Without fail, it seems, the other students dab, slather, and anoint themselves with great enthusiasm and, apparently, gratitude.
This bespeaks the natural affinity between spiritual practices and pure essences. There is an intimate relationship between the part of our nervous system that senses smell and the part that processes emotion, and there are some oils that even impart physiological responses that facilitate certain yogic practices, like turning within, and working with the breath.
Frankincense is a calming and somewhat warming oil that has been traditionally associated with yoga and meditation for thousands of years (and every culture that’s had access to it has mentioned it in their ancient texts as a holy anointing oil).
Sandalwood has similar associations with meditation, and has certain cooling properties. Interestingly, sandalwood is high in a compound called “sesquiterpenes”, which have the rare ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. It makes me wonder if this is why it has such calming effects on the nervous system (it’s also amazing for the skin!).
Many meditators are familiar with a scent called “khus”, which is a cooling oil with a deep, earthy scent. In the Young Living lineup this oil is known by its latin name, Vetiver. Knowing its history in helping pitta states cool off, is it any surprise to learn that modern researchers are using it to bring natural relief to children labeled ADD/ADHD?
Hmmm....
At any rate, these ladies went on to ask whether there are resources about using oils in conjunction with a yoga practice. I told them about the oils/yoga integration I experienced at Convention a couple of years ago (that blogpost is here) but I didn’t really know where to send them for “how to” information. I’ve since discovered that Young Living’s website has a section on yoga which is pretty nice, (that's here) and here’s my official shout out (do people still say that?) to the yoga teachers and students in my group to write to me with your ideas.
Let’s see what we can learn from eachother!
In the meantime, I imagined myself running a yoga class to see what my intuitive impulse would be. While I am nowhere near qualified to teach yoga (surprisingly, I am much more limber in my imagination!), I’ve done aromatherapy classes with massage clients and the premise is pretty much the same.
I really like to work with a theme, or an intention for each session. It might spring from choosing a random passage from a meaningful book, drawing an “inspiration card”, or it might evolve naturally through the type of work being done (for instance, if it’s a class on releasing stored negativities, Release blend would be a natural choice.).
I open the class by asking participants to take a moment to listen to the reading, the card, or to let themselves contemplate their relationship with the theme, and I pass around the corresponding oil. Sometimes I suggest putting the oil on a certain spot for a certain effect, or so that everyone has the same experience (for instance I might say, “We’re passing around Joy oil. When you receive your Joy, place it in your heart region. Take a deep breath in, and notice what you feel”).
I'd then proceed through the session, perhaps offering additional oils to enhance the experience of the poses (I have a strong affinity for Valor in Warrior posture, for instance). I think I might consistently use the same oil for the concluding every session with savasana, but I don't know for sure. It might seem right to mix it up from time to time.
If I have anything I know for sure, it's this: there is no one “correct” way to associate oils with themes when you are doing yoga, bodywork, emotional work, or any of the other healing arts. I've actually had someone who could really benefit from the oils miss out on them all together because I could not hand them an oil based on their zodiac sign. Don’t cheat yourself looking for a list that’s already been made by someone else! Just look at the oils you have on hand, and see what suits you best in the moment. Certain associations will evolve over time, and they will be right for you.
Here’s how I start:
I hold my theme in mind while approaching my oils, and scan the bottles to see if any names jump out. (Inspiration, Harmony, Surrender, Gratitude, SARA, Humility, Hope, Joy, and Valor all make frequent appearances). Sometimes one stands out as the obvious choice, and the only oil I need for a session. Other times, several present themselves... so, I gather them together and pick three or four at “random”. I’ll start with one and be open to offering the others throughout the session, if I get the sense that it’s the thing to do.
If you’re still building your oils collection and want to know which ones to add next, try this: Get out your Essential Oils Desk Reference (If you don’t have your EDR yet, put it on your wishlist right away... there's more info at the end of the post) and look at the descriptions of the single oils and blends. I love to use the blends in yoga because they have such great inspirational names, and they were crafted by experts to help us achieve the states evoked by their names (of course Thieves won’t make us thieves, so it’s the one exception to that rule- but every yoga studio should have it anyway, for housekeeping and sanitizing surfaces).
Look up and become familiar with the oils whose names appeal to you or pique your interest. The EDR will show you what oils are in each blend, and what benefits they impart, so you can prioritize your next order. This was one of my favorite parts of the month when I first went on the Essential Rewards program (plus the free products helped me build my collection faster)!
If you don’t have your EDR yet, your Product Guide will suffice (Don't have one on hand? Here's the 2011 online version). Let yourself graze through the pictures and descriptions for things that ring a bell for you, and have fun with it!
Next Post:
Gary Young’s “Never Have a Bad Day Again” oils protocol (which is a sublime way to open a class of any kind!), and the "Feelings Kit" from a yogic perspective.
To see what the Essential Oils Desk Reference is all about,
go to our website learnaboutessentialoils.com. Once you're there, click on the yoga link (see the big pink arrow? That's the spot!)
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