Meet Jennifer Miles of Cannakula in Roosevelt Row Arts District in Downtown Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Miles.

Jennifer, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today? 
In my teenage years, I struggled with anorexia and depression. At the age of 21, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis – a debilitating and chronic autoimmune disease that infects the lower intestine. I was struggling with the death of my mother that same year and was feeling so lost and stressed out. The constant worry I was feeling exacerbated the disease. I had a hard time balancing all of the medication I was prescribed with keeping my body and mind feeling healthy and happy. I was tired of being sick and tired and had enough of the way Western medicine used prescription drugs to treat this illness. Over the years, through a lot of trial and error, I have been able to refocus my treatment to include a healthy anti-inflammatory diet as well as natural pain and stress relief through the use of hemp, micro-doses of medical cannabis, a regular Yin and Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra meditation practice, Chi Gong Healing and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I am completely free of all pharmaceutical drugs and currently living life happy and in remission. 

In my youth, I studied classical ballet and contemporary dance for many years. I also had some incredibly fun and rewarding years as a professional dancer. During the early years of my dance career, I discovered my passion and talent for teaching. I taught ballet, contemporary dance and choreography for over ten years and lead Pilates, strength conditioning and barre classes for four years. After sitting in Ayahuasca ceremony in 2017, I experienced another big shift in my spirituality and self-healing journey. I knew I needed to uncover more about what I was experiencing and diving into a spiritual practice such as yoga resonated deeply with me. Consequently, I enrolled in an advanced yoga teacher training program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts and Spirit of Yoga. 

Currently, I hold a 500 hour registered yoga teacher training distinction and am constantly adding new methods of healing to my craft. With 600 hours of advanced yoga training through SWIHA and SOY, I am certified in I AM Yoga Nidra™ and Yin, Yoga for Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Hatha Gong™ Prenatal and Restorative Yoga. 

The decision to focus my attention on the practice of yoga set the trajectory for my company, Cannakula. In my experience, I have found that cannabis and all of its properties impart immeasurable benefits in terms of pain relief and physical healing of the body. Through the use of this plant, I have also experienced a profound effect on my mind and body during yoga and meditation practice. I feel it is important to educate people about the respectful use of the plant in a healing way with ‘whole-istic” health of the human being in mind. It is my vision to share these experiences and message of self-healing with the world. Through my passion project, Cannakula, I am able to bring this deeper connection to self and health to the community; an opportunity for which I am very grateful.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? 
There have been struggles along the way for sure. My health is the first and foremost issue. Keeping my body in a place of equanimity and remission is contingent upon rest, diet and stress-relief. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind or stressful situations. When I find myself slipping into illness, I have to refocus my attention towards finding that place of homeostasis once again. It’s a constant balancing act. 

Running a small health and wellness business also has its ups and downs. I have had to learn how to live on a tight budget and make things work with little money to pull off great feats. I work up to 70 hours a week sometimes because I wear all the hats in Cannakula, from web design to marketing, to business development, to sponsorship sales, to social media, to event management, to 85% of the teaching. It’s a lot to manage. Thank goodness for restful yoga practices and meditation! My daily practice helps me keep my mind clear and focused and my energy level vibrant.

Cannakula – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition? 
As a society, we value “doing” and getting things done faster. I prefer to focus on “rest and digest” to balance out all of the “doing” and speed. A common misconception about yoga practice is that it requires a lot of “doing” or active movement. I love being able to shine the light of awareness on the restful yoga practices such as Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra (guided sleep based meditation) for people that think yoga is all fast moving and strength based. These methods are invaluable because we “do” so much in our daily lives that many people’s life-force energy is generally low and they are completely unaware. People who work with me privately or come to my classes will attest to how much a “non-doing”, restful yoga practice have helped them experience a more balanced and vibrant existence. 

I work with unique populations such as MMA and BJJ athletes. I have a couple of pros that I work with now that fight for Bellator and the One Fighting Championship in Asia. Sessions with me focus on the restful yoga practices, which are more beneficial when the practitioner is very active already. When the nervous system is able to rest, the body can regenerate and restore energy faster and more efficiently, making restful yoga practices the best option for someone who trains the physical body very intensely. More rest equals more powerful workouts and faster recovery. The guys I work with right now are reaping the benefits of their work with me, it’s showing up in the octagon and I’m thrilled to be a part of their process. 

I also love working with special populations such as veterans, those suffering from trauma, people in recovery, and those who suffer from illness and dis-ease. I can identify with what it feels like to be trapped in a body that is feeling traumatized, stressed and sick. I feel that it is my purpose, in this lifetime, to help guide others on their journey toward self-healing. I hope to serve as a gentle reminder that there is light on the other side of the darkness, that all pain and suffering is temporary.

Cannakula is wellness experiences through the integration of hemp and cannabis plant medicine and the healing arts and sciences, in the form of retreats, events, and classes. Cannakula is the sacred space for you to connect with the conscious community and to improve your quality of life. Yoga, meditation, vibration and sound healing and music are some of the modalities that are incorporated into our offerings.

Our mission is to provide a serene, safe, and welcoming space where students can explore their own yoga; develop their very own personal yoga journey and self-transformation. 

Cannakula offers healing and learning opportunities for every BODY. Yoga can be adapted to benefit everyone from the young, fit, and able-bodied to elders with arthritis, from athletes with temporary or traumatic injuries to paraplegics in wheelchairs and people who are permanently bedridden. 

The path to self-realization is through the practice of serving others. The concept of Seva, Sanskrit for “selfless service in gratitude”, is one of the founding principles of Cannakula. We are devoted to serving our surrounding community and beyond. 

Cannakula has some exciting projects coming up this year. There are collaborations with Walter Productions and Walter Yoga in the works. Hemp & Happiness, CBD for Well-Being Retreat at The Saguaro Palm Springs is July 25th-28th. We also have weekly and monthly classes at various locations in the Phoenix area. Visit the website and sign up for our email list to receive invites to classes, events, and retreats. 

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business? 
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in the Laws of Vibration and Attraction. The Law of Vibration states that anything that exists in our universe, whether visible or not, can be quantified as a frequency or an energetic pattern. Therefore the vibration of your Thoughts + Feelings + Actions + Intention = Your Vibration. This lays the foundation for The Law of Attraction by using the power of the mind to translate whatever is in our thoughts and materialize them into reality. Your vibration will attract that same vibration. What you put out into the Universe, will come right back to you. Where I am today with Cannakula is the cause of the energy and effort I have put into the business. Positive growth and great opportunities are a result of the energy I have put into the project.

Contact Info:

• Website: cannakula.com
• Email: info@cannakula.com
• Instagram: @cannakula
• Facebook: @cannakula
• Twitter: @cannakula
• Other: IG: @jennifer.miles.wellness

Image Credit:
Profile Photo by Scott Galles Photography with Tim King, Class Photo by Full Spectrum Creative

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.