How to Use Essential Oils for Yoga

Yoga enhances mental and emotional wellness, relieves sore muscles and supports physical and spiritual wellness. It used to be incense was used to set the atmosphere, but more and more studios are turning to the subtler, softer aromas of essential oils for their studios. There are three ways to use essential oils in a yoga studio:

Diffusing Essential oils are evaporated into the air via diffusers; they cleanse the air while inspiring and motivating students.

Purifying Essential oils are used as powerful cleaning agents to wipe down and deodorize yoga mats, chairs, weights and anything else that students touch.

Anointing Essential oils are applied to the wrists or massaged into the muscles. Only use physical application after thorough research, as the concentrated nature of essential oils could cause irritation to some skin types.

Which essential oil you use depends on which part of the yoga experience you want to enhance. Below is a list of each goal, with the essential oils that will help serve that purpose.

Balance & Stability

Yoga incorporates many positions that exercise your balance and strengthens stability. Essential oils aid this process by energizing and stimulating your senses to activate the muscles and center your thoughts.

Grounding Ginger Patchouli Cedarwood

Strengthening & Centering Sandalwood Cedarwood Myrrh Frankincense

Breathing & Energy Flow

In through the nose and out through the mouth, breathing plays a key role in yoga, helping you ignore the distractions of the outside world so you can focus on your body. Essential oils, especially when diffused, help increase your lung capacity and clear the airways so that you don’t have to worry about coughing or catching your breath while you stretch.

Breath Awareness & Clear Breathing Peppermint Basil Eucalyptus Rosemary Myrrh Frankincense Cardamom

Relaxation

When you leave the yoga studio, you want to feel relaxed, like every tension you have has left your body. Essential oils help by calming your spirit and soothing aching muscles.

Calming Lavender Geranium Chamomile

Soothing Basil Coriander Cypress Lavender Rosemary Wintergreen

Spiritual & Emotional Control

Finally, yoga serves as a way to improve your control over your emotional, spiritual and mental wellness. It gives you a way to adapt to the stress that life tends to throw our way, and deal with difficult situations with calmness and aplomb. Using these essential oils in the yoga studio will prepare you for the rest of your day.

Spiritual Nourishment Bergamot Lemon Orange Jasmine Rose

Emotional Uplifting Cassia Sage Lemon Lime White Fir