SEPTEMBER 2010
INNERSCENTS LIFE BOXES - ENERGY TO GROW
Innerscents Aromatherapy have created a collection to link colour and scent with flowers. The Life Box collection contain products for bath and shower, or massage, with body creams and pulsepoint creams, and also flower seeds.
Growing a plant and using aromatherapy oils associated with the colour of the plant, gives a completely new experience. It helps to connect us to nature and to the wonderful aromas of essential oils that are produced with seeds, sun, air, earth and water.
Innerscents Aromatherapy specialise in designing aromatherapy products that reflect a true healing experience for mind, body and spirit.
Visit our Choose Your Blend page to discover the links between colour and scent and how these can influence us.
AUGUST 2010
August is a month to relax down, enjoy the summer and perhaps ˜take stock" - a little like the build up to a new year.
We can use this time to reflect and unwind, letting our dreams and imaginings rise to the surface.
While lying on the beach, on the grass, or simply relaxing at home, take a few minutes to listen to these dreams and hopes:
Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and as you breathe out, smile and RELAX. Let go of any tension, pain or discomfort held in your mind or body. Breathe them away, let them go with the out breath.
Now gently let your attention rest on your normal breathing rhythm, being aware of the rise and fall of your breath. Sense your surroundings but focus inwards around your heart centre. Visualise the light of the sun in your chest, you can imagine a glowing light here, right inside you. Let the warmth and light fill your body.
Allow this light inside to reveal a hope or dream to you. An image, feeling, or sound may come to you, just let them be. Breathe normally and enjoy the warm sensation. Take as long as you need. RELAX.
When you have finished, slowly bring your attention back to your breathing and gently open your eyes.
Our 'Imagination and Perception' blend can be used to help this type of visualisation, as it balances left(analytical, thinking) and right(intuitive, imagination) brain activity. Suggestions for using the blend, include the gel for a morning shower, or at night as a body oil.
JULY NEWS
Hotter than July! Could it be?
As we, in Britain and northern France, experience record breaking termperatures, we may ask ourselves whether our climate is going to continue in future years, to be more extreme and, if so, what we will have to do both practically and mentally, to cope with it. Global warming and climate change are now accepted by the majority as a reality. Individually and internationally, we have information on what we can do practically to reduce our carbon footprint.
If you find it difficult to cope in these soaring temperatures, here are some suggestions to calm and cool your mental state. ENJOY.
An indoor fountain is a great idea – there are so many available now in all sizes, shapes, prices and designs. The cooling sound of water, and its rhythm helps to bring balance.
Meditations on water:
- Sit or lie in a comfortable position with your spine straight. Take some deep breaths and, as you breathe out, allow your whole body to sink into the chair or floor.
- Feel your breath filling up your whole body, right down into your fingertips and the tips of your toes.
- As you breathe out, release any tension, pain or discomfort held in your mind or body……just let it float away with your out breath.
- Let your awareness now float to a large lake, still and frozen, surrounded by snow capped mountains. Sense the calm, depth and stillness of this lake. Imagine sitting and looking out over this lake. Feel your own inner stillness and depth.
- Gently now let your awareness drift to a running stream. You are sitting by the side of the stream, perhaps dangling your feet in the cool water, surrounded by green grass and tress. Sense the water carrying away heat and busy thoughts. See them drifting away with the ripples of water.
- Come now to a waterfall that is pouring out of rocks. Step into the waterfall and let the fresh, cooling waters pour over you. Smile, enjoy, relax.
- Finally, find yourself at the edge of the ocean at sunset. Close your eyes and listen to the gentle waves lapping on the shore. As you breath in feel the waves coming into shore, as you breathe out feel them leave. Continue until you feel ready to stretch, open your eyes, and come back into the room.
JUNE 2010 NEWS
We will have a new look to our website and shop later this month and would welcome your feedback. The intention is to make it clearer and faster and to save you time and energy. For those wanting a more leisurely browse, there will still be our general information and news.
Time is a big issue for many working people. How to fit in all the things that need to be done, working, looking after our homes, families, ourselves…………… A useful way to see how we can manage our time more effectively, is to draw up a simple ‘pie’ chart. This is simply a large circle on a sheet of paper, or on computer if you prefer. List near the circle the areas of your life that you consider most important, for example: Friends, Family, Work, Exercise, Particular hobby or interest, Relationship, Spiritual practice, Relaxation etc…………..
