Meet Dee Dussault of Ganja Yoga in Culver City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee Dussault.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Dee. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m the first teacher to publicly offer cannabis-enhanced yoga. In the ten years of running my company, I’ve taught Ganja Yoga to thousands of people, in over a dozen US states, and in three international countries. I also have a Harpercollins book by the same name.  My work has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Newsweek, and the like, as well as major International media from Japan to France. I’ve shared it at The Psychedelic Science Conference, Burning Man, San Francisco State University, Emerald Exchange, Cultivation Classic, Women Grow, and The Plant Spirit Medicine conference. All this, despite having no business or marketing experience, and running Ganja Yoga as (mostly) a one-woman show!

A few years ago, I launched my 50hour Ganja Yoga Teacher Training and Certified Teachers program. What started as a small class in my livingroom a decade ago now has over a dozen certified Ganja Yoga teachers across the continent. I lead private Ganja Yoga and cannabis-optional sex coaching sessions in LA nd San Francisco.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not a single person came to my first class. That was humbling. Cannabis-enhanced yoga seemed like a good idea, it worked wonders for me on many levels, but I had no marketing experience. Over the years, I learned a lot and made a lot of mistakes, and it hasn’t been smooth, but I’ve been diligent and focused. Working with others, collaborating, supporting and asking for support, these make the road less rocky. There are people who try to take advantage of a businessperson because she’s a woman so I’ve learned to be firm with boundaries and get everything in writing. Being in the cannabis industry specifically has had its own set of unique challenges, but I feel so proud to be a part of the normalization efforts of this incredible plent.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ganja Yoga story. Tell us more about the business.
For the past ten years, Ganja Yoga has helped people relax. The type of yoga we do is very slow and rather easy, designed to be truly for all levels, unlike most studio yoga these days. We get all bodies and ages. People come for date night. Those are the public classes that me and my Ganja Yoga teachers offer. I also do private sessions, for bachelorette parties, for couples, at the park, by my pool. I took a year long training in biomechanics and I really think yoga needs to be examined for its role in causing injuries as a result. I offer a Ganja Yoga Teacher Training to educate others and a certification program for those that wish to join my brand. It’s “Yoga Alliance” certified, meaning, the governing body of yoga approves of it as a professional training. That’s pretty dope.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Both yoga and cannabis are growing at a rapid pace. It feels like riding a very big and important wave, where people increasingly want to find connection, relaxation, and peace. I feel very honored to be a part of this movement, and stand humbly on the shoulders of giants.

I see people coming to understand the importance of whole-plant cannabis medicine, and the synergistic interplay of all the compounds. I see less edibles with sugar and other ingredients that cause inflammation, and more superfood style medicines available. At, like, Whole Foods. I’m excited by that. I want cannabis-enhanced yoga in every studio in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ganjayoga.com
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credit:
Bio Pic: Anna McKenzie; Group Pics: The first pic, with the plant in foreground, Dera Keith. Me in the red tights is Jennifer Skog – the rest are my friend.

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.