How to do Forest Bathing - inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku!

In this video I will show you how to do Forest Bathing. Yes you heard that right. Forest Bathing -   It really is a thing.

And can I tell you a little secret: I have been forest bathing since I was a child,  unbeknownst to me though - I grew up in the countryside surrounded by trees and meadows, nature was basically  my playground. 

What is Forest Bathing? 

I came across the term Forest Bathing  while I was studying Clinical Aromatherapy and I was really surprised that this is  was a form of therapy, for me it was always just spending some time in nature. 

Forest Therapy is healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments and it was   inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which means "forest bathing." or taking in the forest. 

And we all know how good being in nature can make us feel. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.

Who invented forest bathing?

The term was coined in 1982 by the then Director General of the Agency of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Tomohide Akiyama, who stated that the people of Japan were in need of healing through nature. The idea was also part of a campaign to protect the forests.

After years of careful study, Researchers from Japan have  found that spending time in a forest can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and anger,  strengthen the immune system, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health and boost overall well-being.

How does forest bathing work?

The key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. 

Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. 

The Forest bathing takes place at a slow, almost meditative pace. 

Take your time and look around as you stroll along on a forest path without knowing where the path is going to take you.

Listen to the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the leaves of the trees.  

Observe the animals that might come your way. Observe the bees being busy collecting nectar from the flowers.  

Touch the trees, feel the leaves and the soil. 

Look at the different greens of the trees and the sunlight filtering through the branches.   

Take slow deep breaths and smell the fragrance of the forest and breathe in the natural aromatherapy of phytoncides. 

Marina

How to Make Natural Perfume with Essential Oils - for Beginners

In this video I will show you How to Make Natural Perfume with Essential Oils at home. The video is aimed for Beginners  and Novice Perfumers and would be especially beneficial to Aromatherapist who would like to venture into the world of perfume.

You will need: 

Essential Oils of your choice:

 3 Base Notes, 

3 Middle/Heart Notes 

and at least 1 Top Note.

Perfumers Alcohol ( you can also use Vodka) 

50ml Beaker ( you can also use shot glass or small glass instead) 

1 glass stirrer

Empty 10ml Rollerball bottle

or you can also get proper perfume bottle. 

We will be making 10ml pure perfume and if you  have a bigger bottle - you will have to multiply the quantity to fill the bottle ( for example 30ml bottle = 3 Batches of 10ml Perfume) 

Here is the full recipe that I have used in the video:
Base Chord:
4 drops Vanilla
8 drops Sandalwood
8 drops Benzoin

Middle Chord/Heart Chord
4 drops Jasmin
5 drops Rose Absolute
6 drops Gerenium
1 drop Clove

Top Chord
5 drops Bergamot

Hope you liked the video!
Marina

How to Make Aromatherapy/ Essential Oil Inhaler

In this video I will show you how to make an Aromatherapy stick inhaler for stress relief, anxiety and  insomnia. 

You will need the following:

I have chosen Sandalwood, Lavender and Bergamot Essential oil, 4 drops each, but you can choose any other oils that you like the smell off.

But how do the Aromatherapy inhaler work in our body?

When essential oils are carried to the top of the nose through inhalation they are diluted by inhaled air. 

Inhaled essential oils pass down the trachea into the lungs and eventually into the alveoli. Through a process of diffusion they pass from the alveoli into the bloodstream for systemic absorption. Inhalation is the fastest route for essential oils to reach the bloodstream. 

The lining of the nose is extremely well supplied with capillary blood. Essential oils carried to the top of the nose are absorbed into the bloodstream via a process of diffusion.

Inhaled essential oils, via lungs and nose, enter the bloodstream with very little change to the essential oils. Inhaled essential oils reach all organs within one minute of inhalation and the first pass effect of the liver is avoided altogether. 

The olfactory system is a molecular detector of remarkable sensitivity. It has the capacity to recognize and identify millions of odorants, even those we have never before experienced. And once we have experienced a smell it has the capacity to recognize and remember that odor.  

 In 1989 it was discovered that the amygdala plays a major role in storing the releasing emotional trauma. The only way to stimulate this gland is with fragrance or the sense of smell. 

Once called the Rhinencephalon, the limbic systems deals with the expression of emotion. Together with the Hypothalamus the limbic system initiates and governs primitive drives, which are sex, thirst and hunger and it is responsible for evoking behavioral and emotional responses such as rage, fear, sorrow, compassion, happiness, sexual attraction etc. 

One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is the control of the autonomic nervous system and the regulation of the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestive activity and levels of hormones within the body. It plays an important role in regulating the bodies  function during times of stress. 

