Meet Stefani Manger of The Yoga Joint 420

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefani Manger.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Stefani. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
To many of us, Yoga + Cannabis go together like peas and carrots or beans and rice. It is just the perfect pair.

I knew there were other Yogis like me practicing Canna-Yoga but it was frowned upon by the general Yoga community when Cannabis was considered to be a street drug and not respected as the medicinal plant that scientific research has been recently proving.

It wasn’t until more than 15 years into my Yoga practice and five years into teaching Yoga that I was diagnosed with scoliosis, which I was told would have been a lot worse if not for all that Yoga!

I have found that the combination of a regular Yoga practice with three hits of Cannabis beforehand alleviates the physical pain and discomfort of scoliosis and allows me to mentally get out of my own way on and off the mat.

While teaching non-medicated Yoga classes in Los Angeles, I began teaching at Atwater Yoga, where stoner owner, Liz McDonald, took a chance on my idea of offering public “420 Yoga” classes before Cannabis was legalized for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Our tribe surfaced and we had found a great group of students who loved the offering of Canna-Yoga. Our weekend 420 Yoga classes were very popular; so many connections and friendships were made during that time.

I love teaching these classes and am currently launching a new Canna-Yoga studio offering to the public, The Yoga Joint 420.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not a smooth road when combating ignorance. So much stigma surrounds this practice!

I’ve noticed that negative judgments depend on how conditioned one is to believe that Cannabis (weed, pot, marijuana, whatever you want to call it) is an illicit street drug or a natural plant with medicinal value.

It’s similar to those who believe, out of ignorance, that Yoga is a religion or a trendy cult for young white supermodels and not the roadmap for natural and vibrant health and well-being for all people, that I believe it is.

Education, advocacy and representation is the key to combating ignorance, so that’s why I created The Yoga Joint 420.

Plus, it’s time we smokey Yogis come out of the shadows and represent! We are not a bunch of lazy unmotivated slackers laying around on mats eating pizza.

The majority of Canna-Yogis I know and have taught are generally happy, ambitious, creative, compassionate, funny and very friendly members of society- who eat the pizza after class, duh. 🙂

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We offer ancient wisdom for modern healing for everybody.

The mission of The Yoga Joint420 is to make a positive difference in the lives of people seeking personal growth, like-minded community, expanded mindfulness and freedom from pain with the ritualistic practice of Yoga + Cannabis. Our core values are friendliness, fun, integrity, compassion, authenticity, community and inclusivity.

I am proud to be able to help people feel better and to feel empowered while having fun.

What were you like growing up?
NYHC kid, born in Brooklyn, raised in Staten Island, went to the School of Visual Arts in money-makin’ Manhattan. Proud second-generation American born from the children of immigrants who was raised in the melting pot of NYC.

Shy, smart, and artsy- always drawn to multi-culti non-denominational spiritual teachings, alternative lifestyles, physical movement, underground music, the love of animals and the creation of art.

Definitely, the nice but black-sheep weirdo who never felt like she fit in because she saw and understood things differently than the majority of people around her.

Pricing:

• As a thank you we offer Frontline + Essential Workers classes for $5 each!
• We offer “Choose What You Pay” pricing: $10, $15 or $20/single class during the Covid-19 pandemic

Contact Info:

• Website: theyogajoint420.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @theyogajoint420

Image Credit:
Aurelia D’amore Photography and Amy Tiereney