Today we have a guest post from Michelle Lee Smith, the Licensed Massage Therapist who owns SPACE Massage Therapy and blogs over at Dalai Lama Mama. Michelle’s philosophy is for her clients to experience peace and healing when they come for treatment, and her in-depth knowledge of essential oils and incorporating them into her practice truly helps people live well and feel well. Today, she shares with us 12 essential oils that work well when combined with massage, and what key areas they help target.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist (and Certified Aromatherapist in training), I support a holistic mind-body approach when it comes to wellness. From my viewpoint, a large and important piece of that pie is the combination of massage and essential oils.
Essential oils and massage are like peanut butter and jelly; they truly make an IDEAL marriage. Combining massage and aromatherapy is an easy and powerful way to offer people the MAXIMUM benefit of relaxation.
We live in a busy, high stress, “always on” society, and most people are walking around in sympathetic (fight or flight) mode far too often. Our bodies tend to have a difficult time switching back to parasympathetic mode, and aromatherapy massage helps our autonomic nervous systems make that shift more gracefully. We can then respond by listening to our body’s desire to rest, to be quiet, to take a walk in nature, take a bath, take a nap, go to sleep, etc. It is in that restful, parasympathetic mode that cellular repair and healing take place. What a beautiful thing to find the place where we are so in tune with our body’s needs!
There are some key areas where essential oils and massage work together in beautiful harmony to help support our bodies. These key areas are listed below, along with some of my personal favorite supporting essential oils for massage.
- Relaxation – Lavender, Marjoram, Frankincense
- Pain – Peppermint, Ginger, Cardamom
- Inflammation – Eucalyptus, Balsam Fir, Rosemary
- Chronic issues – Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit
Not only can essential oils be used during massage, but you may also consider talking to your Massage Therapist/Aromatherapist about taking oils home with you to help prolong the effects of your massage, and to help you return to that relaxed state of peace and bliss when you feel the stresses of daily life beginning to wear you down. I hope you find these suggestions useful in supporting you to function at your very best. Never forget that you need and deserve to take care of YOU.
Michelle uses Young Living Essential Oils in her practice, and you can begin incorporating essential oils into your lifestyle today! To contact Michelle, visit her website above or click here to learn more about essential oils today. If you’re looking for a great way to enjoy any of these essential oils aromatically throughout the day, make sure you visit our shop at Drops of Joy Jewelry to pick out something that suits your personal style.