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filler@godaddy.com
My name is Stefani Manger and I am a 20+ year Yoga student, Yogaworks-certified instructor, Cannabis patient and creator of The Yoga Joint 420.
I teach people how to heal themselves + feel better with the practice of Canna Yoga.
I was experiencing pain in my back, lost range of motion in my hip joint, and couldn’t sit or walk comfortably for long periods of time.
After practicing + teaching Yoga for 20 years, the idiopathic scoliosis I had been managing had gotten worse whne my body hormonally shifted during menopause.
Besides making every day life difficult and chronically painful, the physical limitations caused me to lose motivation for practicing asana (Yoga poses). Unfortunately, not practicing made my condition worse so I had to modify my Yoga practice to suit my body’s current situation.
During this time, I had been enjoying cannabis recreationally and decided to incorporate micro doses into my Yoga practice.
To my delight, I noticed positive shifts in several aspects. I regained the motivation to regularly step onto the mat, and the principle of Ahimsa (non-harming) became central to my practice for healing.
After a few years of steady and dedicated practice, Cannabis-infused yoga proved to be beneficial as it alleviated my pain, improved my range of motion, and reconnected me with a beginner's mindset.
Now, I have happily resumed my daily practice. I feel empowered and in control of my conditions, can walk and sit with very minimal discomfort and have been able to avoid traditional hip surgery.
If I can continue to heal myself through the combination of cannabis and Yoga, I firmly believe that you can find your own healing path as well.
In 1998, I embarked on my Ashtanga Yoga journey at a small Los Angeles studio called Ahimsa Yoga, where I learned the Primary Series under the guidance of Noah Williams.
As my practice deepened, I had the incredible opportunity to study directly with guruji Patthabi Jois during his world tour in Encinitas, CA in 2000. This experience ignited a profound curiosity for yoga, leading me to explore various traditions and styles such as Iyengar and Yin.
In 2009, I pursued formal training with Yogaworks to become a certified yoga teacher. Since then, I have been teaching non-cannabis classes at yoga studios and conducting personalized one-on-one sessions in Los Angeles. A few years later, I established The Silverlake Yoga Collective, a donation-based outdoor yoga community.
Now, I am excited to introduce you to The Yoga Joint 420, which is available to you via livestream classes, on-demand videos, and IRL pop-up workshops.
A few years ago, I had the experience of being called out for “being high” in a public yoga class by one of my favorite teachers! This was very disheartening and left me feeling judged and excluded from my sanctuary.
Despite the stigma and judgment surrounding the combination of cannabis and yoga, I knew that it was a powerful combination for me personally.
Cannabis enhanced my yoga practice by quieting my mind, deepening my connection to my body's wisdom, and fostering a stronger connection with my spirit.
It also provided relief from physical pain and discomfort without relying on pharmaceutical drugs.
In response to this experience, I decided to blaze a trail and create one of LA's first Canna yoga classes called “420 Yoga” in 2014, together with Dr. Liz McDonald.
Despite the initial controversy surrounding ganja yoga at the time, I knew there were others like me who would benefit from this unique approach. My Sunday 420 Yoga classes gained a dedicated following and cultivated a supportive community that valued Yoga, acceptance, exploration, non-judgment, education, and fun.
Both cannabis and Yoga have been subject to misunderstandings within the mainstream, and it has become my mission to provide our community with a sacred and informed space to experience the benefits of both practices.