The Perfect Aromatic Journey for Yoga Practitioners
As Spiritual Practitioners who are looking to drop-in to a daily practice, challenges arise – from finding our voice to be an agent of change, to being authentic when teaching.
… and also when it comes to including helpful tools to elevate the experience of their students / clients.
When it comes to integrating essential oils into our personal practice, or even supporting our students and clients with the oils, we get stuck wondering things like, "How do I know which essential oils to use?" or "How do I seamlessly integrate these oils into my rituals and spiritual activities without overwhelming the sacred experience?"
When you’re unsure what to do, it’s hard to move forward.
The good news is, you can easily bring order to the chaos by educating yourself on the properties of each essential oil, experimenting to find the perfect blends for your intentions, and adopting a mindful approach when incorporating these oils into your rituals and practices.
In this post, I'll define AromaYoga and provide 3 key strategies for incorporating essential oils into your spiritual practices. I hope that this will give you a roadmap so you can get started with AromaYoga and experience a transformative journey towards enhanced spiritual well-being.
What is the perfect approach for seamlessly integrating essential oils into your yoga practice?
AromaYoga is a holistic practice that combines the ancient wisdom of yoga with the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy, incorporating specific essential oils into yoga sessions to enhance your practice through your sense of smell. Through the intentional fusion of movement and scent, AromaYoga seeks to create a synergy between the physical, mental, and emotional dimensions of the practice.
In other words, by practicing AromaYoga, you can elevate your yoga practice by using specific essential oils, creating a sensorial journey that not only helps you to ‘drop in quicker’ but also contributes to emotional balance and physical well-being. The added benefit is that, amidst the aromatic symphony, you'll find moments of tranquility and relaxation, providing a unique opportunity for mind-altering rejuvenation.
Using Pure, unadulterated essential oils
Choosing pure and unadulterated essential oils involves opting for little amber bottles without additives. This ensures that you’re actually reaping the therapeutic benefits, and it prevents potential adverse reactions whilst maintaining the authenticity of the aromatherapy experience. Additionally, adulterated oils lack the same emotional impact in supporting the brain.
This is a crucial (non-negotiable) component because using high quality oils that are straight from the earth (with no synthetics or additives included) are the only way you can ensure a genuine and effective aromatherapy experience. Adulterated oils lack the purity of their unaltered counterparts, and won’t provide the same level of emotional support crucial for supporting the body, mind and spirit.
Many people who are new to AromaYoga start out on the right track but then get stuck because they don't know where to start with selecting the right essential oils. They aren't aware of the therapeutic benefits, or they may be using the wrong techniques in incorporating aromas into their yoga practice.
And then they wind up not experiencing the full transformative benefits of AromaYoga, potentially missing out on the profound mind-body connection and overall emotional and energetic shift that this practice can offer.
Not only that, but they waste money purchasing sub-standard oils, risking adverse reactions and leading them to conclude that the practice itself doesn't work.
The key to unlocking the true potential of AromaYoga is to start by educating yourself on the properties of different essential oils, experimenting to find the blends that resonate with your energy and adopting a mindful approach in incorporating them into your practice. This ensures a positive and transformative experience, allowing you to reap the full benefits of AromaYoga without setbacks or disappointments.
To get started here, begin by familiarising yourself with a few foundational essential oils commonly used in AromaYoga, such as lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus. Understanding the basic properties of these oils can serve as a simple yet essential step in incorporating aromatherapy into your yoga practice.
The application of essential oils to enhance your / your clients experience
The application of essential oils to enhance your or your clients' experience involves strategically incorporating therapeutic scents into various activities or environments to amplify your practice. These application methods and practices vary, and in this post we’ll talk about the very basic ways you can harness the power of specific aromas to influence mood, promote relaxation, and elevate your overall sensory experience.
