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Tuesday 4 December 2007

Aromatherapy Workout

Aromatherapy has a wide range of known healing uses. But did you know you can make it work for you in the gym or on the track? If you are among those of us who are running, cycling, dancing and panting your way to a better state of well being then you are aware that often we can push ourselves a little too far, resulting in strained muscles or fatigue. Many active people are aware of the ability of essential oils to ease the pain of muscle injury and speed up recovery, but they can also help to enhance you fitness regime by boosting your circulation and preparing your body for a healthy workout. Here's how;

Essential oils can improve your overall performance by increasing blood circulation. You depend on the circulation of blood to transfer energy in the form of oxygen from your lungs, to each individual cell in your body. The blood is also responsible for transporting nutrients from the digestive system to the other organs. Healthy muscles need a good supply of blood to keep them active when working out or playing sports. There are several aromatherapy oils, which can stimulate blood circulation and keep that energy flowing; these include: cypress, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger, juniper, rosemary and lemongrass. Though not as powerful, bergamot, cedar, chamomile and grapefruit oils can help to improve the integrity of your blood vessels.

A massage oil to boost circulation can be easily made by adding 20 drops of essential oil (either a single oil or combination), to 2 ounces of a carrier oils such as sunflower, grape seed or almond oil. A massage oil can take up to an hour to pass through the skin so should be applied with plenty of time to take effect before your workout begins. (More ...)