Whether you’ve been practicing a balanced lifestyle for decades or only recently stumbled into one (perhaps, say, as a reaction to pandemic gloom), you know by now that wellness extends beyond good physical health. It’s holistic – our bodies and minds are interconnected, and we must tend to both to feel our very best.
If you’re a wellness pro, the above is probably obvious. But what may be less apparent is the connection between CBD and your wellness routine.
In a well-rounded regimen that might include yoga, meditation, sleep hygiene, healthy eating, and time spent in nature, where does CBD fit in?
The short answer? Anywhere and everywhere!
CBD, with its calming and restorative properties, has the potential to enhance all of your wellness practices. You could say CBD plays well with others. You could think of it as a cherry on top of a wellness sundae. Or the proverbial rug tying your room together. Or that last brushstroke that brings a portrait to life – you get it.
Read on to see how CBD can take your wellness to the next level.
Meditate with CBD:
Meditation is an ancient cornerstone of wellness, dating back thousands of years. Long a crucial tool to practitioners of Eastern medicine, the Western medical community has finally recognized the incredible value of meditation for its effects on mood, cognition, and overall health. The Mayo Clinic calls meditation “a type of mind-body complementary medicine.”
CBD shares many of meditation’s benefits and can boost its effects as well. A recent study found that over 60% of users use CBD for assisting with their mental health, and there’s a good reason for that. By binding to receptors in the body that regulate stress, CBD can help promote calm and mindfulness throughout the day.
But anyone who’s ever meditated knows that sometimes it’s a struggle to “get there.” A million distractions might pull your focus -- a loud neighbor, a barking dog, even your own intrusive thoughts.
Adding CBD to the mix in the form of a capsule, tincture, or gummy might just be the ticket to relaxing your body and mind, so you can get the most out of your meditation.
Look for complementary plant-based ingredients that also improve clarity, calm, and focus -- such as Ashwagandha, Reishi, and L-theanine -- to get the most out of the synergistic combination of meditation and CBD.
Yoga and CBD:
We don’t need to tell you about the benefits of yoga. You are clearly a seasoned yogi who has seen your posture, flexibility, core strength, breathing, sleep, and general joie-de-vivre greatly improve with a regular yoga practice.
However, you are probably also familiar with the soreness and muscle cramping that can come after yoga or any type of full-body workout. Enter CBD, right on cue!
CBD is known to combat exercise-related discomfort, especially when combined with other anti-inflammatory ingredients like Arnica, Calendula, Coconut Oil, and Menthol.
When applied topically in a lotion or cream, it can also offer cooling relief, so you can enjoy that yoga high without tight, achy, noisy muscles and joints killing your buzz.
Sleep Better With CBD:
Ah, sleep. That elusive (some might say “mythical”) state when your mind rests and your body resets. Sleep is what truly grounds your wellness practice.
Everything else might be in place -- let’s say you started your day with meditation and enjoyed a brisk walk in the park, followed by a relaxing yoga session -- but if you don’t get a good night’s sleep, none of the other stuff matters. Poor sleep can lead to bad moods, a weakened immune system, brain fog, and sugar cravings, among other things.
You’ve heard the basic sleep hygiene tips: no screens before bed, keep your bedtime and wake-up times consistent, limit alcohol and caffeine, etc, etc.
Here’s a not-so-basic tip: take a CBD gummy, capsule, or tincture! Many CBD fans report that, due to its calming properties, it helps them fall asleep faster and have a deeper, more restful sleep.
When combined with naturally relaxing ingredients like Lavender, L-theanine, and Valerian Root, the sleep-boosting effects are even more powerful.
Live Life in Harmony
By now, we hope you’re convinced that CBD can play a complementary – even integral! – role in your wellness journey. To recap:
- Topical creams containing functional ingredients such as menthol or arnica can help ease muscle soreness, cramps, and discomfort. And they usually come in small, portable containers so you can toss them right in your purse or gym bag for quick relief on the go.
- CBD ingestibles – in the form of gummies, easy-to-swallow capsules, or elixirs – offer a wide range of benefits: regulating energy and mood, easing stress, and promoting better sleep.
- CBD products can be most effective when combined with anti-inflammatory, calming, cooling, or mood-boosting plant-based ingredients. These natural ingredients work together synergistically to balance you out.
