Massages are one of the most direct ways to help reduce stress, relieve tension and release toxins that your body has been storing. Massage therapy is the manipulation of the body’s soft tissue to enhance your over-all well-being. When massage therapists combine their soothing massage techniques with their aromatherapy and essential oil expertise you will experience a powerhouse of relaxation, mental clarity and physical comfort. It is extremely common for essential oil blends to be used during massages because these blends are a mixture of multiple mood enhancing essential oils that will offer an assortment of benefits for the body.

Young living offers many natural aroma blends that can help stimulate relaxation, energy or calmness. Massage therapists will often diffuse essential oils in the massage room or lightly spritz them on the sheets of the massage table. When you smell these oils you will feel relaxed and slowly inhale in all of the benefits each oil offers. In some cases massage therapists will also create an aroma blend and apply it topically to the skin. 

Creating DIY blends is rather simple. You can use carrier oil such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil or even vitamin e and then add a few drops of pure essential oil to the carrier. It is important to dilute the essential oils with carrier oil before you rub them into your skin. Essential oils should always be diluted prior to applying directly to the skin because they are so concentrated they can cause skin irritation. When it comes to using an essential oil for massage you will want to research the benefits that the individual oil offers before utilizing it. You would not want to use an invigorating citrus scent such as bergamot oil, orange oil or lemon essential oil that is uplifting and awakening prior to bed time. The best essential oils to massage into your skin when you are trying to get a good night’s rest would be patchouli oil, lavender essential oil or chamomile oil.  

Placement of the oil and massage is also important. Massage therapists often start on the feet and work their way up because there are many nerve endings in the feet.  The feet are the most effective location to apply Young Living essential oils during the massage process because the pores on the feet are larger than any other pores on the body and the feet do not contain sebaceous glands that may block the absorption of the essential oils. These enlarged pores allow for the oils to be absorbed into the body more efficiently and they will begin sharing their oil properties much quicker. The skin on the bottom of the feet is also thicker and less sensitive. In some cases oils may cause a skin irritation to more sensitive areas on the body but they will not impact the skin on the feet what-so-ever. If you are creating your own DIY oil blend at home you can also rub it thoroughly on the bottom of your feet and your ankles. You should then cover your feet with basic white cotton socks to help keep the oils on your feet while you carry on with your activities.

Other than the feet there are many places on the body that you can massage oil blends into that will provide relief and stimulation. A blend with lavender oil and peppermint oil will help reduce headaches and neck tension. This blend can be created in a glass roller ball for easy application or you can make the blend individually each time you are in need of it. This blend can be rubbed into the temples and along the back of the neck and where the neck and shoulders meet. The invigorating tingle of the peppermint essential oil helps stimulate circulation while the lavender oil is relaxing and reduces tension that can impact headaches. Pressure points are great points of application and massage when applying essential oil blends. The wrists, behind the ears, on the temples and on the ankles will all produce positive feelings and increase circulation when they are massaged with essential oils or blends.  Another way to incorporate essential oils into a daily body regime it to mix a few drops of them in with unscented body lotion or vitamin e. Rub the mixture into any dry skin.

The essential oil benefits will help relax or stimulate you throughout the day the healing benefits of the vitamin e will help heal any dry skin. One type of massage that is often over looked is scalp massage. Achieving a scalp massage is extremely simple and you can incorporate your favorite essential oils into this method every single time you wash your hair. Simply use your favorite all natural and fragrance free shampoo. Add a couple drops of essential oil to your shampoo prior to applying in the shower. This is an extremely flexible way to change your hairs’ scent every single time you wash it. If you are looking for a calming effect you can add 2 drops of lavender oil to your unscented shampoo prior to washing. If you are looking for a more tropical scent you can add two drops of lime oil to your shampoo.

The steam in the shower will act as a diffuser and you will be engulfed in a steam cloud of pleasing scents and that scent will carry on with you all day and until the next time you wash your hair. Take this opportunity to thoroughly and gently rub the shampoo into your scalp. Coconut oil can also be infused with a few drops of essential oil to create a DIY hair conditioner. You will exit your shower feeling calm and surrounded by your favorite essential oil. Mix a separate essential oil with some unscented lotion, massage into your skin and you will be encompassed with your favorite scents all day long. Aromatherapy and essential oil application is extremely comforting when incorporated into massage and massage therapy but these oils can be just as beneficial when they are inhaled through diffusion. When you diffuse your oils and also massage them into your skin you will experience a powerhouse of relief and comfort.