living yoga off the mat
BY IJY STAFF
This year, the IJY Festival is going to have a yoga class that will use essential oils within the body of the class. Essential oils are a powerful plant medicine. You can use them to help you physically (like relaxing tight muscles or an upset stomach) and energetically (like opening your heart or helping creative energy flow). Are oils essential? Well, in addition to being a rather clever title for this article, the answer is that when used properly, essential oils are a wonderful compliment to your everyday life, AND your yoga class. When using Essential Oils there are THREE ways in which you can take advantage of their health promoting benefits. Inhalation: Breathing in directly or via a cool mist oil diffuser. This method will help support a healthy respiratory system as well as permit the active compounds within the essential oils to permeate throughout the body. This is a great method and can be used throughout the day while at home or work.
16 IT'S JUST YOGA MAGAZINE | CENTRAL FLORIDA | SPRING/SUMMER 2020
Topical: Application to the troubled areas for acute treatment, or applied to the bottoms of the feet and/or to the spinal column for general care. This provides a great way to administer essential oils as they travel via the nervous system throughout the body.
When using essential oils topically it is important to become familiar with the particular oil and its specific properties. Use mindfulness with sensitive skin.
