Aromatherapy and Yoga: How to Prepare for the Practice, the use of Essential oils, and Modes of Application

aromatherapy and yoga essential oils

Yoga is one of the most popular means to achieve physical and mental health.

There are several fitness centers available all around us that offer yoga classes. Yoga is a practice that dates back centuries and has many different types such as Bikram, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga, etc.

At the conclusion of nearly every yoga class, the instructors usually prefer to have a Shavasana session.

The objective of this session is to achieve a state of calm and clarity of the mind. These particular conditions help a person to break free from the practical issues for a while and meditate.

This practice is known for having produced many positive effects in the body.

Meditation and yoga not only help to relieve your mind of stress and anxiety but also improve the cognitive and memory functions.

There are certain physical aspects as well. Blood circulation is regulated which leads to enhancing cardiac conditions, and this controls blood pressure irregularities.

Furthermore, evidence suggests that people who are involved in the yoga experience improved the immune system and found it easier to focus on their work and personal lives.

Yoga and aromatherapy are holistic and ancient practices. People from ancient times used essential oils quite often.

Two of the gifts given to a baby Jesus were the essential oil of incense and the essential oil of myrrh.

Yoga and essential oils offer physical, mental and spiritual benefits to the practitioner. According to The Daily Yoga, almost 15 million people practice yoga in the US.

Not only are the senses captivated by the beautiful aromas during practice, but the use of essential oil blends intensifies the focus and effects of your training.

Some young people use them to increase their focus on high school courses, and to obtain the best results from their workout, whether physical, mental or spiritual.

Not only do essential oils do not affect quickly (it takes 20 seconds for oil to reach the bloodstream), but they change us profoundly.

Essential oils are a potent tool, especially in combination with yoga, as we connect with our bodies, in strengthening holistic forms of depth.

Preparing for your practice

Some yoga studies do not allow the use of aromatherapy during yoga classes.

That is because essential oils can be very potent and people can give them the best use under the guidance of a master in aromatherapy or yoga qualified in aromatherapy. You also have to be sure that the oils you need to use.

For example, lavender can promote relaxation, or you can use lemongrass to revitalize and give energy.

The scents of Essential Oils can remain in space, even long after the class is over, and what one person finds relaxing, another can be irritating, especially if they have an allergy or a negative memory associated with the scent.

Wellness is the keyword

Like yoga, the practice of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils strives to support the well-being of the body, mind, and spirit.

Aromatherapy achieves its best effects through the application and diffusion of pure essential oils that influence physical well-being, positive emotional state, and mental clarity.

Combining aromatherapy with yoga can powerfully enhance the yoga journey.

Three primary methods of application are:

  • Spread – aromatic essential oils evaporate into the practice yoga space to create an inspiring/motivating mood and enhance breathing.
  • Purifying – essential oils are applied as powerful cleansing agents to clean and deodorize the yoga mat or used to clean the atmosphere.
  • Anointing – Essential oils are used in massage applications to enhance the body’s stretching and recovery or used as a fragrance to support visualization, meditation, and concentration.

To clean your space on a full scale, diffuse essential oils into a diffuser or use a room spray.

This is a great way to clean energy. If you teach a class, this can put your students-and yourself-in a yogic state of sound judgment when they walk. Using the right essential oils can clean the air.

Anti-microbial oils, such as Thieves, Eucalyptus globulus, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), or citrus fruits destroy germs in the air when they are diffused or sprayed throughout the space.

This can be very helpful in preventing the spread of infection during the cold and flu season.

It will result in stable emotional levels, and a person can work at their optimal levels

Now, to improve the benefits attained from yoga and meditation, it is highly recommended to add aromatherapy to the process.

It will also help you achieve a much higher discipline, and you can get much out of your regular sessions.

Uses of Essential Oils

For those who are not familiar with the term aromatherapy, it involves the use of essential oils for medicinal purposes.

The essential oils are extracts acquired from an assortment of plants, flowers, herbs, shrubs, bark and other natural sources.

These essential oils have distinct smells associated with them, and each essential oil has its unique medicinal value. Different oil extracts are used to treat various physical and mental conditions.

For example, some essential oils are used to put the mind and body at ease. They are used to treat patients who complain of insomnia.

These essential oils include extracts from chamomile and lavender. On the other hand, some oils can produce reinvigorating effects. These include lemongrass, eucalyptus, and peppermint, to name a few.

Modes of Application

Now that we have established the importance of essential oils, we can now move on the methods of application. In general, there are three main modes, and we will define all three.

First comes the anointing method. As the name suggests, this process involves an application of these oils on the skin.

However, you must keep in mind that these oils should always get mixed with a paste of olive oil, jojoba or other similar carrier oils.

Secondly, we have the method of diffusing. Diffusing involves the use of aromatherapy candles.

These candles are very popular in yoga centers as they not only produce a soothing ambiance but also help in relaxing the mind for meditation.

Finally, we have the method of purifying. People can apply the essential oils to the surrounding environment in the form of sprays.

This will help in cleansing your place which has a direct impact on your health.

No formula can result in complete success in every single case. Every person is different from the other, and thus they have different requirements.

Therefore, you need to try out the different options and then see for yourself what suits you the most.