5 Essential Oils To Use During Your Yoga Practice

 By adding essential oils to your daily Yoga routine, this may help with focus, breathing, relaxation, presence and the mind-body-spirit connection.

There are several ways you can do this.  Either by diffusing a blend or by apply your blend to pulse points and chest. Be ensure you use your essential oils with a carrier oil before you apply directly onto your skin.  Essential Oils should never be applied to the skin directly. You could also use essential oils on a special necklace or bracelet used specifically for essential oils.

1. For an uplifting essential oil, try Peppermint Essential Oil (mentha piperita). This oil awakens your senses, stimulates your mind and promotes focus. 

2. For a peaceful state of mind and for soothing your nervous system, try Cedarwood Essential Oil (juniperus virginiana).

3. For an essential oil that is warm and relaxing, Sandalwood Essential Oil (Santalum album/Santalum spicatum) This oils helps to evoke feelings of peace. 

4. For an early morning meditation you can infuse a blend of Lemon Essential Oil (citrus limon). This aroma is purifying, invites happiness and positive energy while invigorating your senses.

5. To help support deep breathing, Eucalyptus Essential Oil (eucalyptus radiata) and also may help promote mental motivation while bringing you energy, focus and optimism.

These are only a few essential oils that you could try.  Essential oils are very powerful and healing to the mind and body.  If you are using essential oils in a class, please be mindful of others. The blends you use may not be another’s choice.

Using essential oil in a diffuser may help cleanse the air and reduce the airborne microbes (viruses, fungi which can be passed from one to another through the air).

Add the correct amount of water recommend by your diffuser company and use this blend which helps focus on your Breath:

• 3 Drops of Eucalyptus (Use either eucalyptus radiata or eucalyptus globulus.)
• 3 Drops of Lavender (lavandula angustifolia)
• 1 Drop of Lemon (citrus limon)

Please ensure you clean your diffuser after use when using any citrus essential oil. The chemical compounds are very strong and may shorten the life of  your diffuser.

You may have noticed that I have added the Latin name/botanical name after each essential oil. The reason for this is it a way of identifying the actual plants. By going with a common name such as Lavender… you will find there are 47 known species. Depending on where in the world the Lavender has grown it will be known as Lavender but the species will be different.  The most common Lavender we use is lavandula angustifolia. Spike Lavender also known as Lavandula latifolia has a different aroma, and comes from the western Mediterranean region. 

I am truly fascinated by essential oils, the plants and their history!