International Yoga Day: Using Essential Oils to Find Your Center
Namaste.
Today is International Yoga Day, and we would like to invite you to roll out your yoga mat, take a deep breath, and join us in completing a few simple poses in honor of this beloved wellness practice. Although yoga has become a common method for exercise and relaxation in our everyday lives, people have actually used these physical routines for thousands of years to promote personal wellness, inspire deeper spiritual connections, and enliven the mind! Follow along as we guide you through four simple yoga poses to create a deeper connection for your mind, body, and spirit.
4 Simple Yoga Poses to Embrace Personal Wellness
1. Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
As one of the most recognizable yoga poses, the Downward-Facing Dog pose is a simple yet rejuvenating full-body stretch that is great for both beginners and intermediate yoga enthusiasts alike. Use this pose to help bring oxygen into the body, relieve back pain, and promote mental wellness.
To come into this pose, start on your hands and knees with your hands slightly forward from your shoulders, and your knees directly under your hips. Turn your toes under. Exhale and slowly lift your knees away from the floor, balancing on your toes and pushing your tailbone toward the ceiling. Breathe in slowly, and with your next exhalation, push your thighs back, straighten your knees, and stretch the heels down into the floor. Remain in this pose for 15-30 seconds, then bend the knees to the floor with an exhalation, and rest.
2. Cat Pose (Marjaryasana)
The Cat Pose is another simple yet essential core posture that encourages deeper breathing and softly stimulates the abdominal organs to relieve stress from menstrual cramps and lower back pain.
To begin, start on your hands and knees with your hands directly under your shoulders and knees directly below your hips. Exhale and round your spine, pulling your back up toward the ceiling. Allow your head to slowly drop down toward the floor. Breathe in and return to the beginning pose with your back straight and head level. Repeat this cycle for 10 breaths.
3. Cow Pose (Bitilasana)
The Cow Pose is an excellent warm-up or cool-down pose that gently warms the body and brings flexibility to the spine, torso, and neck. Use this pose any time to help bring balance to your mind and body with careful, controlled breathing and fluid movement.
Similar to the Cat Pose, begin this position on your hands and knees with your knees directly below your hips and your hands under your shoulders. While in this starting position, keep your head facing the floor. Inhale slowly and allow your belly to sink toward the ground while simultaneously lifting your hips and chest toward the ceiling. Bring your head up to look straight forward. Exhale and return to the beginning position. Repeat this cycle 10-15 times.
4. Upward-Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)
The Upward-Facing Dog is an excellent pose for any yoga practice, as it helps lift and open the chest while lengthening and giving strength to the spine. Use this pose throughout your yoga practice to lightly stretch the body and encourage quiet reflection.
Begin by lying face-down on the floor with your legs stretched out and the soles of your feet facing the ceiling. Place your hands palm-down on the floor beside your waist. Inhale and slowly push your torso forward and up, keeping your thighs firm and legs straight. Flex your shoulder blades and keep your head facing forward, taking care not to compress the back of the neck. Hold this pose for 15-30 seconds before releasing and returning to the beginning pose. Repeat this cycle 3-5 times.
Using Essential Oils in Your Yoga Practice
Whether you prefer diffusing or direct inhalation, or if you would like to try your hand at a simple DIY yoga mat spray, essential oils are a great way to help you find inner peace, promote a greater sense of calm, and open spiritual pathways to wellness. You can use any essential oil during your yoga routine based off personal preference, but if you are a first-time user or would like some pointers, we would recommend the following essential oils to best fit your needs:
Oils for Inner Peace
The world outside is busy. Take time to slow down and release negative emotions during your daily yoga practice by including these essential oils that will help create a space for introspection, peace, and balance:
Oils to Enliven the Mind
Alleviate feelings of fatigue by combining aromatherapy with your meditative effects of yoga. These four essential oils are great options for promoting mental clarity, awakening the mind, and reducing feelings of midday sluggishness:
Oils for Mental Relaxation
Many people turn to yoga for stress management as the combination of physical poses, controlled breathing, and mediation all work together to clear the mind and relax the body. For extra support during your next yoga session, try including these essential oils into your practice to fight stress and find serenity:
Embrace Personal Wellness
We want to thank you for joining us in our celebration of International Yoga Day! We hope that you find these oils and pose recommendations useful as you progress in your journey toward physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
Namaste.