5-Minute Mindfulness (27 page)

And, that’s not all. The presence of certain smells can influence performance. Experiments have shown that children test better in school with floral scents in the atmosphere, while adults exercise harder (without noticing it) when strawberry is released into the environment.

THE SMELL DIET

One of the more interesting developments is research in Japan on weight loss using scent. Researchers at Shiseido, a well-respected cosmetics giant, are releasing a body lotion that they claim will stimulate the brain to discharge hormones that burn fat. Some of the ingredients they have disclosed are grapefruit and pepper. Other studies show the scents of apple and banana have a similar effect on test subjects who are dieting.

Department stores have caught on to this phenomenon and use it extensively. To stimulate customer interest and patronage, stores are releasing scents through potpourri “cookers,” ventilation systems, and old-fashioned spray bottles.

It’s important to be aware of these trends. Scent has always been known to have a subliminal effect, and in recent times, science has confirmed this knowledge. As a result, fragrance is used even more to influence our thinking and moods. A positive way to counter the trend is to use scent in meditation, when our senses are functioning optimally. By wisely choosing fragrances that support the meditative environment and our own goals, we may become the cartographers of our own mood maps.

The Pheromone Connection

The ability of a scent to attract the attention and interest of a subject is based on its concentration of pheromones (from the Greek, “to transfer excitement”). Pheromones are complex molecular structures that transmit signals through the air via scent. Animals and insects have them and so do humans. Pheromones play a considerable role in creating the magnetic attraction between people.

MINDFULNESS AND ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are mindfulness tools that can enhance mental clarity and relaxation. Certain scents protect, purify, elevate feeling, and repel negative thoughts, especially when applied to certain parts of the body:

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Brow:
The intuitive sense

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Crown:
The mental processes

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Feet:
Purification for healing, trauma

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Hands:
To bring grace to one’s work following meditation

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Heart:
The emotional plane

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Solar plexus:
The physical functions

A CATALOG OF SCENT

To be most effective, essential oils should be pure and uncut. Oils should never be kept in plastic containers. Traditionally, essential oils are stored in amber or blue glass to protect them from ultraviolet light. They should be touched on the body with cotton or an eyedropper since placing the fingers directly on the bottle opening can alter the purity of the scent within. Essential oils need to be diluted in a base carrier before being applied to the skin.

AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE

A trained professional gives aromatherapy massage by selecting the appropriate oils to mix in a base carrier oil. The essential oils are highly potent and so are not meant to be applied directly to the skin. A base carrier oil is a pure oil, such as extra-virgin cold-pressed olive oil or sesame oil, that can be used to dilute essential oils.

If you do get expert advice and would like to do self-massage with essential oils, get the best carrier oil that you can, from a specialist store. What you put on your body gets absorbed into your body, so you want only the purest and best oil when you apply it to your skin.

Then, add drops of the essential oil to the base carrier. A typical recipe is to measure the amount of base oil in milliliters and then divide that number in half to give you the maximum number of drops of essential oil that you will need.

Note: Test the mixture of essential oils and base carrier on the skin of the receiver, first, by applying a small amount to the inside of the wrist, behind the knee, and/or in the crease of the elbow. Check the spot twenty-four hours later to see if the skin had a reaction or not.

5-Minute Aromatherapy Self-Massage

After testing the oil on the skin to make sure there is no allergic reaction, you can do a healing self-massage. First, put a couple of drops of the mixture of base oil and essential oil onto your hands, and rub your hands together to stimulate the scent of the oil. Bring the palms of your hands up to your face, and inhale the scent for several breaths. Then, gently begin to massage the top of your head, at the crown. Next, slowly progress down the body, giving your body the attention it deserves. Continue to inhale the aroma that gently wafts through the air.

When you’ve finished with the massage, relax. Allow the effects of the massage to sink in. Envision the healing occurring. Enjoy the process!

DIFFUSING ESSENTIAL OILS

Instead of applying a mixture of base carrier oil and essential oils to the skin, you can receive the healing benefits of essential oils by diffusing them. Specific diffusers are made to use with essential oils. Read the directions; each diffuser works differently. The point of the diffuser is to release the aroma and the healing properties of the essential oil into the air. This has a humidifying benefit to combat the dryness in the air, and it helps sanitize and infuse the air with healing properties. For example, you can diffuse lavender into the air to promote relaxation and serenity or tea tree oil for its antiviral and antibacterial properties.

5-Minute Energetic Self-Massage

You can do an aromatherapy energetic self-massage without touching your body. For the energetic massage, mix the essential oils with a high-quality base carrier oil. Place a few drops of the elixir into your hands. Rub your hands together to release the scent of the oils. Bring the palms of your hands to your face to inhale the scent for several breaths, and call to mind the healing properties of the oils. Inhale and exhale several times. Then, hold your hands about six to ten inches from your body, and do an energetic sweep of your entire body. Slowly, sweep downward, brushing away unwanted disturbance in the energy field. After you’ve completed this, relax for several moments. Notice the effects. Then, wash your hands with cold water.

