If you've been meditating for a while, you know it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But sometimes, staying focused can also be tough when your mind starts wandering from the breath or mantra and into your thoughts about all the things you need to do later in the day. That's where aromatherapy comes in!
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses essential oils extracted from plants to create fragrances that can help heal the mind and body through their scent. It's became popular among people who practice meditation because it can enhance their practice by offering an additional tool to help them relax, focus and find peace within themselves.
In this post, we'll explore how adding aromatherapy to your meditation practice might benefit both your body and mind:
1. It helps you stay focused
If you find yourself losing focus while meditating, try using a small amount of an essential oil that promotes concentration. Citrus oils such as lemon, grapefruit, and orange work well because they promote alertness and wakefulness.
If you're struggling with depression or anxiety, try peppermint or lavender oil instead — both have been found to be helpful for these conditions when used in aromatherapy.
2. It enhances your mood and leads to more happiness
Meditation is all about focusing on the present moment and taking in all the good things that surround you. When you add aromatherapy to your practice, it can help you to focus even more intensely on what's happening in the here and now. The scents of essential oils can help bring your attention back to the present if you start distracted by thoughts or emotions.
3. It can make it easier to let go of negative thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations
There are many reasons why aromatherapy is a great option for meditation. One of the most important is that it can help you let go of negative thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
Here's how to use aromatherapy to let go of negative thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations:
Take a moment to sit in silence with your eyes closed. This will help you focus on nothing but your breath as it enters and leaves your body.
Lightly inhale the aroma from your chosen essential oil by placing one or two drops on a diffuser necklace or bracelet (depending on how long you want the scent to linger) or by dabbing some onto clothes that can be placed under pillows when sleeping at night.
Imagine the oil touching your negative thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Inhale again and breathe out love as you do so. Imagine that love envelops these negative thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, helping them dissolve into nothingness.
Do this for at least five minutes each day until you feel like your negative thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations are gone or have been greatly reduced in intensity.
4. It makes your meditation practice feel more special.
Aromatherapy is a great way to add a sense of enjoyment and specialness to your meditation practice. Aromatherapy can be used for many other things besides meditation, but it's most commonly associated with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
If you find that these are things you struggle with regularly, adding aromatherapy into your routine could help you feel less stressed. Using essential oils in conjunction with your mindfulness practice will allow the benefits from both practices to work together synergistically – this means that the results will be faster than if you were doing either one alone!
5. It creates a sense of safety and security that may make it easier to let yourself be vulnerable in meditation (and life).
One of the benefits of meditation is that it helps you feel comfortable and safe. If you're in a vulnerable position, such as meditating or sleeping, then it's important that you feel comfortable. You want aromatherapy to help create that feeling for you.
Aromatherapy can also make it easier for people with chronic pain to meditate because they will no longer have to worry about their bodies being in pain while they practice meditation.
6. It makes meditation sessions more relaxing, a feeling you can carry throughout the day.
Aromatherapy is a great way to make meditation more relaxing; this feeling can carry you throughout the day. You'll be able to relax and let go of stress at the moment, but also carry those benefits when you're not meditating.
7. It's an easy tool to add to your meditation practice
Because aromatherapy is a simple addition to your life that you can do any time of day, it's an easy tool to add to your meditation practice (and therefore is likely to make it a habit you're more motivated to stick with).
You don't have to go out and spend money on oils or incense or buy any new equipment. Light the candle or pour some essential oil into your diffuser and breathe in the soothing scents. That's all there is!
8. It can counteract the effects of air pollutants and fragrances (like perfume) that could be distracting when you meditate outdoors.
Aromatherapy can also help counteract the effects of air pollution and fragrances like perfume that could be distracting when you meditate outdoors. Air pollution is a real problem in many cities and can be detrimental to your health. If you live in an area with poor air quality, aromatherapy can help offset these negative effects by:
Opening up your nasal passages and lungs allows them to breathe more easily
Relaxing the mind, so it isn't distracted by smells
Increasing circulation around your body, which helps carry away toxins from harmful chemicals like car exhaust
9. You can customize your blends according to your personal preferences and needs, making your aromatherapy experience uniquely yours
You can make your blends or use aromatherapy oils to customize your meditation practice.
There are many different ways to use essential oils in aromatherapy practices. They can be added to candles, incense burners, or diffusers that release their scent into the air around you while you meditate.
They can also be applied directly to your skin; some people add a few drops of oil onto their hands before beginning a meditation session, while others prefer using massage oils with essential oils blended in for this purpose.
10.It can boost creativity
Sometimes it's difficult to tap into our creative juices, but this doesn't mean we don't want to be able to do so! Meditation is not only relaxing but also helps us think more clearly and creatively. Aromatherapy can help boost our creativity when practising meditation.
In Summary
As more and more people are learning the incredible power of meditation, they are also looking for ways to enhance their practice. Adding aromatherapy to your meditation routine is an excellent way to enhance your experience. The deep connection that a person can forge with their body through regular meditation can lead to a greater sense of peace, a decrease in stress and anxiety, and many other mental health benefits.
Aromatherapy helps us to connect even further with our mind and body through the deeply sensational experience of scents. Ultimately, aromatherapy is another tool for people interested in meditation or yoga to improve their mindfulness skills and connect with their inner selves.
References
https://www.baseformula.com/blog/essential-oils-for-meditation
https://www.yogabasics.com/connect/yoga-blog/essential-oils-meditation/
https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/best-essential-oils-to-support-meditation.html
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