Gettin' into my 'hood

I finally got some quality time in walking around Rockridge and Berkeley this past weekend. I've lived here since September and this might be the first month I haven't been on the run nonstop. This 'hood is amazing. Kids play in the streets. Neighbors look up and say hello as you pass them by. There are citrus trees and flowers blooming everywhere you turn. It feels wildly like my hometown. Can't wait to sink in further.

The sun pokes through a chilly day in Rockridge as the leaves change and the kids play in the fresh air. 

Dee Dussault's Ganja Yoga now in Oakland

I’ve been practicing yoga for about 10 years and I’m always looking for new places to take my practice – whether it’s in a new studio, with a new instructor I’ve secretly been stalking on Instagram, or with a new mindful philosophy I’ve learned through my travels. From restorative and Bikram, to beachside practices and hot yoga with weights, I’m always looking for ways to shake up the way I align my breath and movement.

I take my workout and movement regiment pretty seriously. I find ways to move, sweat and workout just about every day. Since joining ClassPass and coming back from Peru, I’ve been pushing myself into all sorts of new avenues to strengthen my body. Since I’ve started medicating with cannabis more frequently, I’ve looked for ways to integrate the plant into my routine.

My relationship with yoga is a serious love affair. For real though, I haven't committed to anything for this amount of time before! I initially found yoga as a new way to stretch and workout, but throughout the years, I’ve found that yoga has touched so many other components of my life. I’ve shown up on my mat, and with the help of music and my teacher’s words, I was able to work through emotional pain. I’ve taken classes outside and was in awe of the absolute brilliance and natural connection when practicing in fresh air and under the sun. I’ve learned ways to open up parts of my body that hold all of my stress and anxiety.

Even today, I’m still learning how to be present and what it’s like to be in this body. The art of mindfulness and turning off the outside world for an hour-long practice is still something I’m overcoming. The thought of using cannabis during my practice was something I didn’t even think was an option. But alas, these two parts of my life have come together.

I first heard about Ganja Yoga while living in San Francisco. Dee Dussault was taking yoga to the next level and introduced cannabis and movement into her classes. Dee’s philosophy sparked all sorts of intrigue and I told myself that I’d eventually get one of these experiences under my belt.

Amazing photo of Jess and some fellow yogis during a smoke sesh at Ganja Yoga Oakland. Photo courtesy Ganja Yoga.

I was never able to make it to one of Dee’s Ganja Yoga classes in San Francisco because life was just too busy. You can only imagine my excitement after finding out that Ganja Yoga Oakland was coming. As soon as I saw the news, I signed up immediately.

My boyfriend and I went to Ganja Yoga Oakland’s first Sunday yoga class. The practice was held at the Oakland Cannabis Creative, a space I’ve visited a few times now with the Puff, Pass crew. Ganja Yoga has since moved to a location closer to Bart. We went upstairs and were greeted by Jess Dugan, Dee’s first teacher to spread the Ganja Yoga word.

A little something for everyone. Check out the spread at Ganja Yoga Oakland.

The group of us met appropriately at 4:20 pm and we all chatted while sharing joints and vapes provided by Ganja Yoga’s sponsors. What I love most about cannabis-friendly events is that there’s something for everyone. There were Eel River Organic vape pens, pre-rolled joints, Papa & Barkley CBD:THC tinctures, Pura Vida edibles, and pain-relieving topicals. No matter how you medicate, there was something for you.

Our group chatted and connected during our smoke sesh as the haze in the room started to become heavy. It definitely felt like we were all just a bunch of strangers hanging out and looking to share an experience together.

Eel River Organics is just one of the amazing vendors sharing their wares to Ganja Yoga students.

Jess wrangled all of us to start class right as the evening was going dark. We all spent a moment introducing ourselves and how we found Ganja Yoga. We had industry folk joining, yogis, and even a first-time yogi in attendance.    

I have to say that I was pretty stoned when we started class. I’ve only practiced yoga while stoned a handful of times and for the most part, my high would be coming to an end by the time class started. Up until recently, I never introduced cannabis into a workout so managing my high while exercising is something I’m still wrapping my head around.

