Enhancing Meditation Practice With Cannabis: A How-To Guide

Of all the naturopathic and holistic therapies for wellness out there, meditation practice is often overlooked. That may be due to the fast-paced modern lifestyle, where we are cramming so much into everyday life that we don’t feel we actually have the time to sequester some quiet time just for ourselves.

Meditation is an ancient wellness tool, and there is plenty of scientific evidence that suggests regular meditation practice can have numerous health and wellness benefits. It can enhance relaxation, help reduce stress anxiety levels, and more.

The meditation process involves intention setting and deep breathwork techniques. Many people find that it can enhance focus on your body and mind, and a regular meditation routine can provide many wellness benefits.

If you are on a journey to better health and wellness, the combination of medical cannabis, mindful breathing exercises, and meditation practice can be transformative. Get ready to learn everything there is to know about enhancing meditation practice with cannabis.

What Do You Need to Meditate?

You don’t need a fancy gym membership or expensive fitness equipment to practice meditation. That is one of the most appealing parts of meditation; anyone can do it. All you need is a quiet space to yourself where you can focus.

Where you meditate is up to you. Some people find that outdoor meditation works best for them, like a quiet spot in your backyard or even on a patio or balcony. When you are first learning to meditate, it is suggested that a quiet room indoors is best.

Meditation does not have to be done while sitting on the floor, like yoga. Some people prefer it, however, as they feel grounded that way. If sitting on your couch is more comfortable, you can do that too, or on a cushion or yoga mat.

Free Guided Meditation Online

There are different types of meditation, but when you are getting started, it helps to try following along instead of trying to meditate solo. That is where guided meditation can help, and it doesn’t have to cost you a thing to find them. Simply search for “guided meditation session” on YouTube, and you will find plenty of videos that will make it easy to learn.

There are also some smartphone apps that you can try, which will not only teach you how to meditate but also remind you with push notifications. You can set some time aside each day with a gentle reminder to make sure that quiet Zen time happens for you.

Here are some popular apps for independent meditation you can try:

• Headspace.
• Calm.
• Buddhify.
• The Mindfulness App.
• Unplug.

The cost of meditation apps averages around $10 per month, but well worth the learning and guidance they provide not to mention the friendly SMS reminders that will support your effort to make meditation practice a weekly thing.

Understanding the Health Benefits of Meditation

Mental health affects physical health, and vice versa. Have you ever noticed that you can go through a high-stress and busy period, and then, when you are through those challenges, you get sick? A cold, maybe, or a stomach flu? It’s not a coincidence.

When your body is stressed, it releases hormones like cortisol. There are other stress-related hormones, but cortisol is the one that tends to stay elevated for longer periods of time. Cortisol is like rocket fuel for the body; it was designed to give our ancestors an extra boost of adrenaline and energy when they were in “fight or flight” situations.

Those dramatic moments of fight or flight are rare in modern life, but our bodies can’t tell the difference between daily stress and life-threatening situations. As such, chronic stress can cause sustained long-term high levels of cortisol.

The Negative Impact of Chronic Stress on Your Health

Cortisol is damaging to your health. When your doctor suggests that you explore methods of reducing stress, there is a good reason. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels can impact your health in a variety of different ways:

• Problems with healthy weight management.
• Impairment to cognitive functioning.
• Reduction in bone density.
• Negative impact on blood glucose control (blood sugar dysregulation).
• Increased risk of cardiovascular issues, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
• Digestive problems.
• Insomnia and sleep disruption.
• Mood disorders (can affect the balance of brain neurotransmitters that regulate mood and energy).

Reducing stress and anxiety is easier said than done. But if we remember that stress actually damages our health, we may prioritize activities and habits that help us relax. Engaging in a simple exercise like walking can lower cortisol levels in your body; it doesn’t take much every day.

Meditation is another effective way to take that vital “time out” from stress and unwind your body and mind. When you are in a meditative state, it engages all your senses and sends a message to your body that it is okay to let go of stressful thoughts and feelings. That simple act on a regular basis can make a big difference to your body and mind.

How Can Meditation Improve Health and Wellness?

Mindfulness meditation is one of the most effective non-prescription methods of relieving stress and anxiety, and for some people, it may also help with the relief of chronic pain. It is not difficult to understand how meditation can provide emotional health benefits, but it can actually improve your health.

Here are some of the benefits that meditation can provide if practiced regularly:

Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Stress

Anxiety can be caused by thinking about upsetting experiences in the past or worrying about adverse outcomes in the future. When your head is recycling upsetting thoughts, there are few peaceful moments where you experience calming effects.

Your body interprets anxiety as a physical threat. Muscles tense up, and you can get other symptoms of chronic stress. One of the most powerful things about meditation is that it roots you in the present, not the past, and not the future.

When you eliminate those worries, your body can also move from Defcon 1 to a state of feeling safe, calm, and relaxed. Your body works better, and you can be healthier if you are not feeling like you need to armor up against the upsetting thoughts in your head.

Alternative All-Natural Pain Relief

Meditation includes deep breathing, and breathwork is something you may be familiar with. When you are upset or frightened, someone may tell you to “take a deep breath” before continuing. That is because when we are stressed, we take rapid, shallow breaths instead. And that amplifies our stress levels, blood pressure, and more.

Deep breathing exercises are integral to pain management. When you achieve a state of calmness and continue to breathe deeply, it improves circulation and can help stimulate the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.

Improved Circulation That Can Help With Neuropathy

Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with neuropathy, and it can be caused by chronic health conditions such as Diabetes, smoking, atherosclerosis (fat deposits inside blood vessels and arterial walls), and high blood pressure.

Neuropathy is a painful symptom that affects the peripheral areas such as toes, feet, hands, legs, and fingers. Sometimes, neuropathy can also affect major organs or the digestive tract, causing pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Meditation with deep breathing exercises can help improve circulation and provide temporary relief from symptoms of neuropathy.

Help With Insomnia and Sleep Disruptions

This one needs no introduction because most people are infinitely aware of the impact that stress can have on our sleep. Falling asleep is very difficult if you have anxiety, and the muscle tension from chronic long-term stress can also make it hard to relax.

Meditation can help lower cortisol levels and foster better quality sleep. Some studies suggest that regular meditation can improve the duration of REM and deep sleep, which are the two most restorative sleep phases we need to stay healthy and happy.

Combining Cannabis and Meditation Practices

If you have your medical marijuana card and you want to embark on a meditation journey for better health and wellness, cannabis can play a role. Daily cannabis meditations can help you block out distractions and worries so that you can get the most out of your meditation sessions.

It should be noted that smokable cannabis may not be the best intake method for achieving deep relaxation and a good meditative state. Another consumption method to consider is edibles or tinctures. Inhalable cannabis can temporarily increase your heart rate more than other intake methods for some people.

Tinctures and edibles have a slower onset of psychoactive effects. Tinctures may take up to thirty minutes before you begin to feel familiar signs of THC in your body. Edibles take up to ninety minutes before psychoactive effects are generally felt, depending on the individual.

You use cannabis before your meditation session to help you tone down stressful thoughts and help your muscles relax. That can help achieve the inner calm experience that you want from meditation. Another method is to take cannabis after you are done meditating and relax afterward. You may even choose to take a nap to wake up feeling refreshed.

Indica strains or products made from Indica dominant strains are the best choice for meditation. Sativa strains promote energetic feelings and creativity, making it harder to reach the goal zone of inner peace if your mind is active.

Create your meditative space however you choose. Your meditation time can help reduce anxiety and gradually increase your mind/body connection and mindfulness, with positive impacts on your health and well-being.