Following the positive reception around CannaYoga by Roxy Louw and business partner and fiancé Sam Barton, the couple has decided to bring CannaYoga to Stellenbosch.
Barton spoke to MatieMedia about CannaYoga, their newly released CBD (Cannabidiol) oil and the benefits associated with the combination of yoga and cannabis.
CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is one of the cannabinoid components – next to THC – found in the marijuana plant.
Prof Clara Schutte from the department of neurology at the University of Pretoria explains the difference between the two components of the plant and the effects they have on the brain.
“These two components are chemically closely related to one another, but whereas CBD has no psychoactive effects, THC shows clear psychoactive effects. This means that THC is the component that causes a person to become high when taking marijuana, and CBD does not.”
Barton explains that the combination of CBD and yoga allows people suffering from arthritis and similar conditions to practice yoga because of the pain reduction experienced through CBD.
“[On the other hand] if you are a fit and active person, the addition of CBD to your yoga practice allows you to push the body a little but further, stretch a little bit deeper and detoxing the body a little bit harder,” says Barton.
Barton assisting a participant with CBD oil during a CannaYoga session. PHOTO: Supplied
Pre-clinical evidence has shown that the use of CBD can produce beneficial effects in some medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia although there have not yet been large clinical trials to test the cannabinoids in clinical practice, explains Schutte.
According to Barton, CBD and cannabis are also combined with yoga to modulate the mental aspect of the practice.
“It breaks us out of our automatic processes in the brain. It also allows for a more meditative practice so that you get more mental benefits out of yoga.”
The cannabis herb is incorporated into the yoga sessions in forms either containing THC or only CBD. A session is begun with “a plant medicine ceremony that is taken from the heritage of native people across the globe.”
A CannaYoga session. PHOTO: Supplied
“We then consume, set our intentions, we connect to our self and then we go on to the physical yoga practice,” explains Barton.
The doses of CBD or THC consumed during CannaYoga vary amongst the participants. A standard dose can be anywhere between one to four drops of CBD oil, says Barton.
“Some people who have experience with CBD or a higher tolerance use more but that is a standard dose of CBD used during the yoga practice.”
Barton and Louw have been practicing CannaYoga for some time already but with the recent law changes around cannabis they are able to finally share the practice with the world.
Sam Barton interacting with a client during a CannaYoga session. PHOTO: Supplied
“Roxy comes from a world of health, wellness and yoga. I come from a world of health, wellness and cannabis advocacy and we have been long aware of the medicinal benefits of the plant. When we got together CannaYoga was born.”
At the moment CannaYoga sessions are only offered to people who are older than 21. Barton explains that this is due to a lack of studies investigating the effects of cannabis on developing brains.
Their CBD oil was launched in May this year and the feedback around the product has been extremely positive, says Barton.
“It has been amazing. Phenomenal. People are genuinely walking away transformed. People are coming to the practice with challenges that they are trying to overcome and it allows them to overcome these hurdles. People’s lives are changing.”
A CannaYoga session will be held in Stellenbosch on 19 September 2019. Students will receive a R100 discount when attending the session. For more information visit https://greenleafvitality.com/cannayoga-stellenbosch/
Sam Barton and Roxy Louw will be hosting a CannaYoga session in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Supplied