People practice yoga for all sorts of reasons but one of the main ones is to relax. The world can be stressful, and having an outlet is helpful to get through it all. But sometimes practicing yoga just isn’t possible. If you’re looking for a natural way to distress, help fall asleep, calm down, or just to relax you may want to try some aromatherapy using these scents.
Lavender
Lavender has a long history of being used to purify the body and spirit. It’s also considered one of the safest plants, which is why it’s used so widely in oils, teas, soaps, shampoos and more. Lavender used during aromatherapy has been proven to slow down the sympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the body that responds to stress. Next time you need to relax, especially if it’s to fall asleep, consider sniffing a little lavender.
Chamomile
There’s a reason people recommend chamomile tea to people who are stressed out. When used in tea or as an inhalant it can produce a calming effect. It has tons of other benefits too, such as being antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory. Basically, it’s great for a lot of stuff, especially relaxing after a yoga class.
Bergamot
You might not have heard of this, but no doubt you’ve smelled it before. Bergamot has been used to flavor Earl Gray tea and is in a number of popular perfumes and colognes. The citrus scent has been known to uplift spirits, making one feel refreshed and less anxious.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood has deep roots in history, spirituality, and religion. It’s been used in temples and religious status for centuries. Sandalwood is a distinctive fragrance that does wonders for promoting relaxing, meditative states. The scent is essentially used as a sedative on the nervous system, calming the body down.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a scent that is so distinctive, it’s even defied science, as no synthetic productions to mimic the smell have ever been successful. Studies have shown that the scent of jasmine enhances mental alertness and stimulated brain waves. The smell acts like an antidepressant, uplifting moods and inducing a warm calming effect.
Rose
Roses might be the most well-known flower and floral scent there is. Almost everyone can picture the unique smell. Roses are symbols of love, beauty, romance, and perfection. The intense scent is useful in calming the nervous system, and give one a positive feeling. Who doesn’t feel good when smelling the sweet floral scent of a rose?
Conclusion
Who knew smelling certain scents could have such an impact on how one feels? If you find relaxing and calming a difficult task, maybe it’s time to investigate if any of these wonderful smells works for you! If you want to really up your relaxation, feel free to check out one of our amazing yoga classes. We look forward to hearing from you. Namaste!