis to help you move more deeply into basic postures.\n\n[PURCHASE TICKETS TO MINDFUL HAVEN & GANJA YOGA](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hellomd-mindful-haven-an-afternoon-of-yoga-sound-bathing-cannabis-tickets-35982261914) \n\n\nDee on her book tour, courtesy @Ganjayoga \n\n### Q: Why did you write your book Ganja Yoga?\n\nA: I’d been thinking about writing a book for a while, but it was one of those things that I had always put on the back-burner. The publisher, Harper Collins, actually approached me, which was such a blessing. They had decided it was time for a book about cannabis and wellness and they thought of me, so that was really cool. We worked together and wrote it faster than most books are written because we wanted to have it released for 4/20 this year.\n\nIn the book, I tell people about my journey, so that people who have trepidations about the plant understand there are many ways to work through the anxiety. It may be about changing the strain you consume or changing the dose or looking at how you feel. It is also about the history of cannabis and yoga. Cannabis was used throughout Asia and India and many other parts of the world for spiritual and medicinal purposes, so the practice is not new per-say, but what is new is having it in this modern context that includes socializing. People have been using cannabis for religious and spiritual reasons for thousands of years.\n\n### Q: What are common misconceptions about GY? \n\nWhen I tell people I teach Ganja Yoga or cannabis infused yoga their response is usually, “Oh my gosh, that sounds like the perfect pairing!” Equally so, the other response I get is “Oh, is that safe?”. So, people have this idea that cannabis makes you immediately intoxicated and unable to do yoga. \n\nRELATED: [THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOGA AND CANNABIS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a5e5b8d8425e40008273a29/the-connection-between-yoga-and-cannabis)\n\nI would like to rewrite the script of cannabis consumption to show that it is not always used to get super messed up. It can be used that way and that can be fun and there is nothing wrong with that, but there is also the idea of a sophisticated or more mature cannabis use where you are micro or moderate dosing and you are not getting very intoxicated before the practice. \n\nReally, it’s is about rewriting the stoner stereotype. When people ask if Ganja Yoga is safe, to me it is more about if yoga is safe? If your yoga practice is slow moving and focused on proper alignment, then it is going to be safe. If you are doing a crazy vinyasa drill sergeant type practice then it might not be safe, so it is about rewriting both scripts, the yoga script and the stoner script. \n\n\nA Ganja Yoga student, courtesy @Ganjayoga \n\n### Q: Besides Ganja Yoga, what else do you do?\n\nA: I am also a sexuality coach, which could be cannabis enhanced or not, it is up to the clients. I help singles and couples deepen intimacy and find ways to make time for a more mindful and sensual engagement in the world. Sensual as opposed to sexual, but of course they’re on a spectrum, so when you are more sensually engaged your sex life will be more rewarding as well. I help people slow down and connect with their partner in new ways.\n\n### Q: Where can people find your book?\n\nA: You can purchase it by going to [theganjayogabook.com](https://www.theganjayoga.com/), which displays all of the retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I will also be going to book stores to do readings and teach yoga classes during a nationwide book tour. \n\n[PURCHASE TICKETS TO MINDFUL HAVEN & GANJA YOGA](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hellomd-mindful-haven-an-afternoon-of-/asound-bathing-cannabis-tickets-35982261914)\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/14b42/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/f836f/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.jpg 200w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/2244e/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.jpg 400w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/14b42/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.jpg 800w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/47498/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/54ac5/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/58556/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/61e93/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.webp 200w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/1f5c5/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.webp 400w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/58556/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.webp 800w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/99238/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.webp 1200w,\n/static/800631ca57fcdfb4e15a3d21cb4c5a57/5e0b8/cef14197450e66b21e8449f25bfccd6c.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2369-markdown","title":"HelloMD Mindful Haven Event: Cannabis, Yoga & Sound Bathing ","slug":"hellomd-mindful-haven-event-cannabis-yoga-and-sound-bathing","content":"### Mindful Haven Event\nHosted on July 30, 2017 from 3pm - 6pm in San Francisco\n\nHelloMD is hosting MINDFUL HAVEN - an afternoon in a beautiful, consumption-friendly environment in San Francisco's Mission District. Connect with cannabis enthusiasts and sample products from top cannabis brands in the Bay Area in a beautiful loft space. Our curated event will bring together our community for Ganja Yoga led by Dee Dussault, iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation with Jaene Leonard and an immersive Sound Bath experience with Rachel Dugas. Bring your yoga mat, a blanket and your smile!