Why You Should Incorporate Aromatherapy Into Your Yoga
Essential oils and aromatherapy have been used for years, predating back to our forefathers. They have popularly been used for their healing and ritual purposes. In fact, in the First and Second World War, essential oils were used to improve the healing process and reduce infections. Essential oils, much like yoga, are used to improve feelings of well-being and trigger certain energies and put you in the right mood. It will also help you get immersed in the yoga experience.
Aromatherapy can be used to improve mental clarity, improve the connection between the body and mind, reduce muscle pain and soreness, and emotionally ground you during the exercise. Some instructors might even offer you a bit of light-smelling essential oil before your training session to ease any pain you might have during the session.
There are so many oils to choose from when it comes to aromatherapy. Finding the right blend to serve your intended purpose is important. In yoga, we learn to be in tune with what our body is feeling and where we are emotionally. And so, when choosing the right oil, you must find the appropriate essential oil for your need/s. Check-in with yourself and how you’re feeling. Identify areas where you’re lacking and consult to find the right oil.
For the more spiritual folk, aromatherapy and yoga have both been used to balance and unblock the body’s chakras. Aromatherapy (Ayurveda) and asana when used together have been scientifically proven to balance the nervous system and help our bodies reach hormonal homeostasis.
You might want to incorporate essential oils in your online or at-home yoga sessions since these oils might have a strong sweet scent that may or may not be pleasant to other people working out with you. Pregnant women specifically are averse to strong smells, so be mindful of your workout partners.
Make sure that you also enjoy the scent of the oil that you’re using. There’s nothing like realizing you don’t like a scent halfway through your workout. Many people however, enjoy the scent given off by essential oils. They have a hygienic property and yogis incorporate them in their routine by using them to cleanse their studio or workout space.
In the next article, we show you how to incorporate essential oils into your yoga practice for optimal results and which feeling/energy you’ll gain after each workout.
To find out more about essential oils and doTERRA, leave a comment below, or contact me here and I'll be more than willing to guide you through finding the right blend. While you're at it, sign up to my email newsletter where you'll get insightful yoga tips and you'll learn more about my yoga program!
