What are essential oils?
Essential oils are natural oils extracted from plants and plant parts. They are super concentrated plans in their purest oily form. Because they are highly concentrated knowing how to use them and their health benefits are extremely important. Knowing what your doing and how to properly handle the essential oils you are using will allow you to utilize them safely and to their highest potential. Essential oils are used primarily for aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing method that uses essential oils as a way to promote health and well-being. It works through your sense of smell and the absorption of the oils into your skin. There are several ways that oils can be used for aromatherapy purposes. You can use them in bath bombs, diffuse them in an ultrasonic diffuser, reed diffusion, air spray, shower spray, shower melts, and many more.
Topical
Essential oils can be mixed with oils and lotions to be used directly on your skin. Using essential oils topically can be used for aromatherapy (absorption of oils into your skin), or can be used as a healing modality (heal burn, scrap, cleanser, moisturizer, etc.). Knowing how to dilute the oils properly is very important so not to have a negative reaction.
How essential oils can benefit your yoga practice
Essential oils aromatherapy benefits can really set the mood when it comes to your yoga practice. They can provide an uplifting aroma to help energize you for a power class, and give you a calming aroma in your yin practice. You can use essential oils during your meditation to help set your mood and the intention you set. Each essential oil has their own unique properties that provide various benefits for your practice. Make sure to research the oils and their properties, and how to properly use them before choosing what you would like to use and how.
Essential oils and energy healing, how I use oils in sessions
Like in yoga and meditation, essential oils aromatherapy benefits can extend into energy healing modalities as well. Have you ever noticed how certain smells trigger specific emotions? For instance, the smell of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg trigger happiness and a feeling of home for me. Each individual is different and has their own unique triggers to scents. What I like to do for energy healing sessions is ask my clients what they need during their session and what scents they like and don’t like. This way I can try to match an essential oil to each individuals needs with out diffusing something that is going to trigger a negative emotion.
Essential oils that can be used during your yoga practice and meditation
The oils below are some of the more popular oils used during a yoga practice or meditation. Sandalwood is a personal favorite of mine, it is more on the pricier side due to its popularity (the tree is on the verge of becoming endangered). I’ve added images below that depict what the oils are, their uses and benefits, and any cautions that may go along with the oils. Click on the image for more information or to place an order.
Blend Ideas
Here are a few blend ideas I gathered from the Simply Earth blog. For more information visit Simply Earth’s website.