Essential oils, because of their influence on the limbic system and the hypothalamus can play an important role during times of stress and heightened  emotional states such as grief and sadness. 

Aromatherapy Head Massage for Hair Growth & Relaxation - Self Indian Head Massage

In this video I will show  you how to Aromatherapy Head Massage for Hair Growth & Relaxation.

In my end twenties  I bleached my hair to death in order to get rid of unwanted hair color. It took me over 5 years to regain healthy hair again. 

In the last ten years I stopped all the  chemical  hair processing and massaged my hair and scalp at least once a week using the following recipe:

500 ml Fractioned Coconut oil mixed with 

10 drops Rosemary

10 drops  Lavender 

10 drops Cederwood

10 drops Ylang Ylang

For best results massage your head at least 2-3 a week. 

Marina

How To Use An Acupressure Mat - does it really work?

Have you tried the Accupressure Mat - I have to say this was one of the my best Impulse buys of this year!
I could lie on it hour and hours and I feel reinvigorated like a had massage.

Watch my full video how to the mat for the best benefits!

Here’s your body's natural response when you lay on Accupressure Mat… 🌵

⏳ 10-20 seconds - the body encourages blood circulation 

⏳ 20-40 seconds - the body starts to move blood to the back 

⏳ 2-4 mins - the back gets warm from the blood flow 

⏳ 4-6 mins - a ‘tingly’ effect begins, this is the body drawing the blood up to the very outer layer of skin 

⏳ 5-6 mins - the brain begins to produce Endorphins and Oxytocin 

⏳ 6-20 mins - Endorphins and Oxytocin travel around the body with the natural blood flow -
supporting relaxed muscles, tension relief, and leaving you feeling 'blissed out'

And those pin-prick marks in the skin? They disappear after around 20 minutes!

So if you are in two minds if you should buy the mat or not.... then I would say go for it - you won't regret it!

Marina

How to do Aromatherapy Self Foot Massage for Relaxation - Swiss Reflex Therapy

Watch the Video Now!

Swiss Reflex massage was part of my Clinical Aromatherapy Diploma. 

 Swiss Reflex  Massage Therapy is a holistic technique developed by Shirley Price,  who is a modern pioneer of Modern Aromatherapy, while she was in Switzerland in 1987. Shirley, being a qualified reflexologist as well as Aromatherapist, wanted to develop a treatment using essential oils and massage that would benefit clients in a non-invasive way. 

 She wanted to find a way of helping people to help themselves, using the reflexes every day, which would be easy for people to do on themselves (or each other) and which, if done conscientiously every day, would give faster results and would be less costly than a weekly reflexology treatment. 

 Swiss Reflex Therapy is a specific reflex massage technique that treats each area or body system to bring about balance and the health of the client. Swiss Reflex Therapy has become a proven successful treatment that brings relief from stress, aches and pains and other common problems, including frozen shoulder and constipation. Swiss Reflex Massage is not the same as Reflexology, but rather like gentle Swedish or Relaxation Massage for your feet.

I suggest to the massage weekly for best benefits. 

Marina 

5 essential oil you must have in your house

Here are 5 essential oil you need to have in your house - these can be obtained easily from any health shop and all of the oils mix very well together so you can create an uplifting aroma for your home.

 Lavender - good for hair, scalp and skincare, very relaxing and sedative - helps you sleep, heals burns and scars quickly, good disinfectant. 

 Geranium - good for skin, especially in balancing in dry and oil complexions, female hormone balancer, stops bleeding. 

Eucalyptus - good for the respiratory system, colds and coughs, oil hair. 

 Rosemary - good for circulation, makes your hair grow, improves memory, reduces discomfort of nausea, discourages the build up of acids in the joints that can lead to arthritis.

 Lemon - its clean fresh smell activates the body and stimulates the central nervous system, it relieves fevers, sore throats, coughs and indigestion, it reduces inflammation and it also relaxes stiff muscles.

 ( Caution: don’t use on the skin when you are going out in the sun to tan). 

 Always remember to use essential oils in small doses and dilute them in carrier oils such as almond oil before applying to the skin, never apply the essential oil undiluted to your skin - safe dose to use is 3 drops essential oil in 10 ml carrier oil when applying to the skin. For oil lamps or diffusers use 5-6 drops in water. For baths - 5 drops Essential oil dissolved in 10 ml carrier oil or your bath foam.

Never drink essential oils! Like never ever!

The most efficient way to take the essential oils is inhalation or ski application. 

Hope you will give these essential oils a go as they are truly amazing!

Marina