Yoga incorporates meditation and mental well-being by incorporating breathing exercises. Practicing yoga regularly increases mental clarity, creates calm, relieves chronic stress, and sharpens concentration by relaxing the mind. As we know, CBD oil increases body awareness by reducing anxiety and stress, calms the mind, helps you sleep better without getting you high. Hence, when CBD oil and yoga are a powerful combination as each supports and enhances the other.
CBD, extracted from the Cannabis plant, has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. The CBD oils that are available nowadays do not contain the psychoactive component THC. CBD can be incorporated into various products such as edibles, beauty products, and dietary supplements such as capsules, powders, and oils. CBD can be taken in multiple ways, such as vaping, sublingually, or applied topically as lotions, creams, or bath bombs.
Enzymes break down the endocannabinoids in the human body and bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors present throughout the body. The endocannabinoids help the body by maintaining homeostasis and keeping the internal functions running smoothly. The CB1 receptors are located in the CNS and responsible for managing pain, appetite, mood, coordination and other functions. At the same time, the CB2 receptors are present in the peripheral nervous system and help with painful inflammation. CBD activates these receptors, which in turn provide the many health benefits that are associated with it.
CBD is particularly effective in reducing chronic pain and inflammation and controlling seizures that do not respond to typical epilepsy medications. Without the side effects experienced by taking OTC pain killers, CBD is a welcome alternative for many ailments. Furthermore, for managing stress and anxiety, CBD is effective by having a calming and relaxing effect and improving sleep patterns.
Yoga- a form of Meditation and Discipline
Yoga is a state of mind and body that leads to ultimate freedom, based on many different philosophies and religions. Yoga is based on stretching, involves learning complex movement, including coordination and balance, and breathing. Practising yoga makes you calmer and healthier as moving helps form more connections between the neurons in our brain.
Coordinated movements benefits include improved well-being, mood regulation, anxiety control, increased neurotransmitters, ability to handle stress better, enhanced attentiveness and ability to focus and process more information with appropriate responses.
Yoga increases blood flow which brings oxygen and essential nutrients to the muscles, build muscle strength, and helps repair damaged muscles. Deep-breathing exercises cause the lung tissues to stretch. Cortisol levels drop after a yoga session and makes the body more sensitive to insulin.
Cortisol is the body’s natural stress hormone which is released during times of physical and emotional stress. High levels of cortisol raise blood pressure, causes muscle weakness, suppresses the immune system, and increases the chance of diabetes. Practising yoga helps the body to move sugar out of the blood into the muscles and other tissues.
CBD and Yoga- The Perfect Combo
Having seen the benefits of yoga and CBD and how closely they resemble providing an overall sense of well-being, it is without a doubt that they are a great combination. Incorporating CBD into a yoga regimen can improve your vitality, help reduce body discomfort, mood enhancement, lower stress levels, and reduce inflammation.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still a threat, yoga can help increase lung capacity and help overcome the complications of the disease. Another factor responsible for the quick spread of the virus is compromised immunity. CBD and yoga can help in boosting your immune system, and recent research and studies also indicate CBD’s efficacy in treating and reducing the symptoms associated with the coronavirus infection.
How does CBD help with yoga?
Meditation is an essential part of yoga, and CBD can help relax the mind by slowing down the racing thoughts and allow you to experience calmer vibes. As the focus is central to start feeling the beneficial effects of yoga, CBD can help your mind to get yoga-ready, clear your head, and let go of stress.
Since CBD has effective anti-inflammatory properties, it helps to take a dose of CBD before your yoga session so that you can practice yoga poses and postures effectively. Yoga, just like physical exercises such as walking, helps reduce pain, and CBD can help manage pain before and after exercise and yoga.
CBD can also help with recovery after an hour-long yoga session which though relaxing, can also be hard work. Yoga involves engaging in planks, pushups, and other muscle-strengthening moves along with breathing exercises. Using CBD along with yoga can help reduce soreness, fight inflammation, and soothe muscle tightness.
After any form of exercise, especially yoga, your body tends to relax and also, since it gets tired, a good night’s sleep is guaranteed. Sleeping disorders have become very common due to lifestyle patterns; therefore, sleep disorder treatment combined with cannabidiol and yoga can prove a magical elixir and provide you with a restful night.
For people on medications, pregnant and lactating women, yoga and other forms of alternative medicine is a great way to stay active and healthy. Yoga can prove helpful in pregnancy, especially relaxation and breathing techniques. Yoga helps women stay calm during labour and also allows for safe delivery. The practices of yoga help during pregnancy, and you may need less pain relief during your baby’s birth.
However, since there is little research and few clinical trials of CBD oil on pregnant women, most health care providers and gynaecologists generally advise women not to use CBD products. Depending on the quality of the CBD product used, the best option is to find a broad spectrum CBD product that does not contain THC.
In conclusion, the benefits of yoga are enhanced by CBD and vice versa. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to stay indoors, stay healthy and increase immunity by practising healthy habits and following an exercise regime. Also, since many prescription medicines have undesirable side effects, people are looking forward to healthier options. Yoga enhances the effects of CBD in calming your mind and body. They work synergistically to keep your muscles strong, improves metabolism, increases immunity, helps you sleep well, makes you stress-free, and increases concentration.