Stillness of mind, connection with the body, and serenity of spirit- the age-old practices of yoga and meditation have a lot that can help us in the modern world. In a time when so many of us are struggling with issues around concentration, poor body image, chronic illness, stress, anxiety, or depression, a daily practice that can help resolve some of this is appealing.
A quick look at the number of yoga studios in your town should demonstrate how many people are finding relief through such methods. What is less well known, however, is how well taking a CBD supplement can complement and enhance the practice, so read on to discover just how it can take your routine to the next level.
A Perfect Crossover of Aims and Results
The objectives of practicing yoga or meditation and the reasons a lot of people are choosing to regularly take a medicinal dose of CBD have a lot in common. Many people begin a regular meditation routine to help calm and still the mind, manage stress, and stabilise their mood. Anxiety, daily tensions, and intrusive thoughts are to be let go, but this is easier said than done. The anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects of CBD offer a helping hand in this, quelling some of the background worries of your inner monologue, and allowing you to go deeper.
This improvement in focus and concentration is another of CBD’s potential effects. Without the disruption of the mind’s constant chatter, that improved mind-body connection that yoga and meditation promise seems far more in reach. In fact, endocannabinoids are described by researchers as “literally a bridge between body and mind”, so CBD function regulating the body’s endocannabinoid system makes perfect sense as a part of the practice of yoga. Both impeccably support that intuitive connection between the mind, the body, and the self.
CBD’s anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties shouldn’t be overlooked in this context either. Muscle soreness and stiffness might be the reason you are doing yoga, so a reduction in this will certainly help you be more present in the moment, and achieve more in your practice. You might also feel quite sore or tight after an hour-long class of stretching and bending into unfamiliar positions- asanas can be strenuous for muscles, ligaments, and tendons! Reducing the inflammation suffered by tired muscles is a surefire way to improve recovery post-exercise.
Extending your Bliss
That blissed out feeling we experience after getting really into the zone during a particular class is down to the release of a neurotransmitter called anandamide. From the Sanskrit ‘ananda’ meaning happiness, joy, delight’, this endocannabinoid bonds to the cannabinoid receptors in our brains to produce that wonderful feeling of utmost contentment we feel after an especially deep session.
Sadly, it’s a very fragile molecule and is broken down by the body quickly, meaning that bliss is fleeting. CBD has been demonstrated to slow the breakdown of anandamide by suppressing the release of the enzyme which destroys it. So not only will a regular dose of CBD enhance your practice of yoga and meditation themselves, but it will also prolong all those positive feelings the practices offer, too.
Improved focus, clarity of thought, a strengthened mind-body connection, accelerated recovery, and prolonged bliss- CBD can offer your yoga and meditation all of these benefits and more. When enjoying one or two gummies or a drink each day comes with that many upsides, taking CBD to support your practice makes perfect sense.