If you've spent hours practicing what could be described as the ‘perfect yoga sequence’, but still, you feel wound-up and stressed out – like you're not receiving the desired peace or connection – the use and application of essential oils could be the missing piece that elevates your experience, bringing a profound sense of relaxation which in turn helps you to tap-in to that place of higher wisdom.
Without giving your senses that extra support, you can perform yoga postures and sequences meticulously, yet still not fully drop-into the experience of being on your mat. AromaYoga is the part of your practice that supports you to fully surrender your mind to the practice in a way that has your energy leading the way.
What can you do?
A really useful tool for preparing your space and mindset before AromaYoga is creating a personalised essential oil blend. Start by selecting oils that resonate with your desired emotional and spiritual state.
For relaxation, consider lavender and chamomile;
For grounding, try cedarwood and frankincense.
Experiment with different combinations until you find one that speaks to you. Applying this unique blend to your pulse points (your wrists) before your practice can set the stage for a deeply immersive experience, allowing the aromas to support your journey into a state of higher wisdom and relaxation.
To create your blend, mix a few drops of each chosen essential oil with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba or sweet almond oil. Store it in a roller bottle for easy application. You can also diffuse this blend in your practice space. As you engage in AromaYoga, allow the scents to envelop you, promoting a seamless fusion of movement, breath, and aroma for a truly transformative experience on the mat.
Choosing which application methods are right for which type of yoga practice
Choosing which application methods are right for which type of yoga practice involves tailoring the use of essential oils to align with the specific goals and nature of different yoga styles. For instance, calming oils like lavender may be suitable for a gentle, restorative yoga session, and can be applied to the feet or neck area.
While invigorating scents like peppermint may enhance focus and energy during a more dynamic practice and would be more suitable in the diffuser so that you don’t risk the possibility of the oils making their way from your hands to your eyes.
Understanding the properties and effects of essential oils allows practitioners to select the most appropriate applications, fostering the integration of aromatherapy and yoga for a transformative experience on the mat.
Here's where you'll really start to integrate aromatherapy seamlessly into your yoga practice, selecting the ideal application methods that align with the nature and goals of different yoga styles.
This step allows you to bring the transformative power of essential oils into each session,.
Of course, this may take some experimentation as you navigate the world of essential oils and their application methods. Consider starting with a small selection of oils (like that in the home essentials starter pack or even the emotional wellness kit) and gradually expanding based on your preferences and experiences. This way, you can refine your approach over time, tailoring the use of essential oils to best complement your unique yoga practice.
The step-by-step approach you can use to navigate the world of essential oils for your yoga practice is as follows:
1. Begin with the Basics: Start by selecting a small, curated collection of essential oils that align with your desired emotional and spiritual states. Consider popular choices like lavender for relaxation or eucalyptus for clarity.
2. Experiment and Observe: Apply these oils using different methods – perhaps diffusing during a dynamic practice and creating a roller blend for a more gentle restorative practice. Observe how each method enhances or complements your yoga experience.
3. Refine and Expand: Based on your observations, refine your approach. If certain scents or methods resonate more with your practice, gradually expand your collection and application techniques. This step-by-step refinement allows for a personalised and effective integration of aromatherapy into your yoga routine.
Once you're done, you'll be well on your way to creating a union between essential oils and yoga.
Putting it All Together for Your Perfect AromaYoga Practice
There you have it! The 3 components of your perfect AromaYoga Practice
It may sound like a lot, but like most things, practice makes perfect.
Just focus on incorporating a single essential oil into your next yoga session. This will help you cultivate familiarity with aromatherapy in your practice, promoting relaxation and mindfulness.
As you gradually expand your repertoire, you'll harness the transformative benefits of essential oils, and before you know it, you’ll have a blend for each of your favourite sequences and practices.
What’s next? Join the Yin Yoga Aroma 4 Class Series
If you need help getting started, my Yin Yoga Aroma Series will help you get started with only 4 x floral essential oils so you can be guided along the path of using Aromatherapy in your Yin Yoga practice.