And boy did my brain have a field day. It was hard for me to settle into the space. It was a new studio, a new teacher, my man was with me, and the psychoactive components were definitely overtaking my thoughts. My senses were so amplified and I felt like I was a beginner yogi trying to find my footing all over again.

Jess’ music, words and flows were phenomenal and she has an authentic teaching style. Nothing makes me happier than a yoga instructor who shares personal stories or asks a group to hold a collective intention. We continued class while I managed to separate my wildly moving thoughts and my actual physical movement.

In the candlelit darkness of the room I realized that like yoga, my  cannabis practice would need to take some time. I felt all over the place, physically and mentally. The reason people refer to yoga as a practice is because you’re constantly learning and developing. It’s not always about mastering a headstand or holding tree pose for ten breaths.

For me, it’s about hearing what my brain and my heart are whispering to me and saying thank you and goodbye to what no longer serves me. It’s becoming aware of my true self in a room in that specific moment with all of the other people who showed up on their mat too. It would have been silly for me to think that I could master all of the flows and poses in one session with a mental space that was so new.

I intend to continue this practice and I know that the mental stillness I’m so used to will come in its own time. Yoga is a tool for me to move, breathe and process whatever is going on. And I’m quickly learning that cannabis only adds to that power.

My yoga and cannabis adventure is just beginning. Stay tuned for more.

Puff, Pass & Pastry at Cannabis Creative: Integrating cannabis into cooking classes and beyond

Originally published on Wander Magazine

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Inside Oakland's Cannabis Collective

Work and life has been pretty insane lately. I’ve had to use the critical thinking and logical part of my brain heavily for the last few weeks at work and I’ve found myself mentally exhausted each evening. My workout routine has amped up and I love it, but I’ve found myself looking for more creative hobbies to mellow out my brain and body.

Cannabis has become a huge part in my effort to find the creative side of my brain again. I’ll find an uplifting and creativity-inducing strain and take a long walk in the park, re-organize my room, color, paint, or watch a movie. I’ve always been a creative and imaginative person and cannabis has really helped the functions of the right side of my brain shine through again.

Enter Puff, Pass & Pastry. My love for baking, eating, and weed all in one room? And with like-minded people who also think it’s OK to smoke a little before starting a new creative project?! YES, please.

The Puff, Pass & Pastry event is an off-shoot of Puff, Pass & Paint, a Denver, CO-based company specializing in offering pottery, painting, and culinary classes in a cannabis-friendly environment. Local edibles chef Sallie B of Slim’s Baked Goodies lead us through a 2.5 hour class as we learned the basics of cannabutter and how to integrate medicated oils into everyday cooking.

The class was held at Cannabis Creative in West Oakland at a super rad warehouse in the middle of an emerging neighborhood. Upon walking in, we were greeted by the owners who handed us mimosas, a vape pen presented by Alchemy, and a sweet little joint rolled by one of the lady bosses.

The work room was covered in art from previous Puff, Pass & Paint classes, bright murals, plants, and other adorable accessories. If I had my own creative studio, I’m pretty sure it would be identical to this place. (If you guys make it to the studio, ask about the baby pineapple they’re growing!)

We had some time before class to settle in while all of the students arrived. We sampled all kinds of vape pens and drank mimosas while a FAT joint was passed around. The energy was festive and silly; everyone was in the mood to learn and create.

Chef Sallie told us a bit about her story before diving into the basics of cooking with cannabis. We nibbled on some brunch items she had already prepared before we made our own stuffed French Toast infused with cannabis. The food was awesome, the conversation with everyone at the table was engaging, and I was already thinking about when I’d come again for another class.

Oakland Cannabis Creative and the Puff, Pass folks have definitely helped to shift the way I think about cannabis and its integration into everyday life. I’m still a pretty new smoker, but I’m so happy that the Bay Area is able to offer events like this one.

For more information and tickets, visit www.PuffPassAndPaint.com and www.CannabisTours.com. For more information on Chef Sallie, visit www.SlimsBakedGoodies.com.