STEAMINGWITHESSENTIAL OILS

Especially at times of the year when the air is dry or in dry climates, steaming with an essential oil is a wonderful way to receive therapeutic benefits.

1. Have a towel and your essential oil nearby.

2. Use a bowl that is approximately 10 to 12 inches in diameter.

3. Boil enough water to fill the bowl ½ to 2/3 full.

4. Pour the steaming water into the bowl, and then add one drop of the essential oil to the bowl.

5. Lean your head into the flow of the steam, and put the towel over your head to cover your head and the bowl.

6. Inhale deeply through both nostrils; exhale gently through the mouth. Repeat this several times.

7. If you would like to, close one nostril with your finger, and inhale and exhale through one nostril at a time to make sure that each side is receiving the benefits.

8. If one drop of the essential oil wasn’t strong enough or if the scent diminishes, add another drop. It’s doubtful you will need more than two drops of the essential oil.

9. When you are finished steaming, sit down. Take a moment to notice the effects. Practice this two to three times per day if you’re working with a particular imbalance or the onset of a cold.

Steaming with an essential oil is a quick way to get the benefits of the essential oils. Infused with healing properties, the vapor rises into the nasal passages, immediately entering your system. Steaming is an effective, easy, and soothing way to feel the benefits of essential oils.

TAKE A SOULFUL BATH

Another way to enjoy steaming with an essential oil is to use the elixir in a warm bath. First, dilute the essential oil in a base carrier oil. Then, pour about a fourth of a cup of the mixture into your bathtub. The oil will absorb into your body through your skin, and as you inhale, you will bring the oil’s healing qualities into your body through your nostrils. This is a soothing, relaxing, and natural way to feeling well.

THE SWEET SMELL OF ENLIGHTENMENT

In the Middle East, perfume is regarded as the “soul” of the plant. For the French, scent is the music of the senses. When mosques were built in the Middle Ages, the mortar was mixed with rose oil so the walls would exude a divine odor at midday. In a similar way, we can use scent to evoke moods that support meditation. While doing this, the innate healing qualities of certain scents can also assist in physical and emotional well-being.

In your sacred space, you may use items that provide a continuous scented atmosphere. There are hot and cold diffusers, which require an electrical outlet to operate. Scented oils or waters are placed in a receptacle that releases the mist in timed or graduated amounts. Choose one that will shut off automatically when emptied. You can also moderate the scented atmosphere on your own by using spray bottles whenever you choose. In that way, you can alternate different scents as a “sense exercise.” Just be sure to point spray bottles away from the walls and furniture when you use them.

Note: Incense burners and potpourri bowls heated with candles should be used with caution. For incense burners, choose terracotta, clay, stone, or metal holders that have ample room to catch the ashes. Incense wands last a little more than half an hour, which is also a good way to time a meditation session.

THE POWER OF INCENSE

Incorporating incense into your meditation brings the “soul” of contemplation into the atmosphere. Entering a room where incense has been burning can instantly relax you. Even the residue of incense is calming, as it penetrates furniture, curtains, and even pet fur.

BURNED OFFERINGS

In ancient Mexico, the Maya manufactured and traded incense in great quantities. Copal incense, taken from a variety of Central American pine trees, was believed to purify the dwelling. It was also pressed into cakes decorated with the heads of their deities and carried through crop fields to sanctify them.

Native North Americans also purify spaces with dried herbs. Small bundles of cedar, tobacco, sweetgrass, and sage are burned and used to smudge windows and doors to prevent harmful influences from entering a sacred space.

Incense imparts a feeling of the sacred and can support the atmosphere of meditation. Here are some suggestions for incense selections:

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For facilitating breath work during pranayama:
Eucalyptus, pine, and lavender are clean and penetrating scents.

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For mental focus:
Basil, geranium, and frankincense penetrate deeply through the emotional sphere and have lasting power.

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For purifying emotions:
Jasmine, vetiver, sage, and cypress have a calming effect on mood.

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For neutralizing stress:
Rosemary reduces melancholy, and scents of the mint family (peppermint, spearmint) are mentally uplifting.

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For an inspirational atmosphere:
Patchouli, sandalwood, and myrrh are the traditional ingredients for liturgical incense.

THE MERITS OF INCENSE

In Japan, KÕ (incense) is regarded as a sacred substance. During the Edo period, the art of
Kodo
, the “Way of Incense,” arose. An event similar to the tea ceremony is arranged, in which fragrant substances are burned for reflection. The Ten Virtues of Burning KÕ are as follows:

• Incense opens the mind to divinity.

• Incense cleanses the mind.

• Incense divests the mind of worldly impurities.

• Incense awakens the mind.

• Incense encourages the mind in solitude.

• Incense affords the mind leisure when it is busy.

• One cannot burn too much incense.

• Even a little incense is not enough.

• Age does not affect the efficacy of incense.

• Habitual use of incense causes no harm.

GROWING YOUR MINDFULNESS GARDEN

Plants are more than stems, roots, and seeds. Laboratory experiments conducted over the past three decades suggest that plants have some form of consciousness and react to sound—from music to the human voice.