CBD and yoga: how CBD helps with exercise
CBD is one of the hottest trends of recent years. So it may surprise you that this compound and yoga are old friends. In this article, we take a closer look at the connection between cannabidiol (CBD) use and the practice of yoga. Discover all the benefits of CBD, which can help you feel better before and after exercise and can also transform your yoga habits for the better.
Although the practice of yoga is almost as old as human society itself, the biological basis of the practice has remained essentially unchanged for millennia. News of the practice first spread by oral tradition passed down through ascetics and yogis and their sacred texts, such as the Vedas and the Yoga Sutras. From its inception to the present, yoga continues to promote inner awareness, just as it did in the past. However, thanks to modern scientific knowledge, we have since discovered other tangible benefits that yoga brings to the body.
So is "CBD powered" yoga rightfully in the crosshairs of healthy lifestyle enthusiasts? There really does seem to be something to this connection. The effects of CBD and yoga overlap in many ways, making them a perfect pair.
Below are a few more ways CBD could benefit yogis of all levels:
- Better adaptation
- Stronger mind-body connection
- Better focus
- Reduced (risk of) inflammation
- Better inner awareness
- Faster muscle recovery
Getting used to yoga using CBD
While the practice of yoga teaches us to say a resounding "no" to external distractions and life's demands, the yoga practices themselves can be physically demanding. They put strain on tendons and ligaments, especially when performed incorrectly. Even if you start yoga slowly, step by step, it requires your body to show increased flexibility, suppleness and fluidity of movement. Yoga also requires good balance, which in turn requires strong proprioception (awareness of body position).
Then, of course, there is the stretching inherent in yoga, which can also be intense. It seems that freeing oneself from environmental influences on a mental level requires a dose of physical exertion at the same time! Yet stretching has been shown to actually activate endocannabinoid receptors in the muscles and fascia. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) through which CBD acts. And according to research, greater activation of the receptors may allow for greater cannabinoid involvement.
The benefits of CBD for muscle recovery have been discussed in other articles, here is a summary of the benefits:
- Relaxes muscle tissue
- May relieve muscle pain
- Reduces inflammation in muscle tissue
- Increases satellite cell differentiation (leading to faster recovery)
- Promotes protein synthesis by reducing cortisol levels
- Improves mind-body connection
CBD can also make it easier for you to practice yoga by facilitating the mind-body connection. In fact, CBD enhances mindfulness, which scientists call literally the "bridge between the body and the mind." While the idea that CBD can better bridge the gap between consciousness and movement may seem more mystical than scientific, there is some truth to this claim.
A study conducted by the Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group posits that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a role in human consciousness (awareness) itself. This is evidenced by the ECS's involvement in abstract cognitive processes such as post-traumatic stress, mood regulation, and dream states. Such is the depth of endocannabinoid function. Even the world's leading scientists sometimes use terms such as consciousness and emotional fluency in describing it.
The mind-body connection is related to one of the central principles of yoga - the clearing of the mind. A 1979 study agrees: "Hatha yoga calms the mind to the extent that one is aware only of the 'here and now' [...], which includes awareness of subtle bodily states." CBD can play an important role in this area. Many users report that they feel more focused and rely more on their intuition when taking this herbal compound.
Perhaps best of all, it usually doesn't take large amounts of CBD to notice an improvement in focus and mood. Many cannabinoid experts (such as Dr. Dustin Sulak) report that their patients' conditions improve after just a few milligrams of cannabinoids a day! This is equivalent to about half a dropperful of the average CBD oil. From a homeopathic point of view, "micro-doses" of plant compounds are thought to stimulate quite fundamental changes in our physiology. This certainly seems to be the case with CBD, which is similar to nootropics. This is the name given to food supplements, pharmaceuticals or so-called functional foods that improve human thinking abilities.
Improving focus and concentration
Of course, yoga isn't just about getting more in tune with your body. That's only half of the equation, because strengthening your inner consciousness depends on silencing external distractions and false ideas. In a sense, the practice of yoga requires its practitioners to fully "reset" their minds. Today's phone bill, tomorrow's deadline at work? Forget about them, free yourself from them. If only for the next 10 minutes.
This type of forgetting, however, is more difficult now than ever before. It seems like we've all fallen under the gravitational pull of social media, a planet where narcissism and hyperstimulation have become the norm. An attraction that was once limited to one or two hours a day (just think of the daily TV news) now holds us in its grip constantly.
In fact, the average person now checks their phone almost a hundred times a day! If he or she is then forced to remain without the device, he or she often experiences anxiety, restlessness and other drug-like withdrawal symptoms. It is not entirely out of the question to talk about real addiction. Withdrawal can then have a negative impact on all sorts of aspects of our lives. This includes our ability to concentrate at work, engage in real relationships... and clear our minds during yoga practice.