\n\n### Mindful Haven Schedule:\n\n3:00-4:00pm Meet & Sample Top Cannabis Brands\n\n4:00-4:50pm Ganja Yoga with Dee Dussault\n\n4:50-5:20pm iRest® Yoga Nidra with Jaene Leonard\n\n5:20-5:45pm Sound Bathing with Rachel Dugas\n\nWe hope you will join us! Space is limited and tickets will sell out. A percentage of ticket sales will go towards a local charity. \n\n### Ganja Yoga with Dee Dussault\n\n\nDee Dussault is well known for Ganja Yoga throughout the United States\n \nGanja Yoga with me is about Mindfulness, or the inner mental work of yoga; Freedom, or your ability to move your body in the unique way it needs; and Alignment, so you can enjoy a safe practice for years to come. Dee has been teaching these sessions for eight years, was the first to offer this style of teaching in North America and is the author of the new book Ganja Yoga. She offers slow yoga classes, designed for any body and any level of experience with yoga or cannabis.\n\n### iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation with Jaene Leonard\n\n\nJaene Leonard teaches Nidra Meditation to veterans\n\nNidra in Sanskrit means 'sleep.' iRest is a guided body-sensing you will receive in a comfortable position -- seated or lying down -- designed to release stress and heal tension stored in the body. iRest is deliciously relaxing and deeply restorative, helping you to reconnect to an underlying quality of being that is always with you throughout life's challenges and changes. Jaene became a 200-level certified yoga instructor ten years ago and a Level II iRest teacher in 2013, and has been leading iRest classes and private sessions in and out of the cannabis space ever since. She delivered iRest for three years at Harborside Health Center as part of pilot wellness program Harborside Heroes and, for the past year, with its extension, OperationEVAC -- an ongoing, expanding program now in four dispensaries in the Bay Area.\n\n### Sound Bathing with Rachel Dugas\n\n\nRachel Dugas leads immersive sounds bath experiences to wide audiences\n\n\"I use sounds to soothe your soul. Sound and music are powerful healing tools because the vibrations reach us on a deeper level, releasing us from stress and clearing emotional blocks. As a sound healing practitioner, I hold the space for healing through vocal meditation, mantras, crystal singing bowls, tuning forks, and meditative music. As a cannabis educator, I empower medical cannabis patients to own their healing process, and guide their healing journey through music, dance, and plants.\" Rachel has studied music for over twenty years and has a certificate in Sound, Voice & Music in the Healing Arts from the California Institute of Integral Studies.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.342281879194631,"src":"/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/14b42/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.jpg","srcSet":"/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/f836f/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.jpg 200w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/2244e/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.jpg 400w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/14b42/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.jpg 800w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/47498/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.jpg 1200w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/1df4d/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.jpg 1370w","srcWebp":"/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/58556/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/61e93/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.webp 200w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/1f5c5/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.webp 400w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/58556/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.webp 800w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/99238/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.webp 1200w,\n/static/131ad29829b955c3676b10d46f032008/e7d03/5cc6249fe2358364dda1e09c538816bb.webp 1370w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2404-markdown","title":"Dee Dussault Talks About Her New Ganja Yoga Book","slug":"dee-dussault-talks-about-her-new-ganja-yoga-book","content":"HelloMD had the privilege of sitting down the [Dee Dussault](https://www.deedussault.com/), the founder of Ganja Yoga, to learn more about her cannabis enhanced yoga classes, as well as her [new book titled Ganja Yoga](https://www.theganjayoga.com/). Dee helps people find bliss through relaxation, mindfulness, and sensuality, and has practiced yoga for twenty-two years. Dee teaches both private and public classes, primarily in San Fransisco, that combine meditative yoga with sun grown, organic cannabis. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n#### Q: What is Ganja Yoga?\n\nA: Ganja yoga is cannabis enhanced yoga. In my permutation of it, it is yoga specifically designed to help people relax.\n\n#### Q: Were you the first person in the US to offer ganja yoga?\n\nA: Yes that is true, I was the first to market the concept. In 2009 I googled cannabis yoga and I didn’t see any listings online which got me thinking. Interestingly, I later found that Berkley Patients Group had offered yoga classes at their dispensary, but you had to get high before coming to the class. That was in the nineties, so that was before I started. However, at Berkeley Patient Group they were not ingesting cannabis together as a social process before yoga, so I was the first to really offer that experience and open it to the public, instead of just dispensary members. \n\n\nDee Dussault teaching an outdoor Ganja Yoga Class\n \n#### Q: What was your inspiration to start GY?