We’d all like to feel a bit more zen! Meditation is one of the relaxation techniques that are often talked about as something we can fit into our daily routine as a pocket of zen in amongst a busy day.
Despite all the amazing benefits, what many people realise (myself included) is that meditating is easier said than done. I’ve sat down to follow a guided meditation and heard nothing. I didn’t take any of it in because my mind was wandering all over the place.
It felt frustrating but I haven’t given up on meditation. It’s a tool I like to have in my wellness toolkit and I’ve learned how to approach it in a way that relaxes me, even when I have a busy mind. What has made the biggest difference is aromatherapy.
How aromatherapy supports meditation
Aromatherapy and meditation are both wellbeing practices used to reduce stress and induce relaxation, just in slightly different ways.
Meditation comes in many forms. The unifying idea is clearing the mind of the overload of thoughts that can build up during the day. It gives us a respite from anxieties as we are present in the moment, whether we visualise a peaceful place or connect to the breath in our body.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for their therapeutic properties. When we inhale essential oils, the particles go up the nose and influence the brain through the limbic system. This is connected to the bodily functions of the stress response such as heart rate and blood pressure so it can physically relax us.
I love using both of these techniques together because they enhance each other. I take a few deep breaths of an aromatherapy blend. The Relax Rollerball is my go-to. I focus my mind on the scent and let the aromas work their way into my system. As I start to feel the effects of the aromatherapy, I listen to a guided meditation. I find it easier to clear my mind of thoughts and move into a more zen state of mind.
I created a guided meditation for use with the Relax Rollerball. You can listen to it for free HERE.
Top tips for getting started with aromatherapy meditations
I highly recommend using essential oils when meditating. There are a few more things I wish I knew about meditation before I tried to make it part of my self-care routine.
Have an open mind
In general, we are way too hard on ourselves. If we’re not careful, meditation can be another prompt for talking down on ourselves because we didn’t do it perfectly. Your first few times meditating aren’t going to be perfect. I’m still a work in progress when it comes to meditation.
Don’t see the goal as not having any thoughts at all. See the goal as calming your mind as much as you can in the moment. That could be reducing your thoughts by 90% or just 1%.
Either way, you’re going to feel calmer. Go into meditation with an open mind about what will happen and let it be.
Build the muscle
Pausing, slowing down and bringing the mind away from worried thoughts isn’t something we are used to doing. We spend most of our time thinking about what we have done and what we need to do. So it’s completely understandable that you’ll find it hard to focus your mind at first. It might even feel uncomfortable because overthinking things feels safe. Letting worries go, even for a few minutes, can seem scary. See meditation as building a muscle. The more you do it, the better you will get at it as you learn it’s safe to let go.
Celebrate the small wins along the journey. Say, for example, the first time you had to bring your mind back to the meditation 10 times. Then, a few goes after that, you only had to bring your mind back 7 times. Then 5 and so on. It won’t always be linear but you can still celebrate progress.
Start with moments
I didn’t realise it at first but taking a few deep breaths is meditation. You don’t have to be meditating for a certain amount of time crossed-legged on the floor for it to count. The act of calming and focusing the mind for a few breaths is meditation. Starting with a couple of breaths might be more comfortable for you. Give yourself permission to start small and build up.
The beauty of starting with a couple of breaths is that it allows you to focus on being consistent. Being consistent is what will help you to build the muscle so you can access relaxation through meditation. Habit stack meditative breaths with something that’s already part of your routine. For example, as you are waiting for the kettle to boil or before you brush your teeth, apply the Relax Rollerball, take three deep breaths, notice how it feels in your body, and then move on. Once you have managed a couple of breaths for a week or two, you can extend the amount of time you spend meditating at your own pace.
I started Esker Fields to help people do more to fill their own cup. I hope this has inspired you to try meditation for the first time or try it again if you have struggled in the past. With essential oils to anchor you and an open, gentle mind, this could be a powerful part of your self-care routine. A moment for resting, releasing and resetting. Download our free guided relaxation meditation and try it out with a Relax Rollerball.