Ganja Yoga Teacher Training in the Midst of Covid-19: Bringing Community and Cannabis Together

It’s been 11 days since I floated down from the astral plane that was Dee Dussault’s Ganja Yoga Teacher Training in Nevada City. For six days, I was surrounded by 15 strangers as we immersed ourselves into the bio mechanics of our body and its movement, shared meals and walks together, learned what makes a great yoga teacher, and smoked some amazingly delicious, locally-grown, cannabis.

Dee teaches us allll the ways — while basking in the morning sunlight

At the end of those six days, my brain was full of life lessons and knowledge about plant medicine and our endocannabinoid system. My heart was saturated with love coming in from every angle imaginable. My body felt so nourished by the delicious food, coffee, and movement we all shared. My soul came alive after spending those six days in pure cannabliss. 

I felt the souls of all of my new friends and sisters. We created a space and community within those walls – so much so that I felt myself let go so I could walk head on into the transition that is life right now.

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I’m not really sure what my expectation of Dee’s Ganja Yoga Teacher Training was before I arrived. Life was so all over the place before the training that I barely had time to finish all of assigned readings. I was traveling non-stop and had a super-packed social calendar the whole month prior to the training.

I wrote and edited content for Dee for a couple months and had an idea of her style and the community she’s been cultivating all these years. I was excited for a full immersion, whatever that may be. 

I packed up my rental car just as the Grand Princess cruise ship docked miles away from me in Oakland; before Corona Virus was called a pandemic; before the Bay Area was put into lock down mode. I was happy to leave my routine for a bit to get into nature, make some new friends, and smoke some cannabis with like-minded yogis.

While the entire globe was ramping up for the pandemic, we were in the forest near Nevada City, CA learning about biomechanics, getting more tuned into our bodies and emotions, and letting plant-medicine bring us all together to spark energy and conversation. Dee was our spirit and science guide as we built our understanding of the foundations of our body, relationship with cannabis, and yoga practice.

I had no idea the mess I’d come home to.

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As soon as I walked into our Airbnb for the week, I was welcomed into our home with loving arms. Two friends from Montreal greeted me sweetly with their beautiful accents. Dee gave me the biggest hug like we were old friends. As soon as I sat down, I lit a lovely pre-roll and started my journey far from reality and responsibility.

Our outdoor classroom outside of our Stone House

We spent the first couple of days getting to know each other, having our lessons outside in the sun, as Dee led us through conversations about our endocannabinoid system and the interconnectedness of our feet, legs, joints, and bones. She led us through nightly yoga classes and incorporated our learnings so we could drill down even further into our bodies and minds. She opened my eyes about how I stand and walk and how we could leverage subtle awareness to maintain alignment.

A visit to the Yuba River for a change of scenery

As someone who has a tough time sitting still and focusing when it comes to learning – or really anything in general – Dee invited us to move our bodies and use props as it very much enforced the learnings of constant, varied movement. We passed joints and dabs as we learned about terpenes and how they affect our nervous system. My brain and body were so zoned into the room that it almost felt like being on Adderall – with less shakiness and more snack breaks. Our minds and conversations were present and open.

The weather changed and the clouds came in as the first days passed. Our outdoor lessons eventually made it indoors as we learned by the fireplace in our living room.

By the second day, our peer groups started leading our daily yoga classes instead of Dee. One by one, my peers nervously walked to the front of our “yoga studio” to lead ten minutes of a 40-minute class in their group of 4. By the end of the first student-led class, I felt like I learned so much more about the ladies teaching class, as if they each offered a bit of their soul and wisdom in their teachings.

I was part of the second group and we were going to teach class the following afternoon. I had an idea of what to do after watching the first group and the poses I wanted to lead. Along the Yuba River surrounded by trees and a beautiful bridge, our group talked about some of the poses we could teach and expand on to speak to our learnings. I’m pretty sure I was the only one in the group who’s never taught a class or taken an official 200-hour yoga teacher training.

I was flying pretty blind. I had an idea of a sequence that would emphasize the body parts we just learned about. I knew what I loved in my favorite yoga classes and teachers. I knew that I wanted to bring an element of embodiment or mindfulness into my teaching.

I ended up taking the last part of the class and would lead my friends from child’s pose into a couple closing stretches before a juicy meditation and shavasana.

Holy shit, how did I get here?

Views from our yoga studio in the woods

It’s hard not to freak out when you’re asked to teach part of a yoga class. I’ve been a student since 2007-ish and even today, my yoga practice is ever-changing. I found some moments to myself as we drove home from our walk in the River and in my room to think about my “teaching.” I thought about how I’d want to unwind after the movement of the three sessions ahead of mine. I thought about what I wanted to express to these strangers. I wanted to show my true self, but also let the cannabis speak for me.

