Seasonal Self Care Ideas for Winter:

• Add hydrosols to your skincare routine: My current favorite for winter is Sandalwood hydrosol which hydrates, softens, and calms redness and irritation. It has a beautiful, light scent (very different than the essential oil). Mist hydrosol on damp face and neck after cleansing and gently pat onto face with clean hands. Follow with serum/moisturizer/facial oil of your choice to lock in moisture. You can mist hydrosol on your skin throughout the day to nourish your complexion and also receive the emotionally therapeutic benefits. Sandalwood hydrosol calms the nervous system.

 

• Stretching: Find a few stretches that make you feel good and try to get into the habit of doing them every day. Stretching tends to get overlooked, but it improves posture, reduces pain, helps relieve tension headaches, and is great for stress relief.

 

• Feel better eating less sugar: According to the American Heart Organization, the maximum amount of sugar you should eat in a day is 25 grams (6 teaspoons) or less. However, most Americans eat over 70 grams a day. As you pay more attention to sugar on food labels, keeping that 25 grams in mind, you'll see that it adds up quickly and insidiously. It's shocking how much sugar is added to yogurt, salad dressing, sauces, and any packaged foods. I definitely have a sweet tooth, but I'm aiming to be more mindful of sugar so I can live a longer, healthier, happier life.

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• Diffuse citrus essential oils: They really bring in the sunshine and help lift low winter moods. Pink grapefruit, blood orange, and lemon are my current favorites. Here are some of my favorite essential oil diffusor blends for winter.

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"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you...in spring, summer, and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself."

- Ruth Stout

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. I love the opulent array of rich colors in nature, as well as the spicy scents, comforting food, and the overall introspective feeling of Autumn. Here are a few of my favorite ways to nourish mind, body, and spirit during these cooler months.

Seasonal Self Care Ideas for Autumn:

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• Cook healing foods: Warming soups, stews, and bone broths keep you warm and nourished for the cooler weather. 
• Nature walk: Bundle up and take a five minute nature walk. I was recently surprised to see how many strikingly beautiful birds are out in autumn, including red headed woodpeckers, bluejays, and cardinals.

• Herbal Teas: Rooibos tea, ginger chamomile, and chai blends are a few of my fall favorites.

• Painting: Bring out your favorite painting supplies or treat yourself to some new ones. Painting is deeply absorbing and a wonderful distraction from the harder aspects of life.
• Update your skincare routine: Swap out your lighter products for richer, more moisturizing ones. Oil based facial cleansers are recommended. Apply lip balm frequently as the lips tend to get very dry in fall. Apply organic sesame oil for strong, healthy nails. Additionally, you may want to try a humidifier if your skin is prone to dryness and irritation in the colder months.

• Indulge your senses with aromatherapy:​​ Try my handcrafted Warm Comforts Spritzer. ​It's a decadent chocolate fix laced with warm spices and earthy patchouli.  

• ​Journaling: Autumn is an excellent time to contemplate the year so far. Getting your thoughts down on paper has a centering effect that relieves stress. There are no rules to journaling; ​I encourage you to journal without judgment!
• ​Reading: Try a novel or poetry if it's been a while. Visit your local library and see what inspires you.

• Social media pause: Whether it's for a day, a week, or a month, you will find yourself feeling calmer and far less distracted. You'll also free up so much time to do the other activities mentioned above. This may be the hardest one to implement, but it's possibly the most rewarding!

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Dear Reader,

What are your favorite self care ideas for Autumn?

Summer Aromatherapy is coming soon! 

Savor new recipes, feel vibrant and inspired, and experience living in harmony with the seasons. 

Summer Aromatherapy is based on healing traditions around the world, including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Herbalism, and Aromatic Medicine. 

You will receive:
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• Cooling Summer Gel for refreshing, deep relaxation & glowing skin
• Seasonal tips and wisdom for feeling your best in Summer
• Healthy, delicious, seasonally inspired recipes​* 

*Recipes for meals, snacks, and drinks such as Maca Berry Bliss Smoothie, 
Corsican Omelette, Maple Dark Chocolate Cherries, and more!
​
Sign up by June 15th to receive the early bird pricing.

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“It was June, and the world smelled of roses.
​The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” 

― Maud Hart Lovelace

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Sign up by June 1st to receive the early bird pricing!
​To learn more about the conference, visit: nahaconference.com

Ayurveda is an ancient traditional healing modality from India. My clinical aromatherapy education included learning an Ayurvedic perspective on wellness.

​According to Ayurvedic medicine, Ojas represents our wellness, vigor, and vitality. You could also say it's what gives us a "glow" that radiates out to others.

As I continue to delve into Ayurveda, I've discovered that certain practices really do add to my life and wellness. I hope you will find these tips useful!
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Ways to Build Ojas:

Winter can be a challenging season, but it is also a peaceful time with an opportunity for rest and inward reflection. I find that creating a feeling of coziness helps me savor winter. I love lighting beeswax candles and gazing out the window at the majestic, quiet trees.

  Inhalation of essential oils reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and supports a healthy immune system. Diffusing also helps lift the winter blues.

​I hope you enjoy trying out these Winter essential oil diffusor recipes!

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Gingerbread Manor 
5 drops of ginger
2 drops of clove bud
2 drops of cinnamon bark
1 drop of black pepper

Citrus Bliss
5 drops of red mandarin
3 drops of pink grapefruit
 2 drops of tangerine

Winter Immune Support
(for healthy adults only)
 4 drops of sweet orange
3 drops of ravintsara
 2 drops of elemi
1 drop of clove bud

Joyful & Energizing 
(for healthy adults only)
7 drops of pink grapefruit
3 drops of holy basil (tulsi)
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Heart Opening 
 5 drops of bergamot
 3 drops of rose
2 drops of patchouli
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Do you have a favorite essential oil or blend for Winter?
Feel free to share in the comments below!

​If you're traveling soon, don't forget about the benefits of aromatherapy for your trip!

​If you're traveling by plane, it's helpful to know that most essential oils cans be taken with you in your carry on luggage. I have traveled with 5 and 15ml bottles with no problem. Larger aromatherapy blends can be stored in your suitcase; I recommend wrapping the blends in bubble wrap and then placing them inside a ziplock bag.

Here are some of the essential oils & aromatherapy blends that I like to travel with:

Essential Oils:
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• Lavender - Aids sleep and soothes anxiety. Also fantastic for bug bites.
• Fennel - Supports healthy digestion. (Not suitable for all individuals, so check with a qualified aromatherapist).
• Saro - A powerful, anti-infectious oil that provides amazing immune support.
• Helichrysum - In case of minor injuries and accidents, helichrysum saves the day! This versatile oil also soothes emotional distress and upsets.
• Geranium - Helpful for jet lag and restores emotional equilibrium.
• Tea Tree - Disinfects small cuts and scrapes.

Do you have questions about how to safely and effectively use these essential oils?
Feel free to contact me.

​I also suggest trying one of my ready-made aromatherapy blends below:


Aromatherapy Blends:
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• Cooling Summer Gel - Useful for a multitude of ailments including bug bites, mild sunburns, aching muscles, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia.

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Herbal Remedies:
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• Gin Gins - Ginger candies that are excellent for soothing an upset stomach.
• ​Fennel seeds - If you don't have fennel essential oil, fennel seeds are easy to slip into a ziplock bag. I chew on a few seeds after dining out and they're very helpful for keeping my stomach settled and happy.

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Dear Reader,

Which essential oils and aromatherapy blends do you use while traveling?