\n\nA: It was my personal experience with cannabis. I was a late bloomer when it came to cannabis, I didn’t really get into it until my late twenties because it made me really anxious and I experienced a bad sense of paranoia. I avoided it all through college, but when I tried it again in my late twenties, I found immediately that I just wanted to get on the floor and start stretching. I already had a yoga practice for about twelve years before that and cannabis just naturally enhanced my experience of yoga. It made me want to explore poses in new ways and I found fascination with it in some way that I never had before. As far as I am concerned, cannabis and yoga go together like chocolate and peanut butter. \n\n#### Q: What do people typically experience within one of your classes?\n\nA: The first half an hour is what I call a stoner social. Our classes have joints, vape pens, or edibles and the first half an hour is about consuming with the community. You are free to come as you wish and socialize with your fellow ganja yogis. Then there is a ninety minute practice that is focused on relaxation. Some yoga that is popular now of days is about cultivating fitness or getting a ‘yoga body’, but this is really an all levels, anyone can do it type yoga that goes back to basics. Ganja yoga uses cannabis to help you move more deeply into basic postures. \n\n#### Q: What is your book Ganja Yoga & why write it now?\n\nA: I’ve been thinking about writing a book for a while, but it was one of those things that I had always put on the back-burner as I focused on my yoga practice. The publisher, Harper Collins, actually approached me; they had decided it was time for a book about cannabis and wellness and they thought of me, so that was really cool. We worked together and wrote it faster than most books are written because we wanted to have it released for 4/20 this year.\n\nIn the book, there is a little bit about my own journey, and how I originally found cannabis to be anxiety producing and how I’m now using cannabis to heighten relaxation, both feelings that are on the opposite side of the spectrum. I am telling people about my own journey so that people who have trepidations about the plant understand there are many ways to work through the anxiety, whether it is changing the strain or changing the dose or looking at how you feel or what environment you are in when you consume cannabis. \n\nIt is a little bit about my journey, but it is more about the history of cannabis and yoga. Cannabis was used throughout Asia and India and many other parts of the world for spiritual and medicinal purposes, so the practice is not new per-say, but what is new is having it in this modern context that includes socializing. People have been using cannabis for religious and spiritual reasons for thousands of years, I find that a very fascinating fact and shows how right the practice feels for so many of us. \n\n#### Q: Any interesting discovery you experienced while writing your book?\n\nA: There isn’t necessarily something I learned about myself, but something I have found is that normally when I tell people I teach ganja yoga or cannabis infused yoga their response is usually, “Oh my gosh that sounds like the perfect pair,” but the other response I get is “Oh, is that safe?”. \n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS FOR INCREASED PASSION AND PLAY](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5887f2c9d88c9d000847c1d0/cannabis-for-increased-passion-and-play-part-1)\n\nSo, people have this idea that cannabis makes you immediately intoxicated and unable to do yoga. I would like to rewrite the script of cannabis consumption to show that it is not always used to get super messed up. It can be used that way and that can be fun, but there is also the idea of a sophisticated or more mature cannabis use where you are micro or moderate dosing and you are not getting very intoxicated before the practice. \n\n\nYoga participants at Ganja Yoga\n\nGanja Yoga to me is about rewriting the stoner stereotype. In regards to the safety question, just talking about yoga specifically with cannabis aside, many people suffer yoga injuries because of our modern adaptation of the process is so rigorous and fast moving. Many yoga teachers have 200 hours of teacher training and are teaching classes of 100 people and are not able to prevent injuries. So, when people ask if ganja yoga is safe, to me it is more about if yoga is safe? If your yoga practice is slow moving and focused on proper alignment, then it is going to be safe. If you are doing a crazy vinyasa drill sergeant type practice then it might not be safe, so it is about rewriting both scripts, the yoga script and the stoner script. \n\n#### Q: Besides Ganja Yoga, what else do you do?\n\nA: I am also a sexuality coach, which could be cannabis enhanced or not, it is up to the clients. I help singles and couples deepen intimacy and find ways to make time for a more mindful and sensual engagement in the world. Sensual as opposed to sexual, but of course they’re on a spectrum, so when you are more sensually engaged your sex life will be more rewarding as well. I help people slow down and connect with their partner in new ways.\n\n#### Q: When is your book Ganja Yoga available and where can people find it?\n\nA: It is coming out the week of 4/20. It is now [available for preorder](https://www.theganjayoga.com/), and the preorder comes with a free ganja yoga video class. You can purchase it by going to ganjayogabook.com, which displays all of the retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I am also going on an eight city book tour in the months of April and May, so I will be going to book stores to do readings and teach yoga classes along the way.