Think about how much of your life is focussed into each area and divide the circle, or pie, into segments representing these areas. It will show up very clearly where you aren’t spending enough time, or obviously where you’re spending far too much. It gives an overview that we haven’t always got, if we don’t ‘step back’ sometimes and assess our life balance.
Once you’ve done this, look at where you’d like to make some changes and draw up an ‘ideal pie’. To take this another step, go to our Choose Your Blend page and see which blend you are intuitively attracted to. The keyword of the blend can help your focus to change and bring balance. This month we are giving free sample blends, in gel form for bath and shower, as our June special offer. A good time to try them.
MAY NEWS
In response to requests from our customers, we have devised a ‘Sleepwell’ bath and shower gel and ‘Sleepwell’ massage/body oil, to add to our very popular ‘Sleepwell’ pillowspray. We plan to have these ready to add to our online store, by the beginning of June.
A good night’s sleep is vital to most of us. There are those who need very little sleep but the vast majority require at least six hours to feel restored and ready for a new day (or night if you are someone who works at night).
The following meditation/relaxation will help too with calming the mind and body and encourage sleep. You might like to make a recording of this that you can play and listen to when going to bed.
Lie flat on your back in bed and take some deep breaths (in and out through your nose). Each time you breathe out, feel your whole body sinking into the mattress. Let the sound of the out breath release, exaggerating it slightly, to really get a sense of letting go, as you breathe out. Let go of tension held in the body with the out breath. Let go of any pain or discomfort with the out breath. Release and Let go. Don’t worry about your in breath, you will naturally take in breath. It’s holding the breath that causes tension in the mind and body, releasing the breath and with it, releasing anything you want to let go of, creates a calm, relaxed state.
If thoughts come into your mind, gently let them float away and release with the out breath. There is nothing to think about right now, just to relax and sleep. Notice sensations rather than thoughts.
If your thoughts are tugging your attention, count your breaths. Breathe in for 3 counts, stop and rest for 2 counts then breathe out for 6 counts. Stop and rest for 2 counts before breathing in again for 3 counts, resting for 2, and so on until you drift off into a blissful sleep.
Sweet Dreams.
APRIL NEWS
MEDITATION and EXERCISES FOR SPRING
Whenever you get the opportunity, spend time outside. Feel the air on your face and body, and your feet in touch with the earth beneath you. Walking in the fresh air is one of the best forms of exercises – and it’s easy. Here is a ‘walking meditation’ to try when walking in the park, on the common, on the beach, in the mountains, in your garden………it’s very simple.
As you walk let your attention be on your feet as they touch the ground. Really notice how your feet feel, the different surfaces beneath your feet, the sensations in your feet. When you feel ready, let your attention move up to your chest and be aware of your breathing rhythm. Are you aware of your breath becoming deeper? Notice whether the air is cooler as you breath in and warmer as you breath out. Judge nothing, just notice and be aware. Notice how your breath changes as you walk faster, or slower.
Now let your nose guide you, what can you smell? Again, just be aware of scents or freshness in the air. Enjoy the freedom. Feel yourself being renewed in nature.
When you feel ready, move your attention to your ears, and what you can hear. Listen, listen gently, without judging. Close your eyes if you are somewhere where this possible. Our sense of sight can dominate, ‘tuning in to’ our other senses brings a feeling of balance and vitality.
Enjoy your walk and the feelings of renewal and then be ready to seize the day.
MARCH 2010 NEWS
As colourful flowers push up through the earth in early spring, signs of life, growth and a new ‘energy’ surround us. We can’t help but notice the vitality and ‘busy-ness’ of nature’s plants. And yet, during the darker days of winter months, a lot of activity too is taking place, but beneath the surface. Roots of many trees and shrubs strengthen and expand during winter. Bulbs gather nutrients and ‘bed in’, ready to push upwards in Spring, while the seeds of vegetables and many flowers rest, storing energy.
We can use these images for our own inner work. Putting down and establishing roots is vital to our wellbeing and development, not just in the physical sense but also in our spiritual lives.
With so much focus on the external world in our western society, internal resting, establishing and strengthening, can be ignored, delayed or seen as irrelevant. Here is a visualisation/meditation designed for our spiritual selves and to help us to ‘flower’ and to ‘blossom’ from a strong, rooted base.
