Stona Yoga – South Africa

Stona Yoga is a form of yoga practiced while under the influence of cannabis. Benefits include increased flexibility, improved internal body awareness, improved ability to reach a meditative or mindful state, reduced pain, reduced inflammation, enhanced relaxation, as well as all the benefits experienced through regular yoga. It is a modern yoga style that involves movement, static poses, breathing, visualization, sports stretching and meditation. Stona Yoga is suitable for all levels of participants. Individual and group lessons are available. Each lesson is customized to the class.

I am quite certain that I did not invent or discover stoned yoga. Smoking cannabis and yoga are two ancient healing practices that were combined long before I took up either. However, what I did discover, is that when under the influence of cannabis, just through natural movement, I was hyper aware of my body. I also noticed that when I danced, I would sometimes unconsciously move into an asana to stretch a tense area. I had been practicing yoga on and off for about 8 years and teaching it to children for over a year, when the idea of Stona Yoga came to me. Obviously, I was stoned. I began to intentionally practice while under the influence. The results were remarkable. The yoga felt so good and was even intoxicating! I was hooked. The growth in my practice shot up because I was really able to move and breathe through poses, as well as increasing the regularity of the yoga… because, it’s fun to get stoned and do yoga. The ability to meditate during and after the yoga was exponentially strengthened. I’m sure that you have read the benefits, so enough about that. In a few months I felt confident enough to begin classes and become certified.