Tips for Practicing Meditation (+ How Essential Oils Can Enhance Your Experience)

 Feeling tightly wound and anxious?

Are you constantly on the verge of burnout?

If this sounds like you, a regular meditation practice is a priceless form of self-care that can transform your mental and physical health.

What Is Meditation and Why Is It Beneficial?

Meditation is an ancient mind-body practice that helps you cultivate a sense of calm and peace. By coming into the present moment and centering yourself, meditation focuses the mind. Research shows meditating regularly relieves stress, enhances sleep quality, regulates blood pressure, improves mood, and boosts productivity. Plus, these benefits continue even after the session ends.

There are many different forms of meditation, one of the most popular being mindfulness. It involves slowing down and bringing a sense of non-judgmental awareness to your thoughts and feelings (both physical and emotional) without attempting to stop them. Unlike conventional meditation, mindfulness can be done anywhere and at any time.

Eating? Engage in mindful eating.

Walking? Enjoy a mindful walk.

Cooking? Practice mindful cooking.

You get the picture!

Whether you have time for a 1 minute, 5 minute, or 20-minute meditation – it all helps you to fill your cup! Here are some tips to get started on this journey.

Focus on Your Breathing

Breathing is the cornerstone of meditation. It's an anchor, bringing you back to the present moment and engaging your parasympathetic nervous system. Whether you're lying in bed, in the bathroom, or sitting in traffic, you can consciously control your breathing and trigger calm at any time!

We love "coherent breathing":

– Put your hand on your belly and tune into your body

– Breathe in through your nose for a count of 5, expanding your diaphragm down into your belly

– Breathe out through your nose for a count of 5, allowing your belly to fall

– If your mind wanders, keep bringing it back to the breath

– Repeat for 5 minutes

Use a Meditation App

Nowadays, meditation has moved into the mainstream and is more accessible than ever. Mindfulness apps like Calm and Headspace offer guided meditations of various lengths that allow you to practice whenever you have a spare moment.

Engage Your Senses with Essential Oils

A wonderful way to practice mindfulness and engage your creativity and sense of smell is by using essential oils. Diffusing these powerful oils helps to create an atmosphere conducive to meditation. Plus, inhaling the oils provides a ton of extra health benefits!

Here is an essential oil diffuser blend to send grounding and calming signals to the brain:

– 3 drops Frankincense Essential Oil

– 2 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil

– 2 drops Bergamot Essential Oil

If you want to feel like you're on a relaxing island getaway, add 5 drops of Woolzies Sea Breeze Blend per 100 ml of water to your ultrasonic oil diffuser.

Wake Up Earlier

It can feel near impossible to find a second to yourself during the day — we know all about that! A tip we swear by is waking up slightly earlier when the house is quiet and there are no distractions.

This may sound extreme, but creating time to meditate first thing in the morning sets you up for a centered and productive day. Plus, diffusing a blend of peppermint and lemon oil during morning meditation will give you a burst of energy better than coffee!

Take a Soothing Bath

If you need to escape the noise and busyness of life, a soak in the tub is a fantastic way to combine mindfulness and self-care. Add 1 cup of Epsom salts, 4 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of Roman chamomile oil, and 1 drop of peppermint oil to a warm bath. Soak for 10-15 minutes while focusing on your breathing. This is a wonderful way to wash away anxiety and soothe your mind and body.

Make a Meditation Spray

Misting a soothing meditation spray around your mat or cushion may help to clear your energy and encourage peace and focus.

In a spray bottle, combine 1 cup of water, 3 tablespoons of witch hazel, and 25 drops of Woolzies Meditate Blend. Shake well, spritz liberally around your meditation space, and enjoy the earthy aroma!

Are you a fan of meditation? If so, let us know your favorite meditation tips in the comments!