Aroma Flow Yoga: Enhancing Yoga Practice With Aromatic Scents

Aroma Flow Yoga is a practice that combines yoga with essential oils. The use of essential oils in yoga is thousands of years old, with ancient Indian yogis using oils to calm the mind and enhance meditation. In Aroma Flow Yoga, essential oils are applied during gentle pauses in an asana sequence. The scents and applications of the oils are transmitted on a molecular level directly to the part of the brain that controls emotional response and memory. The oils can also help the practitioner with balance, energy, and deep relaxation.

Essential oils can enhance and deepen your yoga practice

Aromatherapy, or the use of essential oils, has become one of the most popular holistic wellness trends. Essential oils are extracted from plants and fruits and have many therapeutic uses. They can be used to improve overall wellbeing, reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, improve mood, relieve sore muscles, and support physical and spiritual well-being.

Aroma Flow Yoga combines yoga with essential oils, which have been tied together for thousands of years, since ancient India. The early yogis prized these oils, called "Attars", for their ability to calm the mind and enhance meditation.

Essential oils can be used aromatically before, during, or after your yoga practice. You can put a few drops in a diffuser, place a drop on porous jewellery, rub a drop or two onto your palms and inhale, or apply them topically to your pulse points or the bottoms of your feet.

There are many essential oils that can be used to enhance your yoga practice. Lavender is one of the most popular, known for its relaxing properties and its ability to reduce tension and anxiety. Wild orange oil is another great option for high-energy yoga practices as it is uplifting and energizing. Frankincense has been used for thousands of years and has beneficial therapeutic properties, helping to relax and balance your mood. Sandalwood is also a beautiful grounding scent that can help you feel centred and focused.

Essential oils can also be used to clean your yoga mat. Mix tea tree oil, water, and another pleasant-smelling oil, such as lavender or wild orange, in a spray bottle. Spray down the yoga mat and wipe it clean after every practice to keep it fresh and clean.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced yogi, essential oils can enhance and deepen your yoga practice by improving your mental and emotional wellness, and helping you feel more grounded and centred.

Aromas trigger instincts, emotions and memory

Aroma Flow Yoga is a type of yoga that incorporates essential oils into the practice. The use of essential oils in yoga is not new; in ancient India, early yogis prized these oils, known as "Attars", for their ability to calm the mind and enhance meditation.

The practice of Aroma Flow Yoga involves pairing essential oils with your yoga session to enhance and deepen your practice. The scents and applications of essential oils are transmitted on a molecular level directly to the part of your brain that controls emotional response and memory.

The sense of smell is powerful in triggering instincts, emotions, and memories. The olfactory bulb, located at the front of the brain, is responsible for processing smells. The olfactory bulb has direct connections to two brain areas that are strongly linked to emotion and memory: the amygdala and hippocampus. When odor molecules are drawn into the nose, they dissolve and penetrate the mucus membrane, or olfactory epithelium. Hair-like projections called cilia, attached to receptor cells, then bind with the dissolved odor molecules and generate an impulse that travels through the olfactory nerves to the olfactory bulb. From there, the signals are processed and passed on to other parts of the brain.

Because of the direct connection between the olfactory bulb and the amygdala and hippocampus, smells can evoke strong emotions and memories. This may be why smell, more than any other sense, is so successful at triggering emotions and memories. The hippocampus, part of the limbic system, is associated with the processes of feelings and reacting, as well as storing two types of memory: declarative and spatial. The amygdala, also part of the limbic system, is involved in emotional responses. When a scent is stored in our memory, our brain tends to correlate it with certain recollections, and the emotions involved with them emerge in tandem. For example, the scent of freshly baked cookies may remind someone of afternoons spent with their grandparents, while for someone else, it may invoke memories of a specific bakery.