Stand (or if unable to stand, sit), with your feet firmly placed on the floor, don’t cross your legs or ankles if seated.
Breathe in, letting your breath fill up your whole body, right down to the soles of your feet. Breathe out letting go of tension, pain or discomfort and feeling the breath coming out through the soles of your feet into the ground below. Repeat this through 3 or 4 times, each time getting a sense of your roots connecting down in the Earth.
Close your eyes to help your concentration, if you wish. Now bend your legs then stretch back up again. Repeat 5 or 6 times. As you bend breathe out, as your stretch back up, breathe in.
Feel your lower body, legs and feet being energised by this exercise. Now standing, make the action of taking off a pullover (jumper) stretching your arms above your head then back down to your sides. Repeat this 5 or 6 time, each time allowing your upper body to open out, stretch and energise.
At the end, take a few deep breaths, in and out, gently open your eyes, SMILE and continue your day.
FEBRUARY 2010 NEWS
In February, Valentines Day brings thoughts of Love. Symbols of romantic love, heartfelt passions, fulfilled or searched for, come into focus. How do we feel, or identify Love?
Is it found in the adrenaline rush and urgency to connect with a desired person, or in the stillness and certainty within each of us?
‘Love is all there is’, ‘All You Need is Love’, books, songs, poems, letters, films, present us with different ideas and celebrations of love. This month we recommend 2 books, very different in style and approach, but each showing us ways to truly love ourselves and others. A key to peace in our World.
‘Love is Letting Go of Fear’ by Gerald Jampolsky MD, published by CA books, is a classic from the late seventies. There are 12 ‘lessons’, and throughout the book, (which is only just over 100 pages), there are cartoon-type illustrations which give it a lightness and accessibility. (You will love it or hate it!)
The second book, ‘Perfect Love – Imperfect Relationships’ by John Welwood, published by Trumpeter, (a CD pack is also available), looks particularly at our relationships. Why is it that we look for perfection in another person, ‘fall’ in love, then once comfortable with that person we focus on all their imperfections? This is one of the questions that John Welwood discusses and gives useful practices to help us to look within and heal.
Two of our true aromatherapy blends, offer ways of exploring the different aspects of love and expressing love,‘Creativity and Sexuality’ (sacral chakra)helps unlock our sensuality while ‘Love’ (heart chakra) uses the properties of warming herbs and flowers to open the heart. Both blends are on offer this month to encourage you to try them.......
JANUARY 2010 NEWS Happy New Year
SPECIAL OFFER for the New Year
For any reviews (favourable of course!) that you write about our massage/body oils or bath and shower gels, we will give you a 15% discount throughout January 2010. (Offer excludes postage and packing and ends 31.01.09.)
NEW FOCUS FOR THE NEW YEAR
In this age of instant communication, with anyone and everyone, make time for some interior contact. This might include some kind of creative expression, meditation, prayer or being in nature. This balance between external and internal communication is vital to our health, balance and wellbeing.
To begin the new year, try taking some time to look at which areas of your life might need some attention or adjustment. Here is a very simple way of doing this:
Think of yourself as a car with 4 tyres, each representing a different aspect of life: Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. Do any of your tyres feel either too pumped up, or flat and empty? Now use the impetus of the new year to increase the energy and time you give to the ‘flat tyres’ and ease off in the areas that feel too full or busy.
DECEMBER NEWS
Whatever your spiritual or religious beliefs, most of us are aware that Christmas is celebrated, recognised or embraced. It touches each of our lives in some way.
If we look at what is happening in nature at this time of year, animals are hibernating, plants are resting, and birds are feeding to keep warm. For those of us who might want to hibernate, rest and keep warm, Christmas can lead us to behave in exactly the opposite way. Rushing around, buying, choosing, worrying, feeling overloaded or inadequate. Does it have to be like this?
How can we embrace the spirit of Christmas, in the ‘bleak midwinter’ and keep our sanity?!
The first step is to simply slow down and become more attuned to our natural rhythm. We can do this either by sitting or lying quietly and really listening to what is around us without judgment, or focussing on our breath, letting go and releasing tension as we breathe out.
Here is a gentle visualisation to help keep us centred and grounded in our True selves, the place where we are ALWAYS of more benefit to others.
‘Imagine your favourite place – a garden, beach, countryside, snowy mountains…. Wherever you choose be aware of the sounds you may imagine, what smells are in the air? Feel the soft breeze, waves, warmth, freshness or…….on your face. What can you see?