\n\n[Purchase Ganja Yoga the book](https://www.theganjayoga.com/). \n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/14b42/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/f836f/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.jpg 200w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/2244e/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.jpg 400w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/14b42/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.jpg 800w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/47498/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/54ac5/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/58556/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/61e93/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.webp 200w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/1f5c5/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.webp 400w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/58556/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.webp 800w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/99238/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.webp 1200w,\n/static/c3af5196785944a3caebc4bbb057c16d/5e0b8/00cb3d840bf9ee61502a09b4c1c214fb.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2142-markdown","title":"Cannabis for Increased Passion & Play! Part 1","slug":"cannabis-for-increased-passion-and-play-part-1","content":"### Increase Your Passion\n\n‘Tis the season for romance, and if you’re looking for a way to make your night even more sexy, there are many ways cannabis can enhance love-making. \n\nSome lovers out there are already daily tokers, and if that’s you, I’ll be sharing sexy tips for both the novice and veteran alike. However, if you’re a total newbie to the world of cannabis, or feel apprehensive about trying it again after a bad trip long ago, let me be the first to say, it’s a brave new world now, and cannabis is not the same thing it was even five years ago. \n\n### Something for Everyone\n\nWith new scientific understandings of how it affects our body and cutting edge technology to make the most of extraction and bioavailability, cannabis is blooming. With so much diversity in strain type (literally thousands to choose from), ways to consume (smoke, vape, eat, or rub it), and types of potential effect, in many ways it’s like talking about many different plants. The good news is, when it comes to cannabis, now there’s something for nearly everyone.\n\nIf you’ve heard good things about using cannabis for sex and want to try it, consider me your green Cupid, shooting you with my arrow of knowledge this Valentine's’ day. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nYou’re in good hands: I’m a sexuality coach and relaxation expert, and I’ll give you the tools you need to select the best cannabis product to get the job done, whether with a lover or on your own, while sprinkling in some intimacy and sensuality techniques from the world of Tantra Yoga, which will expand both the psychoactive experience of the cannabis and the passion you’re experiencing! \n\n### Cannabis Relaxation\n\nCannabis is good for love because it's good for yoga, listening to music, walks in nature, and anything else you like. Cannabis increases relaxation, which enables us to connect to and feel into our bodies more deeply, which makes sex better as well. It's also important to know that when cannabis doesn’t relax you, it usually means the strain was too high in THC, or too much cannabis was consumed.\n\nIn yoga, we learn that we enjoy and appreciate life more when we’re feeling relaxed. Relaxation of both body and mind is the key to really good living, and to really good sex. Think about the best sexual experiences you've had; I bet it was when you were free of concern, anxiety, and distraction. Think about how extra-good sex feels after a run, or when on vacation. When we’re relaxed, our blood vessels dilate, allowing for greater nerve sensitivity throughout the body. \n\n### Cannabis as Sexual Lubricant\n\nCannabis, at the right strain and dose, encourages mental and physical relaxation. It has been shown to sooth depression and anxiety, while at the same time, decreasing inflammation and pain. \n\nRELATED: [MARIJUANA INCREASES YOUR SEXUAL EXPERIENCE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/587417bc2975c00008b040b1/marijuana-increases-your-sexual-experience)\n\nI tell my sex coaching clients to think of cannabis as an energetic lubricant, washing away the corrosive armor of tension that we carry, usually unconsciously. To get high and chill out. Many of us know that stress and anxiety are implicated in low sex drive for both genders, and inability to attain orgasm in women and male premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction in guys. Using cannabis to relax is a stand for self-care and a commitment to better sex.\n\nTip: If you’re new to cannabis, explore it in places that feel comfortable and pleasing, either alone or with people you trust and feel good around. There’s no rush to develop a relationship at a fast pace. Just take your time and enjoy the journey. Choose methods of consumption that feel the most natural and exciting to you: vaping, smoking, eating, using tinctures, or rubbing on topicals. My favorite for sex is a low-dose edible that can slowly take effect about a half an hour after I eat it. Chocolates like Kiva give a wonderfully pleasurable body-buzz!\n\n### Relaxation as Foreplay\n\nUsing cannabis to relax is one thing. Using cannabis, alongside various relaxation practices, is quite another. Mindfulness is one such practice. Here you attempt to keep your attention in the present moment instead of being lost in thought. \n\n\n[Dee Dusault](https://www.deedussault.com/) is well known for her sexuality teaching which includes the use of cannabis.