The constant ‘busyness’, rapid movement and non-stop activity of modern life can certainly take a toll on both our minds and bodies, with poor sleep patterns and constant exhaustion leading not only to negative physical symptoms, but to problems with concentration and focus.
Meditation can be the perfect way to help your mind to focus and to redirect your thoughts.
It’s increasingly being used as a way of reducing stress and developing concentration, but it’s also great for improving mood and can even help with pain tolerance!
Well, put simply, when your brain feels under threat, it tells your body’s adrenal glands to produce certain hormones to create the ‘fight or flight’ response. This immediately causes both blood pressure and muscle tension to increase and, the next thing you know, your heart is pounding and your breathing has become fast and shallow.
Once you start to meditate, your brain waves switch to a pattern that’s linked with deep relaxation and mental alertness. Regular meditation will enable you to shift into this mode as and when you need to, allowing you to deal with stress efficiently and enabling you to counter stressful conditions.
Other positive benefits of meditation include:
* a more relaxed body
* reduced blood pressure
* healing of chronic disease
* improved focus
* better relationships
* better communication
You’re perhaps reading this and saying to yourself, ‘I tried meditation one time but I couldn’t do it because my mind was too active’. That’s one of the most common responses in people to meditation, but the fact is that you CAN do it. You just need to take the time to do it…..
Even if it’s just for five minutes each day, meditation is well worth making the effort to do – and aromatherapy oils can help you on your way!
Aromatherapy oils are perfect for meditation. Not only can they help to ground you and focus your mind, but they’re also reputed to help eliminate or reduce negative energy from both mind and body, enhancing feelings of positivity and optimism.
Using aromatherapy recipes during meditation can enhance the experience, primarily by promoting asense of calm.
Aromatherapy recipes featuring combinations of oils are particularly helpful for putting you into a state of relaxation and helping you to concentrate, and they’re beneficial during each stage of meditation – before, during and after!
So, if you’re planning to meditate, but find it difficult to focus, try one of these aromatherapy focus recipes – you’re bound to find one that works for you! Just pop the combinations into your diffuser, close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
Sandalwood and Patchouli are well-known for their ‘grounding’ properties – essential when you’re meditating. The relaxing, soothing aroma of Bergamot, meanwhile is sedative and can help to put you into a restful state.
· 4 drops Sandalwood essential oil
· 3 drops Bergamot essential oil
· 2 drops Patchouli essential oil
A fantastic aromatherapy focus recipe combining some of the best-known oils for meditation. Cedarwood encourages you to focus on your higher self, while Sandalwood will help to mend emotional and spiritual wounds. Palo Santo is synonymous with promoting feelings of being grounded and calm – perfect for meditation!
· 2 drops Cedarwood essential oil
· 3 drops Palo Santo essential oil
· 3 drops Sandalwood essential oil
Frankincense oil is calming without causing sleepiness, making it great for either morning or midday meditation. Often used as a treatment for anxiety, it’s great for calming your mind during stressful times. Sage, meanwhile, is perfect for cleansing both mind and body, while Vetiver can help your wandering mind to concentrate during meditation or other mindfulness practices.
· 2 drops Frankincense essential oil
· 2 drops Sage essential oil
· 2 drops Vetiver essential oil
Lavender’s qualities for promoting a sense of relaxation infamous and in this aromatherapy recipe for promoting focus, it’s reinforced by the centring abilities of Neroli. Ylang Ylang, meanwhile, has a calming effect on your heart rate and breathing – all effects that should make it easier for you to focus on meditating.
· 3 drops Lavender essential oil
· 3 drops Neroli essential oil
· 2 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
When you’re feeling hindered, or finding it difficult to focus on your higher self, Cedarwood Virginian can be extremely helpful in re-establishing a personal spiritual path. Neroli supports Cedarwood Virginian by centring the mind and body and promoting mental clarity.
· 1 drop Cedarwood Virginian essential oil
· 3 drops Neroli essential oil
Myrrh is extremely effective in strengthening awareness of – and connection to -higher, spiritual self-consciousness – everything you want when you’re meditating and it’s reinforced in this aromatherapy recipe by Elemi, which supports spiritual opening and encourage feelings of tranquillity.
· 4 drops Frankincense essential oil
· 3 drops Myrrh essential oil
· 3 drops Elemi essential oil
Cistus Essential Oil is a beautifully grounding and supportive essential oil that blends synergistically with Sandalwood and Virginian Cedarwood oils.
Palo Santo’s ability to eliminate negative thoughts and sentiments combines well in this aromatherapy focus recipe with the grounding qualities of Virginian Cedarwood. Juniper Berry is excellent for helping to clear the area of negative energy.
The pairing of Frankincense and Helichrysum is excellent for medication and spiritual applications, so they’re very useful in medication. Sweet Orange adds an element of sweetness, promoting positivity.
· 4 drops Frankincense essential oil
· 4 drops Helichrysum essential oil
· 2 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
May Chang is a wonderful oil for lifting the spirit and clearing dark clouds of depression, anxiety and fear, while Basil is regularly used to improve the clarity of mind for meditation.
· 8 drops May Chang essential oil
· 7 drops Lavender essential oil
· 5 drops Pine essential oil
· 5 drops Basil essential oil
So there you have it! A fantastic range of aromatherapy recipes for meditation. With any of these delicious aromas being diffused around you, meditation will be simple and effective – if you just put your mind to it!
Want to learn about the different essential oils you can use to create a meditation blend? Check out the LabLearning Aromatherapy Material information.
You can also find out about how plants have long been used to help putus in touch with our mind by listening to an LabAroma Podcast episode.
-02.png)
.png)