Here's another seemingly puzzling question - could CBD help our culture live better in the present? Maybe even change our brain chemistry so we can focus more on the present moment? Early research has shown that cannabidiol is closely linked to the function of important neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters play a key role in our ability to concentrate. This could explain why some users report that CBD improves learning and concentration.
This idea is also supported by cannabis experts. For example, molecular biologist, but controversial one must add, Dr. Bob Melamede says that cannabinoids expand the periodicity of each moment, that is, the amount of perceptual "frames" our brains can process in a given unit of time. More frequent snapshots mean that each moment lasts longer in relative terms. If a person can perceive more of their life, could they enjoy each moment better?
If you are ready to slow down, live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment, consider yoga! If you struggle with daily distractions and would like a little help with your yoga practice, consider taking CBD!
CBD fights inflammation
We all know how bad chronic inflammation is and the effect it has on our overall health, experience of pain, etc. But in reality, it's not that simple. Mild inflammation in the body is a beneficial thing. Especially when it serves as a signal to the immune system that it needs a little extra help from it. Inflammation triggers a cascade of hormonal responses that, if everything is working properly, allow the inflammation-affected areas to regenerate and heal properly.
Yet the inflammation epidemic is anything but natural. Inflammation is supposed to help us recover from occasional injuries, not act as a buffer against the health risks of poor quality foods. Even worse, many people fight this unnatural condition with unnaturally strong solutions, such as the use of non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs (NSAIDs). And that's often not the happiest solution.
This is true, at least from an evolutionary perspective. The mismatch between our body's natural state and its unnatural environment requires a complex solution. Fortunately, research shows that yoga practice reduces levels of chronic inflammation, especially when done regularly. As reported by the Harvard University health blog, an exploratory study published in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity found that 12 weeks of yoga practice slows cellular aging. According to the U.S. National Institute on Aging, faster cell aging is the result of chronic inflammation.
Another insightful study, Yoga, Meditation and Mind-Body Health, found that yoga practice correlates with improved brain function (increasing something called brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and better morning mood. Participants also coped better with everyday stressful situations, which translated into lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. Finally, yoga also reduced inflammatory markers in the subjects, such as levels of cytokines known to lead to pain.
Not surprisingly, the following statement holds true for yogis:
"Yoga is a process of removing pain - pain from the body, mind and society."
Amit Ray, Yoga The Science of Well-Being
However, if you are suffering from such inflammation or pain that it discourages you from practicing yoga, your body may need additional help. That's where CBD comes in. CBD is an anti-inflammatory that has broad-spectrum effects.
It has been proven time and time again to reduce inflammation in the areas where relief is most needed:
- In the brain.
- In painful areas
- In joints and tendons
- In tired and sore muscles
Yet CBD does not completely eliminate inflammation. As we've said, inflammatory responses are helpful - for muscle recovery, injury prevention, even for yoga itself. In the short term, inflammation accelerates healing by removing metabolic waste and bringing fresh, nutrient-rich blood circulation to the area. It is only when the inflammatory process continues for a longer period of time that it begins to have a negative impact on the local tissue.
Improving body sensation
Many people love yoga for its ability to enhance body perception. However, we've already mentioned this, so let's now turn our attention to CBD and how it could further enhance self-awareness. In this section, you'll find a few theoretical things we think are warranted. You may already know that exercise increases our body's levels of endocannabinoids such as anandamide, which plays a key role in regulating mood.
CBD has been shown to increase anandamide levels by inhibiting an enzyme designed to break it down - commonly known as FAAH. CBD's effects on mood are also much more profound. This phytocannabinoid also appears to modulate vanilloid receptors throughout the body. What exactly does this mean?
Vanilloid receptors sense pain and regulate body temperature - two critical elements of human experience. Our body uses pain to assess risk to the body. It tells us when we are at risk of joint or muscle damage from overuse or poor positioning during yoga practice. Temperature is also important, playing a role in our metabolic rate and critical aspects of homeostasis (internal balance).
Theoretically, applying a CBD product with external application to potential "problem areas" before your next yoga practice could be helpful to improve your body's perception of internal changes in muscle tissue. However, CBD administered orally (CBD drops or gummies) may have similar benefits.
Conclusion
The ideal goal of daily yoga practice is often to improve health. Whether you are a beginner or a true master of this ancient art, taking CBD can help you take your practice to the next level. CBD is certainly not a panacea, and there are many other factors involved, but it can be a useful tool to help you get a little more out of your practice.
The potentially beneficial effects of CBD are many. Some of the most significant ones when it comes to yoga include enhancing the mind-body connection through the ECS, better adaptation to yoga through local activation of the ECS in muscle tissue, reducing inflammation, and improved focus and concentration during exercise.
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