Now, you are walking along a footpath near the sea. You can hear the sound of waves but cannot yet see the water.
As you walk along the path, you see and feel the brown earth beneath your feet and there are patches of golden orange sand. The sun’s warm, golden rays filter through the beautiful green leaves of the trees on either side of you.
You reach a clearing and climb over a stye into a green field. Now you can see the sea, as well as hear the waves and seagulls. You cross a small field and notice some rose pink flowers growing amongst the grass. As you reach the other side of the field you notice some meandering wooden steps leading down to the beautiful blue sea.
As you gently walk down to the beach and sea, you feel the soft breeze from the sea, smell the salty air and notice that you are surrounded by the sea and sky, bathed in a beautiful blue.
You rest on the beach for a while, enjoying the peace and rhythm of the sea.
Feeling refreshed and calm you begin your journey back. Climbing the meandering wooden steps, you pause from time to time to look back at the blue sea, with the soft breeze gently touching your face.
You reach the green field and begin to cross to the other side, noticing again the rose pink flowers amongst the grass. You can hear the waves and seagulls in the distance. Reaching the stye, you climb over.
As you walk the path back the golden yellow rays of the sun filter through the leaves of the trees on either side. You look down at your feet and notice the orange sand and brown earth, and realise you are back where you began your walk.
We wish you a peaceful and joyful Christmas.
NOVEMBER NEWS - HERE IS THE FIRST OF OUR NEW MONTHLY AROMATHERAPY TIPS
The LEMON fruit and the essential oil extracted from it, are often used for their antitoxic properties, as well to help fight colds, flu and infections. A very simple way to enjoy the benefits of the LEMON fruit, is to drink a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon every morning. Take this before eating or drinking anything else and you will be helping to cleanse your system while also getting a little benefit from the vitamins A, B and C, that it contains. Include lemon and lemon juice in your diet to get more.
Our Power and Energy blend to invigorate and detoxify, contains essential oil of LEMON. The essential oil is extracted from the peel and, as with all essential oils, it is a highly concentrated, powerful substance. Essential oils are the 'essence' of a plant. Neat essential oils must be used with care and should not be taken internally. Our blends are formulated to be safe, yet effective.
OCTOBER NEWS
As the summer fades and autumn leaves start to appear, the richness of colour - warm reds, sparkling oranges, warms our hearts. With the change in seasons, choosing foods in these warm colours, such as pumpkin, squash, carrot soups etc....helps us to adjust to the different temperatures and levels of light. Wearing some clothing or jewellry in red, orange and amber tones, along with earthy browns, also helps the transition. Our blends that reflect these colours are: Survival (Red), Creativity and Sexuality (Orange) and Power and Energy (Yellow). Using these as massage/body oils, bath and shower gels, body creams or pulsepoints will also help to make a positive change.SEPTEMBER NEWS
Time to harvest! What would you like to come to fruition? If we look back over what we have been thinking and dreaming about during the summer, ......... now is the time to bring these into reality.
As you head back to work, or home from a holiday, a sense of 'an ending' may arise. In France they refer to the return to school and work, after the summer break, as The Rentree - literally The Re-entry. We are re-entering often familiar situations but we have changed a little from our experiences away. To keep those warm summer feelings and create a balance within ourselves for the autumn, try the following gentle meditation.
Find a comfortable space where you will not be disturbed. Either sit on a chair, lie on the floor, ground or a bed. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, right down into your abdomen. As you breathe out, let your WHOLE body sink into the chair, floor, ground....... Breathe out any tension or discomfort held in your mind or body. Breathe it out, let it go. SMILE.
Bring your attention gently then to your natural breathing rhythm. Notice how the in breath is slightly cooler in your nostrils than the out breath that has been warmed in your body. Our breathing rhythm is like a calm ocean when we relax. The waves keep coming, regular, sure. Notice this, notice how comforting it feels to know that we have this regular, gentle rhythm inside ourselves. Once again, follow the out breath and release any tension or pain, as you breath out, just letting go.
Continue for just 5 minutes or longer for 15 or 20, whatever time you have available.
When you are ready, bring your attention gently back to your surroundings, slowly open your eyes, and stretch or slowly get up.
The Innerscents Survival blend is a lovely blend for this time of year. Use it as a bath and shower gel, massage/body oil or a body cream. It helps us to feel safe and includes pure essential oil of Vetivert, known as the 'oil of tranquillity'.