\n \nMindfulness is a spiritual practice with pragmatic applications. It reduces stress and brings more appreciation, but it also can make time feel slower. When you're right here, right now, with the universe of sensation and emotion (and even noticing thoughts without getting lost in them), you get to savor the passing of time instead of feeling like you're racing against it or a slave to it. \n\nBeing mindful as you nibble that delicious artisanal chocolate edible not only makes you more grateful for the moment, it also makes the moment feel more divine. \n\nCombining mindfulness, cannabis, and sexual intimacy creates a sort of \"entourage effect\" where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Adding other forms of conscious relaxation before getting busy, like taking a hot bath, busting out some yoga, or lighting candles, will make both the high and the loving even more meaningful, sweet, and yummy! \n\nTip: What can you be mindful of, right now as you read? Lift your head for a moment and notice color, shape, sound. Notice your mood, thoughts, feelings. Notice your body, heartbeat, breath. When you're preparing to meet with your lover, take time to relax with a few minutes of mindfulness practice, or other activities that relax you physically and emotionally. The more relaxed you are, the more you'll feel and enjoy the timeless eternity of each passionate moment!\n\n[READ PART 2 OF CANNABIS FOR PASSION & PLAY!](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/58922f0b189869000c9af616/cannabis-for-increased-passion-and-play-part-2)\n\nIf you would like more inspiration, check out my Bay Area Valentines Tantra classes, sponsored by Alchemy Vape Pens by Dark Heart, Kiva Chocolates and [Arnicann topicals!](http://www.goarnicann.com/ ) \n\nFriday night: [“Sexual Awakening Yoga”](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sexy-flex-for-women-tickets-31203488474?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button) class for women, Saturday afternoon: [“Partner Yoga for Love”](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/partner-yoga-for-love-tickets-31489708566) and [“Partner Tantra Yoga and Massage.”](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tantra-yoga-and-massage-tickets-31489747683) \n____________________________________________________________________\n\nDee Dussault helps people find their bliss through relaxation, mindfulness, and sensuality. She is the founder of Ganja Yoga, as well as a Tantra teacher, and sexuality coach. Since 2009, she has worked privately with hundreds of couples and singles, and taught public classes to thousands more, helping them to relax, slow down, and enjoy both sex and life even more. Her book, 'Ganja Yoga' will be released with Harper Collins in April 2017. You can learn more on her site [The Ganja Yoga](www.deedussault.com).\n_____________________________________________________________________\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3157894736842106,"src":"/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/ee604/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.png","srcSet":"/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/69585/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.png 200w,\n/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/497c6/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.png 400w,\n/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/ee604/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.png 800w,\n/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/3a34c/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.png 938w","srcWebp":"/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/58556/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/61e93/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.webp 200w,\n/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/1f5c5/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.webp 400w,\n/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/58556/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.webp 800w,\n/static/edc690c3e428d95860ee30ec8c5c0492/4092a/a0a3976a1dcd721af0471075f41dd4b6.webp 938w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2386-markdown","title":"Microdosing Cannabis: Satori Chocolate Edibles Review","slug":"microdosing-cannabis-satori-chocolate-edibles-review","content":"Last year, I often lamented the lack of low-dose options on the market for cannabis consumers. Walking into a typical dispensary, it’s quite common to be advised to purchase a 200 mg bar of chocolate or offered a gummy bear that may be anywhere from 20–50 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).\n\nLuckily, this year we’ve seen the emergence of several new brands and products that have the microdosing cannabis consumer in mind. One of my absolute favorite new brands to hit the market in 2017 is called Satori. This California brand offers a [variety of low-dose chocolate-covered edibles](https://hellomd.com/articles/top-cannabis-brands-that-are-doing-it-right) in 1 mg, 3 mg and 10 mg doses.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\n### Microdosing Marijuana Explained\n\nThe [practice of microdosing marijuana](https://hellomd.com/articles/microdosing-101-cannabis-psilocybin-and-lsd) involves ingesting small amounts of cannabis to create a specific effect. For a medical marijuana consumer, this may be titrating a small amount throughout the day to treat a condition without feeling the effect of being high. For someone not seeking to treat a specific condition, microdosing may be used to produce a sense of well-being, reduce anxiety, focus attention or lift the spirits on a dreary day. Yep, in a nutshell, that’s microdosing.