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Aromatherapy is having a moment. You've probably got a favorite candle... or five. The social media streets are talking about essential oils and signature scents. And we're really glad that aromatherapy is getting it's day in the sun. Let's start with the basics. "Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being." (Healthline)
At Inner Workout, we're fans of aromatherapy through essential oils. Why? It's a truly customizable self care practice. With a little research, you can find an essential oil, or a blend of essential oils, to support each of the five dimensions of wellbeing.
There's still much to be discovered about the science of aromatherapy. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners published a study that showed that essential oils could help to decrease anxiety and stress in patients when it was paired with other clinical treatments.
So aromatherapy can amplify the inner work that you're already doing. We can get into that.
Also noteworthy, our approach to aromatherapy seems to effect the impact it has on us. In an interview with Ashley Abramson, Estelle Campenni, PsyD, summed up the results of her study with these words:
Our minds are connected to our bodies, so what we believe about a scent can override its actual properties.
Read that again.
Aromatherapy invites you to show up as your own best expert. You get to decide that a scent can benefit you. Love that for you.
Maybe you're not totally sold on aromatherapy yet. That's cool. But maybe you could do a little experiment. What would happen if you chose to believe that aromatherapy would support you? The results might surprise you.
There are a lot of ways to practice aromatherapy, but, like we said, we're big into essential oils here. Essential oils are packed with benefits with the potential to impact every dimension of your wellbeing. The best part? There are so many ways to experience them. If you're all about physical experiences, get essential oil infused soaps, lotions, perfumes, and roll-ons.
We went with a roll-on for Stasis , our balancing essential oil blend, because it's portable and can offer a quick self care boost.
Some of our favorite places to dab on a roll-on blend:
Topical aromatherapy is has its benefits, but not its not for everyone. If you're looking for an aromatherapy that's more atmospheric, you might be into using a diffuser, spray, or simply taking a whiff of your favorite scent.
Before starting your aromatherapy journey, take some time to connect with yourself and decide what you'd like to get out of the experience. Do you want to be calmer? Would you like to fall asleep more quickly? Do you need an extra burst of energy? List out at few qualities that would serve you well.
If you're not sure where to focus your aromatherapy efforts, our Take Care Assessment will be able to help!
And for good measure, here are some of our favorite essential oils:
Bergamot - decrease stress and anxiety
smell - floral, citrus, earl grey tea
Cedarwood - helps relax mind and body
smell - woodsy, sweet, yellow school pencil
Geranium - induces calming and relaxation
smell - floral, lemony, 'like a rose'
Mandarin Red - relaxes the nervous system and reduces anxiety
smell - sweet, floral, orange
Sandalwood - decreases anxiety and improves sleep
smell - earthy, smooth, home
Vetiver - produces calming and grounding effects
smell - dry, deep, leather
And remember, you're the ultimate decision-maker on how essential oils will work with you. Don't take it too seriously. As with all thing self care, let it be an experiment.
What are your thoughts on essential oils? Have you tried aromatherapy? What benefits does your body and mind need in this moment? Wanna talk about it? DM us on Instagram. We look forward to hearing from you!
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