Our group set up the room, my three friends taught their lessons before me, and then I walked up to the front of the class to get situated on my mat. I’m not even really sure what I said or what my body did, but I found a way to teach a practice nestled within gratitude, mindfulness, and embodiment.

I remember bits of my meditation where I asked my friends to take notice of their bones and all the work they do for us; how strong their muscles were to climb up stairs and the rocks along the River we visited earlier that day; and to offer extra gratitude to their pelvis as it helps to carry them. I went a little woo and witchy with my practice, but honestly, it felt right.

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I felt like I shed something after that class — as if all of the fear I was holding onto and my hesitancy to show people my true self left my body — and I felt lighter. Now that the scary part was over, I could dive back into the present moment where my new friends were prepping our communal dinner, sitting around our love altar reading their oracle messages, and building friendship.

There was definitely a slumber party vibe as the week progressed. There was chocolate and sweets everywhere; we all brought out our favorite essential oils and natural immunity boosting remedies to share. Girls started teaching others about their expertise – whether it was rolling joints, making herbal blends, or learning how to twerk while wearing a Harry Potter onesie.

Yes, it truly is always the quiet ones who surprise you <3

It may have been all of the cannabis, or maybe it was the divine feminine energy in the air all week, but there was definitely a moment where I looked at Dee and felt like she was our own, real-life Ms. Frizzle and she was taking us on this journey diving deep into the cells of our body to understand our bones, joints, ligaments, THC, and each other.

She’d spend the mornings blowing our minds with information about alignment, what to look when buying cannabis, and how to go within to figure out the type of yoga teacher we wanted to be. She’d lay around with us after dinner as we shared joints, while still educating us about all nine of the dabs we tried from our rosin buffet line. 

Sunlit forest walks with Maude as our leader <3

Hanging out in between lessons outside

OK, maybe it was definitely the cannabis, but it was so lovely to be enveloped by this hive of women (and my new friend Dana ;)) who had so much to offer and share with each other. We learned how to work with each other, to use each other’s strengths, and to ask for help when we needed it.

Whether it was making delicious toast and lattes in the morning, dazzling us with an amazing, impromptu zucchini bread, rolling a dozen joints for us in what literally felt like minutes, we were all interconnected.

By the last night, we had our groove going. Some of us assumed our positions in the kitchen with amazing recipes in mind, others were in their bunk bed-laden rooms creating a cacophony of infectious laughter and jokes (I love you Kels and Des <3)), the rest of us were doing our own things, whether in meditation wrapped inside the sauna bed (YES, that was a thing), or in deep conversation with their buddy.

Our last morning of the retreat was tender and no one really wanted to leave. Some friends left early in the morning to catch flights home. Others stayed back to get our Stone House back to what it was before our arrival.

I spent some lingering moments laying by our love circle sipping on my coffee, listening to Dana whistle while he put dishes away, hearing the rain tap the roof, wishing for the moment to last forever. I knew what we cultivated out there in the woods was something so special and hard to re-create.

Our windows in the living room overlooked cabins and campsites below, the majestic trees lined every trail. We had our own hideout in mother nature and I tried so hard to savor all of those moments.

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After so many hugs and cuddles, I eventually left our hideout and finally turned on NPR in the car to hear how bad Covid-19 was tearing through the world. I stopped through Nevada City and Grass Valley as the snow started to come down and locals were out and about gathering supplies.

Snow started to fall as I drove through Nevada City on my way home

The come down back into real life those first couple of days were hard – and my longing for friends and community still continues to be a noticeable part of these shelter-at-home days. I left an environment where I was hugging new friends so hard, I could feel their breath and heartbeat, to being told to be at least six feet away from any person that crossed my tracks. The re-integration back into society has been a real trip. I miss those commune vibes we built and all those beautiful souls I met.

Gather ‘round our love circle 💓

The future is up in the air and feels out of control. But you can control your reaction to what’s going on outside. Stay indoors to prevent the spread of this disease. Find a movement or meditation practice so you can find ways to feel grounded in this chaos. I’m loving Dee’s Ganja Yoga Online courses and started taking The Class online pretty much everyday to maintain sanity and to release stagnant energy.

After taking Dee’s Ganja Yoga Teacher Training, I feel like she equipped me with all of this knowledge that I will continue to take into my everyday life for years to come. I feel like I’m more conscious of body pain because I understand how my joints and body loads can affect how I move. I’m so much more knowledgeable about THC, terpenes, and good growers so I can make more informed choices about the cannabis I’m consuming.

Eat healthy food, drink a ton of water, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t worry about how your body is changing in this new routine.

Take care of yourself and find your community — whether in a digital landscape or as you’re walking around the neighborhood. We will get through this.

Thank you, Dee, for taking us along for the ride <3

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.