\n\n\nSatori pairs cannabis and chocolate in these tasty microdosed edibles.\n \nFor me, [microdosing cannabis started as a way to manage chronic pain](https://hellomd.com/articles/microdosing-cannabis-stopped-my-chronic-pain) effectively without feeling the psychoactive high. This worked very well for my chronic migraines and fibromyalgia. Over time however, I noticed that I enjoyed the relaxation and more subtle effects of microdosing. \n\nAfter a stressful day, microdosing a 3 mg cannabis-infused chocolate has a way of taking the edge off, similar to drinking a glass of wine. It should be noted that most people will not feel any noticeable psychoactive effects at around 2.5 mg and will begin to feel psychoactivity at around 5 –10 mg. As everyone is different, there are no hard and fast rules, but this applies to me. \n\nNow, I realize, if you’re an avid cannabis consumer with higher THC tolerances, such a low dosage may seem laughable. For those with lower tolerances though or for anyone who may have had a bad edible experience, this is a perfect way to onramp into the world of cannabis. \n\n### Satori Cannabis Chocolate Review\n\nFor my trial run with [Satori](https://twitter.com/satoriedibles), I chose to consume the 3 mg THC Wild Strawberries in Organic Milk Chocolate. Rather than sitting at home, I decided to test the 420 Games principle that [cannabis and athletics can go hand in hand](https://hellomd.com/articles/the-420-games-celebrates-athletes-healthy-living-and-cannabis.\n\nTo that end, I chose to attend a yoga class at my favorite yoga studio in San Francisco, Yoga Tree Castro, with my good girlfriend Valerie. (Valerie did not consume any cannabis.) I’ve been an avid yoga practitioner for the past 15 years, so I know both my capabilities and limits; I felt confident that 3 mg of THC wouldn’t put my downward dog (or me) in jeopardy. \n\nAs cannabis edibles must first be digested and then metabolized by your liver before entering your bloodstream, it can take up to one to two hours to feel the effects. With that in mind, I decided to consume my 3 mg Satori cannabis chocolate an hour before class time. Sitting in my car after I parked, I grabbed my Satori box. The packaging, which seems to be made out of recycled material, is aesthetically pleasing; it looks like high-quality-granola-meets-the-Whole-Foods-set.\n\n### Seeing Into One’s True Nature With Satori\n\nGoogling the word “Satori,” I came up with this: “The word is derived from the Japanese verb satoru. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, satori refers to the experience of kenshō, \"seeing into one's true nature.” Well, yes, I was feeling pretty good about everything at this point.\n\nOpening the box, I poured a handful of the cannabis chocolates into my palm. One of the first things I noticed was the chocolatey aroma wafting up intermixed with a faint scent of cannabis. I happen to like the smell of cannabis, so for me this was a pleasant experience. The second thing I noticed was that the size of the chocolates vary, and that they appeared to be panned, given the uneven texture. \n\nPanning refers to the practice of tumbling the chocolate over an object, such as a tasty dried strawberry. The only downside to panning with cannabis is that the dosage may vary. This is due to the size of the dried strawberry being panned and the amount of chocolate that actually coats the object. In other words, one strawberry might be 2 mg and another strawberry might be 4 mg. Unperturbed by this fact, I looked over the cannabis chocolates in my hand, chose a middle-sized chocolate-coated strawberry and popped it in my mouth.\n\n### First Impressions: This Is High-Quality Chocolate With a Hint of Cannabis\n\nOh, high-quality chocolate is what immediately entered my mind. Chocolate I want more of (which is somewhat problematic with edibles and requires restraint)! The other taste that came through was an earthy cannabis flavor, although it didn’t overpower the chocolate. The sweetness of the strawberry combined with the chocolate and cannabis flavor was pure bliss and unlike any other marijuana edible I’ve tried to date.\n\nUsually, it seems that manufacturers try to completely negate the cannabis flavor from an edible whereas Satori seems to celebrate it. Now, I would need to wait to feel the effects.\n\n\nGetting my zen on with Satori at Yoga Tree Castro in SF. \n\nAn hour later, I unrolled my yoga mat next to Valerie. Soon thereafter, I started to feel the effects of my cannabis-infused chocolate-covered strawberry as I began our first series of vinyasas. I felt a sense of relaxation and a deeper level of awareness within my body as we warmed up.\n\nOne striking difference was the emphasis I felt within my breathing and the sense of breath going to different parts of my body. As any yoga practitioner knows, this is a core tenet of yoga, but is often glossed over within the mind, which tends to wander and hold onto everything except the breath. I didn’t feel stoned; rather, I felt calm, focused and happy.\n\n### Feeling Happy From Satori’s Cannabis-Infused Chocolate-Covered Strawberry\n\nThe last word “happy” is a word I don’t often use when describing cannabis edibles. For the most part, when I take an edible, I notice a general sense of calm, but I also find them extremely useful for sleeping. With the Satori cannabis chocolate, I noticed a significant uptick in both my mood and energy level, which for me is quite unusual for any edible. If Satori could be analagous to something, it might be to the sativa marijuana strain. \n\nAs the class progressed, I went deeper into poses than I might normally go, while at the same time I didn’t feel as if I were stretching past any limitations. With the music going and feeling the flow both within myself and the class, I was really enjoying myself. There was only one point at which I thought better of a pose and stopped myself from doing a forearm stand, an upside-down inversion on the forearms. Considering I was about a foot away from my neighbors on either side, going upside down didn’t seem like it was in anyone’s best interest. \n\nAt the end of the 90-minute class, I was definitely feeling as if I were “seeing into my own true nature” as it were. I was extremely pleased with my experience with Satori’s 3 mg marijuana-spiked chocolate-covered strawberry. This is one cannabis product I plan to keep in heavy rotation and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone. Definitely a keeper.