How Aromatherapy can Improve your Meditation

The modern world is incredibly hectic and demanding, which is why meditation is now more vital than ever. By practicing the art of meditation, you’re able to calm your mind and body as well as experience the sensation of being present. However, the 21^st century is full of distractions whether that’s your phone, a racing mind, or the world outside being generally noisy. This is where we welcome aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is the use of different fragrances and aromas from essential oils to positively alter our emotions and health. Aromatherapy can be completed through inhaling fragrances through a diffuser or directly applying the oil to the skin and experiencing the scent throughout the day. Essential oils can help create a positive and ambient environment, perfect for meditation.

Identifying what our senses are experiencing is one of the easiest ways to ground ourselves and focus on the present. Aromatherapy has the power to recapture your attention and stop the mind from wandering. So, if you find your mind wandering during meditation, surround yourself with one of your favourite aromas (we’ve listed our favourites below!), and focus on the scents you’re experiencing whilst emptying your mind of any other thoughts.

If your mind still persists to wander; that’s okay! Simply take a mental note of where your thoughts were and try to return to an empty state of mind. This is called noting, and it helps us to subconsciously recognise what is on our minds. By incorporating aromatherapy and noting into your meditation, you’re sure to become a meditation pro in no time.

Our favourite essential oils:

Lavender oil

Not only does lavender smell beautiful, but it also has anti-anxiety properties as it activates calming neurotransmitter receptors in our brain. Lavender may be one of the most popular essential oils for meditation due to its calming and versatile properties. It’s perfect for seeking clarity and unwinding after a long day. Lavender oil also can benefit many other aspects of your life:

• Promote deeper sleep
• Reduce muscle soreness
• Purifies the air
• Support clear respiration

Eucalyptus oil

Unlike lavender oil, eucalyptus oil is a stimulating oil. It’s potent fragrance clears airways and stimulates the brain. Through incorporating eucalyptus oil into your meditation, you may experience a surge of energy and clarity, perfect for morning meditation sessions. Eucalyptus oil is incredible versatile and can be used for many things, such as:

• It can be used as an antiseptic
• Strengthens immune system
• Treats respiratory problems
• Relieves muscle pain

Frankincense oil

Frankincense is incredibly popular in traditional religious and spiritual ceremonies due to its alleged intrinsic intellectual powers. Using frankincense oil during meditation can encourage freedom of expression and feelings of spirituality. Frankincense oil is also known for its other benefits such as:

• Clears airways
• Regulates menstruation
• Aids in fading stretch marks and scars
• Holds antiseptic and anti-aging properties

Experiment with scents! The human body works in mysterious ways, and we may not all experience smells the same way, so choose whatever fragrance works best for you.