ritual Union
Ritual Union will be a series of bespoke events that are centred around the idea of self-care rituals and how scent can be incorporated to enhance and deepen your experience.
I'll be running some guided scent sauna sessions over the coming months. These will be small groups who enjoy sauna and are interested in learning how to incorporate a scent ritual into their sauna. Stay tuned....
Melanie
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How to enhance your sauna ritual with essential oil
Saunas are becoming increasingly popular as a cherished ritual for relaxation, detoxification, and overall wellness. Did you know that adding essential oils can elevate your sauna experience to a whole new level? These beautiful plant extracts not only enhance the aromatic environment but also bring therapeutic benefits that work in harmony with the heat and steam.
Boost your mood and relaxation
Certain essential oils, such as lavender, chamomile, and bergamot, are known for their calming and mood-lifting properties. As the warm sauna air carries these scents, inhaling them in small quantities can reduce stress, ease tension, and create a profound sense of mental clarity. The combination of heat and soothing aromas helps your mind release daily pressures, leaving you refreshed and centered.
Support respiratory health
Eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree essential oils are commonly used for their respiratory benefits. The steam in a sauna can carry these oils into your airways, helping to clear congestion, promote easier breathing, and support immune function. For anyone recovering from a mild cold or looking to strengthen respiratory health, this simple addition can make a noticeable difference. A gentle reminder not to join others for your sauna experience if you're unwell.
Enhance skin and detox benefits
Sweating in a sauna naturally helps the body eliminate toxins, and essential oils can enhance this detox process. Oils like rosemary, grapefruit, and juniper may stimulate circulation and support lymphatic flow, promoting healthier skin and a feeling of rejuvenation. Additionally, the aromatic experience can turn your sauna time into a multi-sensory ritual of self-care.
Personalise your sauna experience
The beauty of using essential oils in a sauna is that you can tailor the experience to how you're feeling at the time - or how you'd like to feel. You can energise your senses with citrus oils in the morning, or unwind with woody and floral notes in the evening. Whether you're wanting invigoration or relaxation, essential oils can provide a versatile way to make every sauna session uniquely beneficial.
Next time you step into your sauna, consider bringing along your favourite essential oil or essential oil blend to transform your sauna ritual into a therapeutic experience.
My favourite Poet blends for sauna
I love to keep things relatively simple during my sauna sessions. I start with some Emotional Rescue for the first round - just to help me centre and relax. I love the first 15-20 minute sauna session to be quite introspective. After the first cold shower or ocean dip I like to return to the sauna for my second 15-20 session and use Vita to revitalise the senses and do some breath work. I find the herbaceous qualities of Vita really helps me sit with my breath and its just a beautiful fresh blend with fir needle, sage and black spruce. After another ocean dip, and for the third and final sauna I like to finish the session with Juno Lucina - its such a bright, positive blend that I find it ends the session on the right note. If I'm doing an evening sauna I might reverse the whole blend session and start with Juno Lucina, then Vita and end with Emotional Rescue so I'm nice and relaxed on the way home and ready for my bedtime rituals.
Melanie
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