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/tag/cannabis-101/) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUCBAb/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACA//aAAwDAQACEAMQAAABsyVMy2plhT//xAAaEAADAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMAEBIx/9oACAEBAAEFArIhoqq2pRIbwdXnn//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECECH/2gAIAQMBAT8BUZP/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEP/aAAgBAgEBPwFn/8QAGxAAAwACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERAhIQUZH/2gAIAQEABj8CTsfRLwsshxmuz9P/xAAbEAEAAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABACERMRBBUf/aAAgBAQABPyFans9Ew1wcPNvQRMKxq467j//aAAwDAQACAAMAAAAQa+//xAAXEQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEh/9oACAEDAQE/EAML2RL/xAAXEQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEx/9oACAECAQE/EGLGPL//xAAcEAEBAAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABEQAhMVFBYfD/2gAIAQEAAT8QjXqFL9TNlGBvq8ccYaAxlxQoqj5XNDRQig94rZDYFk9XP//Z","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/14b42/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.jpg","srcSet":"/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/f836f/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.jpg 200w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/2244e/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.jpg 400w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/14b42/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.jpg 800w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/47498/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.jpg 1200w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/54ac5/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/58556/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/61e93/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.webp 200w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/1f5c5/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.webp 400w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/58556/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.webp 800w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/99238/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.webp 1200w,\n/static/bf3d4b677c4903730c120a55b9e036d3/5e0b8/4422a26bdb998844f1e241cf95c64e44.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2335-markdown","title":"Shop Green: My Cannabis Holiday Gift Guide","slug":"shop-green-my-cannabis-holiday-gift-guide","content":"We are pleased to have Brandy Petricka join us as our newest guest blogger on the HelloMD platform. She is a Mom, cannabis lover and Director of Marketing at Alchemy by Dark Heart, an extremely popular vape company that combines \"The perfect blend for wellness.\" Happy holiday reading!\r\n\r\n### Holiday Cheer\r\n\r\nIt was Thanksgiving and my family was gathered at my Grandmother’s house anticipating our favorite meal of the year. Some of us were clinking glasses of rum and wine and catching up on the details of our lives. My younger cousins were huddled in the living room over a shared iPad screen playing Angry Birds. My uncles were convened in the living room, eyes fixed on the TV as the Steelers triumphed over the Colts. \r\n\r\nMy mother raised her glass and asked the family to join her in a toast. Everyone got up (with the exception of the kids). It was at that moment I noticed my uncle, still sitting in one of the recliners in the living room. Holding up a glass, with a look of embarrassment on his face I’d never seen before. I asked him later why he didn’t join us and he said very frankly, “Sciatica. It’s getting worse.” \r\n\r\n### Our Holiday Gift Guide\r\n\r\nThis year marks the first year in California that [marijuana consumption](http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/california-passes-recreational-marijuana-bill-prop-64-w448877) is legal for recreational use. So this year, instead of the typical bargain bin flannel pajamas and iTunes gift certificates, I’m going to gift my favorite people with something that will impact their wellness as well as their happiness. \r\n\r\nCheck out my suggestions for giving the gift of green this year to (almost) everyone on your list!\r\n\r\n### The Uncle With Nerve Pain\r\n\r\nEveryone has that uncle. He’s always manning the BBQ, he’s always got a dad joke on hand. Lately you’ve noticed him sitting more things out than usual and if pain is the reason - consider gifting him with something he likely wouldn’t get himself. Perhaps he’s a little on the conservative side or on the fence about cannabis smokables. \r\n\r\nTry asking your local dispensary about cannabis topicals. The beauty of cannabis topicals is that despite usually being very potent and chock-full of THC and CBD - they don’t cause a high. Your uncle can rub a little cannabis cream on his sore areas and no one will be the wiser - except you. His new favorite relative.