How to Use Essential Oils for Enhanced Meditation & Their Benefits

I have practised various forms of yoga, sometimes rather erratically, for many years. All of the classes I attended touched, usually quite briefly, on meditating. To be honest, I used to find these few moments rather boring and assumed meditation wasn't for me. Instead, I used these peaceful meditation moments to mentally go through my never-ending to-do lists. This is exactly what meditation is trying to dispel, but these busy thoughts and the inability to let them go are common among new meditators.

Fast forward several years and I am now a regular meditator. I will explain how I arrived at this change of mind, and give a brief overview of what meditation is (and is not) and the benefits it can provide—especially when combined with the use of essential oils and vegan skincare.

Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). To cut a long story short, after much research, I decided to forego the cocktail of heavy-duty, serious side-effect drugs prescribed by my neurologist. Instead, I decided to follow the recommendations of a research-led organisation called Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS). Part of their programme involves the regular practice of meditation to help alleviate stress, as stress increases the severity of MS symptoms. We all lead stressful lives, but the way you perceive and deal with this stress determines how it will affect you both mentally and physically.

What is Meditation?

Years later, my perspective on meditation changed as I came to understand its true benefits. Meditation is a powerful tool for fostering clarity and emotional well-being. At its core, meditation trains the brain to create space and gain perspective. This process prevents us from getting trapped in recurring thoughts and emotions. Our thoughts influence our emotions, but emotions also impact our thoughts significantly. Research has shown that the brain processes less information during meditation. Beta waves, associated with information processing, decrease.

With the average person having between 20,000–50,000 daily thoughts, achieving inner peace can be a challenge. The constant stream of thoughts hinders moments of tranquillity.

Meditation isn't about silencing your thoughts. It's about observing them and letting them go, focusing on the present moment, enhancing resilience, and nurturing compassion for yourself and others.

The Benefits of Meditation

In the midst of modern life characterised by constant busyness, rapid movement, scattered focus, insufficient rest and often exhaustion, the practice of meditation is becoming increasingly popular.

The emotional and physical benefits of meditation can include:

• Giving you a new way to look at things that cause stress.
• Building skills to manage your stress.
• Making you more self-aware.
• Focusing on the present.
• Reducing negative feelings.
• Helping you be more creative.
• Helping you be more patient.
• Improving focus and memory.

How Aromatherapy Can Help Meditation

When essential oils are integrated with meditation, they can enhance your practice by centring, grounding, relaxing, and focusing the mind and body, generally creating a more immersive and effective experience. Essential oils possess therapeutic compounds that help reduce negative energy and encourage positivity, determination, optimism, gratitude, and self-respect. Furthermore, these aromatic oils are reputed to ease, calm, and soothe the body.

The Best Essential Oils for Meditation

Generally, the ideal essential oils for meditation are those with aromas and properties that inspire feelings of calmness, centeredness, and concentration. However, different essential oils serve various purposes, so appropriate oils should be selected depending on your meditation goals.

For Relaxation & Stress Relief

Lavender essential oil is renowned for its calming and soothing properties, while chamomile is excellent for reducing anxiety and promoting peace. You can find both of these oils in Oleo's Sleep Well Body Oil. Before meditating, massage some of this beautifully scented oil into your skin to promote a sense of relaxation and mental clarity. In addition, by spraying some Oleo Tranquility Pillow Mist around your meditation space, you can create a relaxed and peaceful ambience.

It contains grounding vetiver essential oil, which helps the mind and body to wind down and has soothing and calming effects. You could also try using our Luscious Eau de Toilette, which is infused with essential oils of frankincense, cedarwood, patchouli, benzoin, and orange, which together have calming and grounding effects on the spirit and mind.

For Enhanced Focus & Clarity

It just so happens that our Exhilarating Shower Gel contains three of the most beneficial essential oils to achieve focus and clarity—rosemary, lemon, and peppermint. Take a refreshing shower with this aromatic gel before meditating to aid your practice.

You could also try spraying your meditation space with either our May Chang & Eucalyptus Room Spray or the Rosemary & Lemongrass Room Spray. Both of these contain essential oils that will help to enhance your concentration and deepen your practice.

For Emotional Balance

Frankincense essential oil has a long history of beneficial properties during meditation. It promotes feelings of being mentally balanced, grounded, and receptive to new experiences and thoughts. Palmarosa essential oil is balancing, calming, and uplifting. Try massaging some Frankincense & Palmarosa Massage Balm into your temples to enhance your meditation. Our Resilience High Performance Facial Moisturiser contains sandalwood essential oil. This vegan skincare not only nourishes your complexion but also helps to quieten mental chatter and promotes the feeling of a calm body at peace.

While the use of individual essential oils is the classic, traditional method of applying them, their beneficial properties are known to be heightened when they are used in combination with one or more other beneficial essential oils. The final mix will exude a different scent than the original oils on their own, but the resulting effects will be undoubtedly enhanced. Fortunately for you, the expertly blended Oleo vegan skincare range can provide you with products that are clarifying, uplifting, strengthening, and balancing to address various symptoms of being overwhelmed, both physically and mentally.

So, whether you are a seasoned meditator or just beginning, the addition of aromatherapy can offer new dimensions to your practice. Explore the various essential oils that Oleo Bodycare use in their products and find the combinations that resonate with you. Your journey to inner peace and well-being is unique, and Oleo Bodycare can be a valuable companion on this path.

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