You may have seen Josh using essential oils with his clients and wondered what that was all about.

Essential oils are extracted from the leaves, stems, roots, bark, and other parts of plants. They are what gives a plant its distinctive scent and, for the plant, the function to attract beneficial insects and protect themselves from parasites and animals that might eat them.

For us, they can do more than just smell good. Essential oils are part of what gives plants the medicinal and therapeutic properties that humans have taken advantage of for as long as there have been humans!

In the yoga studio, we use many essential oils to help induce relaxation, calm, and clarity. Airborne molecules of lavender, rosemary, chamomile, and vanilla enter our lungs and then the bloodstream through the nose. In the brain, they trigger the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotional responses. Applied topically (often diluted with a carrier oil), essential oils can be used for their antiseptic and analgesic properties. Clove can be used to kill the pain of toothaches. Lavender essential oil is used as an antiseptic for minor cuts and burns.

If you’ve ever sliced a jalapeño and then touched the sensitive skin around your eyes, you know that essential oils can be powerful stuff!

You can also use essential oils to augment your workout routine. If you’re feeling a little sluggish, a whiff of some oils like peppermint and lemon can help pep you up! If you’re feeling a little congested, a couple drops of eucalyptus on your chest can help relieve the airways for those cardio workouts and runs. You might also want to try a topical oil blend on sore muscles. We recommend Deep Blue Rub by doTERRA. Look around the gym and yoga studio for samples in April and ask your trainer or Yoga Director Lesley for more information! Josh and Lesley are doTerra Wellness Advocates, ready to help you find natural solutions to your wellness needs!