\r\n\r\n### The Zen Best Friend\r\n\r\nHe wakes up in the morning in full sun salutation and loves quoting Buddha and Lao Tzu. This friend is all about good vibes. Indica strains are known for having calming and relaxing effects, great for evening use and the perfect pairing for a yoga or meditation session. Try a vaporizer pen with cannabis oil that has been infused with stress relieving notes like lavender and chamomile and other botanical essences like those in [Alchemy by Dark Heart vape pens](http://www.darkheartalchemy.com/learn-more/). Sure to help your bestie get through the rest of the winter season with a well-balanced aura.\r\n\r\n### The Busy Mom Who Never Sleeps\r\n\r\nEveryone knows a super mom. No one is sure how they do it. Up early and on the go until the wee hours. She might spend countless nights lying awake unable to drift off to sleep, wrought with a full mind. According to [The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/americans-are-getting-worse-at-taking-sleeping-pills/375935/), over 50 million Americans suffer from insomnia and you know your favorite multi-tasking mama is one of them. This year, give her the gift of sleep. Check out brands that offer cannabis oil capsules or tinctures she can keep stashed in the nightstand for a restful sleep. \r\n\r\nRELATED: [THE ALCHEMY HOLIDAY WELLNESS PACK](http://www.darkheartalchemy.com/hellomdholiday/?utm_source=HelloMDHoliday&utm_campaign=HelloMDHoliday)\r\n\r\nBeing on-the-go means occasionally needing to take the edge off. Alchemy by Dark Heart vape pens carry a lower dose of THC. This is ideal for Mom’s who need to stay sharp but don’t want an overpowering effect. Mint and citrus in the Awaken pen, for instance, work as a stimulant to provide the perfect pick-me up for the morning dash. \r\n### The Newly-Legal College-Bound Cousin\r\n\r\nShe just turned 21 and still buzzing from the vibes of her newly found adulthood. Give her a sample of a marijuana strain someone with a paper deadline can appreciate. Consider strains like Sour Tangie and Sour Diesel, good for finding focus, energizing the mind and lifting the spirits. These Sativa strains are a great alternative for coffee-junkies and tend to be ideal for those oft necessary “wake and bake” mornings or long cram sessions. Vaporizers are great for the novice user or for those who need to remain highly functional throughout the day.\r\n\r\n### The Sweet Tooth\r\n\r\nEveryone knows someone who never seems to be too far from a plate of fresh baked cookies or a delicious slice of cake. For the sweet chaser in your life, stuff their stocking with a few choice cannabis edibles. Browse your local dispensary and be sure to ask about potency. Cannabis edibles tend to come with a pretty intense high, and are definitely not for the cannabis-weary. Pass on any directions when you give this gift to ensure they get the desired effect.\r\n\r\n### The Avid Coffee Drinker\r\n\r\nShe’s never far from her favorite coffee mug, or her favorite coffee shop. You would usually get a well stocked gift certificate to Starbucks, but this year - change things up a bit. For the coffee lover in your life, try a cannabis-infused coffee product. This ancient tradition has been around since the 16th century. \r\n\r\nDosage is again something you want to carefully consider, but there are plenty of low-dose options for someone new to cannabis. Remember to look for a Sativa infused coffee for morning consumption and an Indica infused coffee for the evening. \r\n\r\n### Give the Gift of Green\r\n\r\nAs cannabis legality grows in the US, the industry will begin to touch those who may not have considered marijuana to be the missing solution to their every day ailments. Whether its an avid pot smoker, a consistent conservative or just a very open minded wellness seeker - you’ll be sure to thrill unsuspecting gift receivers. \r\n\r\nMore importantly, you could be the reason someone in your life finds chemical-free, holistic support for pain that may be negatively shaping their lives. Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge (under the guise of fancy wrapping paper). \r\n\r\nFor more tips or to answer your cannabis questions check out the HelloMD question forums or speak to your local dispensary. For the perfect stocking stuffer, check out [Alchemy’s Holiday Wellness Pack](http://www.darkheartalchemy.com/hellomdholiday/?utm_source=HelloMDHoliday&utm_campaign=HelloMDHoliday) available for a limited time only while supplies last. Great taste and a manageable high make it the perfect gift for anyone new to cannabis.\r\n\r\n________________________________________________________\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/14b42/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/f836f/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.jpg 200w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/2244e/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.jpg 400w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/14b42/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.jpg 800w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/47498/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.jpg 1200w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/54ac5/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/58556/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/61e93/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.webp 200w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/1f5c5/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.webp 400w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/58556/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.webp 800w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/99238/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.webp 1200w,\n/static/5c46b654f12e0c4e2b1e8278ea0cbfc9/5e0b8/86735add06b128ba6295f786a4903bf8.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":2,"currentPage":1,"id":5942,"name":"Yoga","slug":"yoga","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}