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On Sept. 30, HelloMD was pleased to attend Elevate + Flow, a yoga and cannabis retreat hosted by Geyser Peak Ranch. Susan Hauser, renowned instructor at New Om World Yoga, led the yoga portion of the event and Ona.Life helped curate the participation of top marijuana brands in the day-long health and wellness event.
Geyser Peak Ranch is a spectacular four-generation family-owned property of 1,200 acres overlooking the Alexander Valley. Nielma Hock, co-owner of the ranch and the Elevate + Flow organizer, regularly hosts high-end cannabis experiences, inviting members of the cannabis industry to help normalize the conversation around marijuana. Her events are perfect for the “canna-curious” as well as those already well-versed in cannabis knowledge.
Nielma’s passion for shattering old stigmas about marijuana and introducing guests to a different side of cannabis comes from her personal experience of witnessing a cancer-stricken loved one refuse cannabis as medicine, despite its potential to help.
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Ruby LaGranduer of LaGranduer sparkling beverages.
Cancer Battle Inspires Marijuana-Infused Events
A few years ago, Nielma’s mother battled cancer. During the process, she was given multiple pharmaceuticals to deal with the pain associated with the disease as well as for the side effects from chemotherapy. But due to the stigma she felt for the plant, she refused cannabis and Marinol, an FDA-approved pharmaceutical made with synthetic THC.
Nielma reflects, “To this day, I think about how much better my mom’s quality of life would have been had she just opted to reach for cannabis instead of the pharmaceutical drugs. Cannabis may not have extended her life, but it may have allowed her to have the presence of mind to have more lucid hours spent with me and the people she loved. When someone is at their deathbed, every minute counts. I often think about how the stigma of cannabis robbed me of precious time with my mom.”
Cannabis Education at Elevate + Flow
The day began with Pamela Hadfield, co-founder of HelloMD, addressing the largely new-to-cannabis crowd on the health and wellness aspects of the plant. She began with her personal story of crippling migraines and how she solved her own health crisis and got off opioids with the help of medical marijuana.
During her talk, she educated people on the science of cannabis and how it affects the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body. Pamela also spoke about the concept of microdosing and the need to go “low and slow.”
Yoga & Top Cannabis Brands Close the Retreat
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Following the educational discussion and audience Q&A, the group adjourned to a ridge overlooking the Alexander Valley. Here Susan Hauser led a music-filled, open-air vinyasa yoga session. The breathtaking scenery combined with Susan’s yoga expertise created a unique experience that left participants invigorated and smiling.
RELATED: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOGA & CANNABIS
Walking down the ridge and back into the ranch, guests were then able to engage with brand ambassadors from some of California’s top marijuana lines. The brands present represented the movement in artisanal, microdosed consumption such as La Grandeur, a sparkling cranberry beverage; Atlas Edibles, which offers incredibly scrumptious granola treats; HMBLDT vaporizers; Ona.Life delivery, which offered a wide array of cannabis brands; and Garden Society, a wildly popular gourmet confection edible.
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Nurit Raphael, co-founder of Ona.Life delivery, and one of the event coordinators, commented on the day saying, “I’m thrilled that we were able to bring together the network of cannabis industry leaders and brands with the community at large to make this elegant collaboration happen, and push the conversation around cannabis forward.”
Photo credit: La Grandeur
If you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.
