This post was originally published at www.greenlovedenver.com and appears here with permission.

Did you know that over 40 million people in the U.S. struggle with various anxiety disorders? Stress is also a common factor for many of us when striving to create a work life balance and dealing with life’s stressors. As a way to counteract stress and anxiety many have turned to meditation, not just any ol’ meditation practice, cannabis meditation to be exact.

With practice, meditation is a great way to provide your mind and body with the relief it needs to function with ease, while also providing you with tools to help deal with unexpected stress or trauma. As a cannabis yogi, my meditation practice is often paired with cannabis. For those who are looking to amplify their meditation practice, cannabis meditation can be a great starting point.

Cannabis Meditation - How Does it Work?

Whether you are an experienced 420 connoisseur or you are new in the world of cannabis, the advice remains the same. Once you have decided that incorporating cannabis into your meditation is the right decision for you the first step is reflecting upon that reasoning.

Why did you choose plant medicine for your meditation? What about cannabis speaks to you?

Once you’ve clarified the purpose for using cannabis the next step is to decide what form of cannabis you will consume, whether it be through combustion, an edible, sublingually through a tincture, or CBD-only products. Regardless of how you choose to consume you should always start slow and low. You can always add more cannabis, but it’ll take a while for the effects of too much cannabis to fade away.

Using a low-dose option when meditating is helpful because it leads to a greater mind-body connection without feeling too high to feel the natural effects from the practice.

After you’ve selected your mode of consumption, setting your intention with plant medicine and the meditation practice is imperative.

What would you like to get out of this experience?

What is your intention with using plant medicine in your meditation practice?

Now that you’ve set your intention you are ready to start meditating with cannabis! Find yourself a quiet, comfortable spot to sit or lay down where you can be in peace for 10-20 minutes. Begin the consumption process mindfully and close your eyes. Start to listen to your heartbeat as it gently begins to slow down settling into your space.

You can use a variety of breathing techniques during your meditation to keep the mind present. Oftentimes counting the breath (5 counts in 3 counts out and so on) allows the mind to focus on the counting vs. the difficulty of doing nothing.

No matter how experienced you are as a meditator your mind will likely run away from you, thoughts will spiral and that’s okay. The point of meditation is to catch yourself by bringing it back to the present moment. Even if you only have a second of presence, that’s meditation. Continuing to practice will only strengthen your mind.

Practice doesn’t make perfect when it comes to meditation, but it allows you to show up with grace and compassion with the intention of being in the moment. Every time I sit down to meditate the experience is different. Perhaps your body is uncomfortable or your mind is wandering more one day vs. the next. That’s okay. Keep showing up in your meditation practice and your mind and body will reap the benefits.

Why You Should Use Cannabis In Your Meditation Practice

Utilizing cannabis in your meditation practice can offer you a wide-range of benefits, plus it’s great for self care! Cannabis helps connect you into the present moment. It also allows the chatter in the mind to calm down which allows you to be present without constant thoughts flowing through. Depending on what I’m consuming cannabis has a calming effect on my mind and body allowing things to slow down much more effortlessly.

I’ve found that when I connect to my breath after consuming I’m able to feel a deeper and more meaningful mind-body-spirit Cannabis Meditation connection. Instead of going through the motions of meditating I’m able to drop into the present moment and feel my mind and body flowing as one. This grounding practice leads to a greater connection of self and thus increases consciousness.

When you are able to connect to your mind and body on a deeper level you are able to sit with your true self – learning and feeling what it truly means to be you. Reducing the noise and distractions from our daily lives and just being in the present allows the true self to shine through, dropping the ego mind.

Cannabis meditation is also really fun! Incorporating cannabis into your meditation practice is an added bonus that makes meditation a bit more enjoyable, but also serves its purpose in offering a myriad of benefits for the mind, body and spirit.

Meditation Resources

Meditating can be a daunting task, especially when you are just starting out. I’ve found the best way to learn more about meditation and create a consistent practice is with a little help from others.

For the last 1 ½ years I’ve been listening to Deepak Chopra’s Meditation App which offers new sessions daily as well as an accountability tracker so you can watch your progress.

Honestly, I’ve been a practicing yogi for over 7 years and meditation was never my strong suit. I’m happy to say that after using the Chopra app daily I’ve come to enjoy and even want to meditate! When it may seem daunting and yes, even a bit annoying I promise once you get started you’ll wonder why you waited so long to begin.

Another great resource is Russell Brand’s Above The Noise podcast and meditation sessions. Each week Russell provides a new lesson and guided meditation for listeners. Above The Noise has been a refreshing change of pace from the Chopra app when I’m looking for a different perspective. Russell also incorporates different teachings from Kundalini, to Tao Te Ching inspired practices and more.

There are also countless videos on YouTube that offer free meditation sequences and yoga studios are still offering online resources and classes for students.

Meditation is accessible to everyone and can truly help elevate your existence. Consider incorporating a little cannabis into your mediation and I promise you’ll feel the benefits.

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