LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — As cannabis acceptance grows, people are looking for ways to incorporate it into other parts of their lives. That includes exercise like yoga.
There are a lot of people who say merging marijuana and yoga isn’t really that much of a stretch.
This is an exercise class where the warm up can include lighting up. And where the spa water is infused with both fruit and a few drops of cannabis oil.
It is called marijuasana.
It's an idea that came to Stacey Mulvey while living in cannabis friendly Colorado and studying to be a Pilates instructor.
"I thought why not kind of test the waters with something new? Something people might not be used to yet,” Mulvey said. “I just kind of thought I saw a trend and started putting up some classes. And it just kind of took off from there."
It's yoga class where the mellow is mixed in with the Zen.
Kate Cochran-Morgan believes in the benefits of yoga and cannabis. So, putting them together in a class just made good sense to her.
“They are always so intimate and nice,” she said. “And just very caring and loving and in a good space. And I feel like I'm really taking care of my body when I'm using cannabis with yoga.”
Mulvey said the combination of pot and poses in a slow and controlled style of yoga enhances the experience by increasing circulation and decreasing inflammation.
"I get a lot of people who have never done yoga before,” Mulvey said.
"I started because of her,” said Gabriel Oliveira who began attending pop up classes in Los Angeles.
"It was just like amazing,“ he said. “It helps with the pain. It helps with your body stretching and everything. It’s just perfect."
Oliveira is an athlete. He and the rest of the class don’t fit the profile of the pudgy pot head glued to the couch scarfing down junk food.
"Plus, it’s really good for your body.“ said Cochran-Morgan. “The health benefits the cannabinoids are going into your body. It’s a really great health and wellness program."
They are pushing their bodies and pushing back against common stereotypes about cannabis users.
For more information about pot yoga classes and events you can go to this website: https://www.marijuasana.com/
