Perhaps you would like to enhance the atmosphere of your yoga class, meditation circle or retreat. Maybe you wish to create a welcoming space for your students or just optimise the sense of ceremonial sanctum within your home.
You may be considering the options. Do you burn incense? Or use an oil burner, if so what is the best oil? Or maybe opting for candles is a good alternative? The possibilities are quite literally endless.
Oils, oil burners and oil diffusers.
Firstly you must consider your students individual reactions to oils. Do you have anyone with allergies? This is possibly the most important aspect to consider. For example lavender, a common oil considered safe for sensitivities, it’s actually the active ingredient in many skin care products to combat sensitivity, lauded for its healing properties and most people do tolerate it well, but to every rule their is the exception, my son sneezes quite violently around lavender and can not have it on his skin without a reaction. If you have a health questionnaire you could add this specific question, “Do you have an allergy to any aromatherapy oils and if so which oils?” Perhaps people don’t have an allergy but, like me, strong scents can sometimes trigger a migraine or bring on nausea. These are all considerations for careful analysis when planning a class. The sense of smell is so unique to each individual that finding one that will uplift or relax without offending someones nose can be difficult. I had a conversation with my groups prior to classes to assess the feeling towards scented oils and it was mainly a “no” from them.
But perhaps you’ve decided on a scent and you are happy to incorporate it into your class or for your own home. For this you must buy high quality, ultra pure and therefore usually expensive oils, of which there are many options on the market. I would opt for the ‘less is more” approach also, so a small waft may be enough, rather than having a heady ‘oil burning’ smell after a day long class which may not be very calming or appealing.
Another lovely option is to place some oil on the temples of each student during Shavasnana, with prior permission of course. This can be quite a ceremonial and bonding part of the class for the student/teacher relationship.
Scented Candles & Non Scented Candles
When looking at scented candles for their aroma or even just looking at candles for their beautiful atmospheric lighting effect, say, within an evening practice, you should be aware again of any nasty additives, chemicals and poisons, yes poisons, that you may be inhaling when sitting in Nadi Shodhna or Ujai breathing through a heavy Vinyasa flow. According to this website, Hayward Score, which helps people identify hidden toxins in their environment.
“Most candles are made of paraffin wax (a petroleum waste product that is chemically bleached), which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene (both are known carcinogens) when burned. In fact, the petro-soot released from paraffin candles are the same as those found in diesel fuel fumes and can be as dangerous at second-hand smoke. In 2001, the EPA concluded that burning paraffin candles emit harmful toxins and increase health risks with multiple exposures.”
Opt here for pure beeswax, soya or any other 100% pure and natural options. Regular candles can be laden with these unwanted and downright awful ingredients, add to that cheap perfumes and dyes and you have a cocktail of toxins drifting in the air.
Take the natural option and trust me, your lungs and your students will thank you.
Lighting alternatives
If you’re looking for a safe, ambient and warm lighting effect, that also CLEANSES the air rather than filling it with potential toxins, why not add a salt lamp or two to your room? Salt lamps emit negative ions, much like being by the ocean or the fresh smell of linen from the clothes line, these ions have benefits not only for the air quality but have mood enhancing abilities. There are many beautiful options but do ensure you are buying genuine salt lamps. The light they emit is gentle and can create a wonderful cosy feeling during those Winter evening classes.
Incense sticks
Love or hate them, incense sticks and cones have been used for millennia in most religious orders in one way or another. Yet incense sticks have caused some controversy lately after they were tested for harmful effects and some samples even fared worse than cigarette smoke. However the jury is still out on their exact toxicity and the effects on the human body. As always buying good quality and natural incense is a must if you are burning them for a class or retreat. If you do persevere with them, the organic authority has some great tips. However, there will always be people who simply detest them, and perhaps you will decide they are not your people, but if you wish to offer an inclusive class then make sure at the very least your incense is not overpowering for your students by using them sparingly and in a well ventilated space.
Palo Santo
Palo santo, is a type of wood from the Bursera graveolens tree of South America. It has been used by Shamen’s in ritual for countless generations. It is known as ‘holy wood’ and purported to cleanse negative energies, have healing qualities and induces a deeper meditative state when used. It can invite benevolence and sacredness within the space. The smell when the wood is lit is aromatic, sweet and very appealing much like when you have a natural fire burning within a room. Palo Santo comes in small sticks, where you light the wood, blow it out and allow the full woody smoke waft through the space, similar to sage. It does however, like any burning compound, come with its warnings regarding possible irritation to the lungs. I have used this in class with good ventilation and had great feedback even from those who objected to all other fragrances due to the fact it just smells the most natural and has that ‘open fire’ effect. You can purchase naturally harvested Palo Santo which is harvested from wood which has fallen from the tree rather than the tree being chopped down for its wood, a sustainable option.
With any of the options, it is best practice to not use them around children, with pregnant women, those with breathing difficulties such as asthma or within a small enclosed space.
Creating atmosphere using scent can add greatly to the experience for students and to enhance your own yoga ritual and it can just as easily deter students from returning, or could be detrimental to your health long term, so thread lightly and with awareness. What are some of your favourite ways to create that vibe in your class? Or as a student, what have you appreciated when attending a class? What are your favourites tips for up-styling your yoga space at home?