Ever wondered how you can use scent in your yoga practice and which essential oils are best for which practices? Well the delightful Becs from Revkah Aromatherapy is here to demystify it for us all.
Fragrance and scent has been used to enhance meditation and yoga practice, relieve stress and anxiety and promote relaxation since records of meditation began.
In early days it may not have been called called aromatherapy, but the oils were derived from woods, gums and resins and used for their calming benefits on the body and emotions in much the same way as we do today. Often today, the focus is more on the physical benefit the oils provide, while in early records there was much more awareness of the spiritual benefits.
In ancient yoga texts this is referred to as gandha – sanskrit for fragrance and the use of fragrance for meditation and spiritual practice.
Combining aromatherapy with yoga & meditation
As a yoga teacher and space holder, I have seen first-hand the incredible benefits and effects of weaving scent and my aromatherapy products into the various practices of yoga, movement, meditation and rest. Adding the power of subtle scent to your practice allows you to connect deeply to your senses, while the therapeutic properties of essential oils adds a further opportunity to support your wellbeing and intention for your practice.
When choosing essential oils and aromatherapy blends to use you may want to consider whether you are looking to ground, calm, uplift or balance your energy, as well as as the style of practice you will be enjoying.
The true guide for what is best to use is your own intuition and knowing – there is that moment where you engage with the oil and there’s a deep inner exchange that takes place between you and the scent. Your body, mind and soul will respond and let you know what feels most supportive at this time.
Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
For Yin & Restorative Yoga
Yin and restorative yoga are often used to unwind tension, improve sleep and heal the body so you want to use essential oils that are grounding, soothing and calming.
Frankincense essential oil has a deep spiritual history and it is easy to understand why once you have used this oil – it has an amazing ability to calm and deepen the breath. Lavender oil is renowned for its soothing and relaxing nature and ylang-ylang and patchouli are both beautiful botanical oils that help calm a busy mind and drop your awareness deeply into your body.
You can create your own oil blend using 5ml carrier oil (like sweet almond or jojoba) and 2 drops of each of these oils or if you are looking for pre-blended, try our Sleep collection with ylang-ylang, french lavender, sweet orange and cedarwood in roller body oil or body oil or our Clarity collection with frankincense, patchouli, bergamot, eucalyptus, orange and vanilla.
Begin your practice by massaging a bit of your chosen blend onto the bottoms of your feet and again before savasana.
For Vinyasa or Power Yoga
Vinyasa yoga and aromatherapy make beautiful companions, particularly when you use more energising essential oils. Yoga is energising for the body naturally, so when you use essential oils such as lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint and rosemary, it can further invigorate and revitalise your body and mind.
You can add 2 drops of each singular oil or try a combination to a carrier oil and rub a bit of this blend on the back of your neck and on your heart space before practicing.
If you are looking for pre-blended, try Awaken roller body oil which contains peppermint, rosemary, grapefruit and cedarwood for a full refresh of the mind and senses or Breathe roller body oil is also a supportive companion if you are looking for a more gentle invigoration and to clear your airways for expansive breathing with basil, spearmint, eucalyptus and cardamom.
For Meditation & Savasana
Cedarwood essential oil is fantastic for meditation and has been know to be the oil of choice in Tibetan meditation. When you use this essential oil you can really feel the benefits of its strong, rooted and earthy scent.
When practicing meditation or savasana it can be a beautiful ritual to cleanse the space around you to support dropping into a restful space. Traditional yogis used incense but essential oils are a wonderful alternative that can offer greater therapeutic benefits.
You can use sage, rosemary, oregano and pine oils as natural cleansers and add citrus oils to bring a fresh and happy scent. Play with making a mist of your own, add to a diffuser or use our Warmth atmosphere mist with a blend of Scots pine, rosemary, grapefruit, orange and patchouli created to reduce any negative energy or tension in your mind and cleanse the space.
Frankincense and chamomile oils are also beautiful options to use at this time to further support stabilising, grounding and soothing energy so Calm roller body oil is a supportive companion too.
For cleaning your yoga mat
A yoga mat is a very personal and sacred space in the practice of yoga. It is your place to explore movement, breath and rest to nurture and enhance your wellbeing. Yet with regular use and over time, it is no surprise that your mat can accumulate a build-up of sweat, oil and dirt, creating quite the aroma.
Use cleansing and antibacterial oils such a lemongrass, tea tree, lemon, rosemary and fennel and explore creating a spray that you can use.
A must have for every yogi, our antibacterial and all natural Yoga Mat Spray is blended with three pure essential oils to clean, purify and restore your yoga mat, as well as providing feelings of calm and focus to body and mind. Perfect for home or studio practice.
Rebecca is the founder of Revkah Aromatherapy and a yoga teacher based in South Devon.
Passionate about the way aromatherapy can support our lives she hand blends gorgeous rollers, bath & body oils and room sprays