In an Aroma Flow Yoga class, essential oils are used to enhance the yoga practice. The class begins with an invigorating and uplifting combination of scents, followed by stimulating yoga poses. Then, the use of grounding essential oils accompanies standing postures and longer holds. Finally, softer, more relaxing poses are done with soothing oils, ending with deep meditative relaxation and oils to promote a sense of calm.

Yoga and aromatherapy have been linked for thousands of years

Aroma Flow Yoga combines the ancient practices of yoga and aromatherapy, creating a holistic experience for the mind and body. The class typically begins with a short centering exercise, followed by a sequence of asanas (yoga poses) with gentle pauses for essential oil applications. The essential oils are carefully selected for their uplifting, calming, stimulating, or soothing properties, enhancing the effects of the yoga practice. For example, an invigorating combination of rosemary and sweet orange essential oils may be used at the start of the class, followed by grounding oils like clove or patchouli for standing postures, and soothing oils such as lavender and sweet orange for relaxation poses.

The use of aromatherapy in Aroma Flow Yoga is based on the understanding that scents can impact our emotional response and memory. This is not a new concept but a practice that has been explored and valued for centuries. Aromatic plants and essential oils have been used in ancient civilizations like Egypt, China, and India for medicinal, religious, and therapeutic purposes. The ancient Egyptians, for instance, employed aromatic herbs and oils in religious ceremonies, medicine, and the mummification process. Similarly, the use of essential oils in massage therapy was documented in China as early as 2700 BC in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine.

The practice of aromatherapy continued to evolve during the Middle Ages, with ancient texts from China, India, and Persia describing the use of aromatic materials for healing. The Arab world made significant contributions by distilling essential oils and documenting their healing properties. The Renaissance and Enlightenment periods further advanced the understanding of aromatherapy, with key figures like Paracelsus, Leonardo da Vinci, and Avicenna contributing to the knowledge of medicinal plants and their therapeutic benefits.

In the modern era, the term "aromatherapy" was coined in the 20th century by French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who is considered the "father of modern aromatherapy." Gattefosse's interest in essential oils was sparked by a personal experience where he burned his hand and found relief by immersing it in lavender oil. His subsequent research and advocacy helped spread the word about the benefits of aromatherapy, leading to its integration into healthcare and wellness practices worldwide.

Essential oils can help with balance, energy and deep relaxation

Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years to support physical and mental wellness. Essential oils are concentrated plant compounds extracted through steam or water distillation, or mechanical methods such as cold pressing. They are commonly inhaled or diluted and applied to the skin.

Essential oils can be used to enhance and deepen your yoga practice. The scents and applications of essential oils are transmitted on a molecular level directly to the part of your brain that controls emotional response and memory.

Essential oils can help with balance, energy, and deep relaxation. For example, bergamot is known for its ability to promote positivity and cheerfulness, reviving energy levels and boosting your mood. If you are feeling low in energy, peppermint essential oil can help prevent fatigue and improve exercise performance. To enhance your mood and relieve stress, lavender oil can be applied behind the ears to bring your mental state to a balance. To help with relaxation, clary sage relaxes the body and mind while boosting mental strength and self-confidence.

In an aroma flow yoga class, the instructor may start with an invigorating and uplifting combination of scents such as rosemary and sweet orange essential oils. Students will then flow through yoga poses that invigorate and stimulate the body, mind, and spirit. Next, the class will focus on standing postures and longer holds with the use of a grounding essential oil such as clove or patchouli. After these stamina-increasing postures, students will flow into softer, more relaxing poses enhanced by soothing oils such as lavender and sweet orange.

Oils can be applied during gentle pauses in a sequence of asanas

Aroma Flow Yoga is a practice that combines yoga with essential oils, which have been used for thousands of years and were prized by early yogis in ancient India for their ability to calm the mind and enhance meditation. When paired with yoga, essential oils can enhance and deepen your practice.

The practice ends with savasana (deep meditative relaxation) and oils such as lavender or cinnamon to help students melt down into their mats and soften into their inner selves.

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