JULY 2009
How can we reduce the amount of waste we collect, and contribute to efforts to curb climate change?
One way is to choose glass packaging whenever you can, instead of plastic. Glass is so much easier to recycle than plastic and that is one of the main reasons we choose to put all of our Innerscents Aromatherapy products in glass bottles and jars.
Take a look at the Friends of Glass website at www.friendsofglass.com. It's inspiring, informative and gives practical advice. The other site that came into existence just last month and is well worth visiting too is: www.less-plastic-pledge.com.
As well as being more environmentaly friendly, glass is usually more beautiful to look at, nicer to touch and to use.
We supply to boutique hotels as well as to individuals and all of our products are packaged in glass. It is something we feel strongly about and we find that essential oils always smell better when contained in glass, rather than plastic.
JUNE 2009
Training a dog is very similar to taming our minds. Dogs become much calmer and less agitated when they are given clear guidelines and boundaries. They physically and mentally relax and the result is contentment.
Our minds wander here, there and everywhere from one moment to the next. Searching, wanting, anxious, and in some ways, distressed by this constant agitation.
If you don't include meditation or prayer in your day, try sitting quietly, just for 5 minutes. Make yourself comfortable in a chair with your back supported, or lie on the floor. Close your eyes and take some deep breaths, right down into your abdomen. As you breathe out, allow your whole body to sink into the chair or the floor, if seated let your feet sink into the floor. SMILE.
Now LISTEN. Don't judge or label what you hear, just relax. Remember to keep breathing in a soft, gentle way.
After around 5 minutes, set a timer if you want to so that you don't have to keep thinking about the time, take a deep breath, stretch out, and slowly open your eyes. Write down what you experienced if that feels right for you. Otherwise, enjoy the calming sensation that this stillness brings.
MAY 2009
During the month of May, the first fruits start to appear. The cherry tree is one of the earliest to give us it's delicious fruit, which is full of mineral salts. Cherries have energising properties and contain Vitamin A which helps to revive the skin. It has diuretic and de-toxifying properties and helps with fluid retention. The cherry season is short so make the most of them while they are here.
Aromatherapy essential oils, which are extracted from all kinds of plants - trees, herbs, flowers, citrus fruits and spices - do not include an oil from the cherry fruit, but by adding the fruit to our diet we experience it's life-enhancing effects, during the months of May and June.
Don't forget to try one of our aromatherapy blend samples offered throughout the month of May with every order over £12.
APRIL 2009
Aromatherapy company, Innerscents Aromatherapy, announced it's first product designed to bring into life the colour of plants and their scents.
"Growing a plant and using aromatherapy plants associated with the colour of the plant, gives a completely new experience. It helps to connect us to nature and to the wonderful aromas of essential oils that are produced with seeds, sun, air, earth and water", Sue Whall, Partner of Innerscents said.
The new Life Box collection from Innerscents has been developed by Sue and Lucy, who are partners in the company. The colour themed Life Boxes will make great gifts for people wanting to give something more than just sweet smelling creams and oils.
Innerscents Aromatherapy specialise in designing aromatherapy products that reflect a true healing experience for mind, body and spirit.
Visit www.innerscents.co.uk to discover the connection between colour and scent.
Founded and run by two fully qualified aromatherapists, Innerscents now offer their customers a direct link between aromatic products and growing plants.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2009
ENERGY DRAIN or ENERGY GAIN?
Ask yourself this the next time you make a decision about an action to make. It's usually VERY easy to see the answer when you ask this simple question.
Our intuition knows the answer (intuition - inner teacher)
Use YOUR intuition on our Choose Your Blend page to select a colour and keyword for this particular time in your life. The blends are available as: Aromatherapy massage/body oils, bath and shower gels, body creams or pulsepoint creams.
JANUARY 2009
Experience calm and creativity. To start the New Year try this simple breathing exercise:
Sit or lie comfortably, with your eyes closed. Smile and take 3 deep breaths. As you breathe out, allow your whole body to sink into the chair, bed or floor. Now..
Breathe in for 3 counts, Rest for 2 counts, breathe out for 6 counts and rest for 2 counts.
Repeat 3 times through, before gently breathing naturally again.
Use this simple technique, whenever you are feeling stressed or confused. Connect with your inner rhythm of life.
