Stoned Yoga

[LDT]

Hi all!
I don't know if this is the correct place to post, so if it's not..... feel free to move me.

I just read this in the paper this morning......there is a yoga studio in California that is promoting smoking pot before coming to yoga class.....has actually set aside 3 classes for stoned yogis. The instructor says "...being healthy and using cannabis are not mutually exclusive..." Students of this particular class say there is " definitely a different vibe going on".....( ya think?)

I practice power yoga several times a week, and, as someone that has actually consumed large quantities of alcohol before a yoga class ( in my former life ) I can tell you there is nothing healthy or positive or helpful AT ALL about being buzzed on anything ( except life ) while practicing yoga.....unless you call falling over, or acting silly in downward dog, or passing out during savasana "healthy".

I think this notion of being stoned and doing yoga is outrageous. But that's just me.......what do you think?

[stairs]

Getting stoned just made me paranoid and plus it's illegal.

Stoned Yoga seems like a contradiction in terms. Yoga includes meditation and mindfulness that is supposed to get us to a place of a natural high, why mess it up with marijuana?

[LDT]

Exactly, Stairs....."a contradiction in terms". The article suggests that practicing yoga while stoned brings one to an even more "mindful" place. To me, it only furthers the incorrect stereotype of yogis in general. I'm serious about two things.....my sobriety and my yoga. Obviously this would not be a class I'd remotely consider.

[SOBERINNEPA]

Stoned "Rocky Horror Picture Show"? Sure, that was a mind expanding experience. Stoned yoga? Eh, I'm not feeling it.

I think, that when you add "stoned" as a prefix to any activity, you're pretty much just using the activity to justify being stoned.

Plus, and I'm no yogi, aren't some of the poses a little bit dangerous to someone who might be a little bit anesthetized? I'm thinking about hyperextended joints and pinched nerves in necks.

[Ghostly]

Ya know...I hadn't heard of this, but I'm not surprised either. Also not outraged. Personally, I don't think smoking anything is healthy (I know the marijuana community thinks for some reason, breathing this into their lungs is somehow safe...its not). At the same time, I think it should be someone's choice, and don't think its really that harmful comparatively speaking. That said...it is illegal. So, again, not surprised, but think it's a pretty bad idea.

[sugarbear1]

The imagined sedative effects of weed might help a little, but I think this is another delusional thinker seeking a profit..... (or are they delusional?). Is this owned by Snoop and Whoopie, by chance?

[jamdls]

I personally think smoking pot is way less harmful than drinking alcohol and think it should be legal even though I was never a fan of the affect. With that said I think stoned yoga is a ridiculous idea, the "highs" I get and the overall calming I receive after a good yoga class can not be achieved via chemicals and I believe any 'chemicals' legal or not would tarnish the natural high.

[LDT]

Even if pot were "legal" ( which I'm not debating ), I still think doing any kind of exercise or sport in any "altered state" is foolish and dangerous. Many years ago I hung out with sky divers. Yes, I "jumped out of a perfectly good airplane" a few times. I remember how some of those jumpers use to say how getting high before a jump made the jump seem....well, "higher". It was a miracle some of those people landed in one piece.

[Mattmandel21]

smoking pot is definitely healthier then drinking alcohol but to practice yoga high? Questionable...

Not sure how i would feel about that but hey, I can't knock it till I try it right?

[soberlicious]

Anyone who is serious about finding benefit from a yogic practice would not indulge in smoking pot. The fifth precept of the pañca-sila states that seekers "refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness."

Sounds like the stoned yogis just wanna get high. They are missing the point, and missing a true authentic high by not practicing with a clear mind.

[wonderfullife]

My only thought on this is that it might tap into a new subgroup of people who seek out something in pot that can be accomplished through yoga. I would assume that most eventually would cease the pot during class and use just the practice itself. I have no issue with pot except for the lung issue and of course overdoing it.

[LDT]

As I said in an earlier post, my issue is not with "pot", or whether or not it should be legalized. My problem with this is the general thinking/assumption that ANY experience, be it exercise, going to the movies, having sex ( yes, I said the 's' word ), going to a concert, etc. can be made better by being in an altered state. How did we ever evolve into that type of thinking? As a person that use to go to yoga classes buzzed, I can tell you that at no time was I ever close to getting in touch with my inner yogi while under the influence. Plus....I just looked really stupid!

[soberlicious]

Originally Posted by LDT

My problem with this is the general thinking/assumption that ANY experience, be it exercise, going to the movies, having sex ( yes, I said the 's' word ), going to a concert, etc. can be made better by being in an altered state. How did we ever evolve into that type of thinking?

By thinking that pain or discomfort should be avoided at all costs and that pleasure alone is what brings happiness. This type of thinking permeates society (especially western society) on all levels.

[wonderfullife]

Originally Posted by soberlicious

By thinking that pain or discomfort should be avoided at all costs and that pleasure alone is what brings happiness. This type of thinking permeates society (especially western society) on all levels.

well said.

[coming_clean]

terrible..
just terrible..

[hdevil]

The term yoga can be translated as to be yoked with god, it is meant as a spiritual path through exercise/meditation in order for the yogi to become closer, or at peace with the universe. Using any kind of mind altering substance while seeking enlightenment is in direct conflict the eightfold paths to which one may find enlightenment.

[stillsleeping]

Originally Posted by SOBERINNEPA

Plus, and I'm no yogi, aren't some of the poses a little bit dangerous to someone who might be a little bit anesthetized? I'm thinking about hyperextended joints and pinched nerves in necks.

Exactly what I was thinking! Noooooo - and why?

[Kafka]

I can't smoke pot anymore, it has nothing to do with alcohol or any other substance abuse. Frankly, I don't think marijuana is even relevant to addiction. while it can be abused, I am not entirely convinced that it is harmful.

Anyway, I can't smoke it because its illegal and I am looking for a job, and plus I can get paranoid if I smoke too much. I think it might enhance a yoga experience. Maybe, maybe not. But I can't help but comment on the stigma pot has. it is a mind altering substance sure, however does not yield any adverse health effects(the smoke is hardly any where near as toxic as cigarettes and its prescribed to CANCER PATIENTS), is not addicitive, and much less intoxicating than alcohol. It doesn't effect your motor skills either.

This is coming from someone who doesn't smoke, condone smoking, but used to smoke.

[Kafka]

anyway, what I am saying is it should be okay to have stoned yoga classes for people who wish to take them.

[LDT]

"Distorted perception....loss of coordination.....increased heart rate......anxiety and paranoia, and panic attacks". These symptoms are on the short list of physiological effects of smoking marijuana....all of which would certainly NOT enhance a serious Ashtanga yoga practice. In fact, it greatly increases the injury factor for a stoned yogi. I can only assume it would be the same for any other kind of work out. And by the way...I don't want to see classes offered for drunks, either......trust me.....I've been there.