Relaxation City: How to Use Candles for Relaxation
Relaxation City!
Candles are usually associated with romantic moods, with good reason. They benefit the senses in two ways. The first way is by smell. Candles are great for stress relief with their aromatherapy. These days, you can buy candles in just about any scent you could possibly desire. The next sense that is affected by candles is your sight. The romantic low-light that comes from candles is captured by your sight and sent straight to your brain. This is when your body starts to feel relaxed and in an oddly romantic mood.
While many may think of using candles for spicing up a romantic dinner, you should also think about using them to take some alone time and relax. These days, personal time seems like a long shot. However, with just a few minutes a day to sit back and relax, you will find yourself feeling so much better emotionally and physically. What better way to relax than with candles?
Warning: Relaxation may cause these side effects
· More energy
· An increase in concentration
· Less mood swings
· Fewer headaches
· Less pain
· Better sleep
· Enhanced immunity
· Decrease in muscle tension
· Better blood flow to the muscles
· Reduces need for oxygen
· Reduces blood pressure
· Slows heart rate
· A more pleasant personality
The first step is to pick up some candles next time you are at the store. Make sure to pick up a scent that will relax you. There are some specially made candles that say they are for aromatherapy; however these are often more expensive. You can use any type of candle your little heart desires as long as it is a scent that will help you relax rather than cause you to stress. For example, I love the candles that smell like cinnamon because it makes me think of how the kitchen smells after I bake. However, I can’t use this candles when I am laying back to relax because it will either make me hungry or it will make me stress about what I will have to make for dinner. Aim for something such as a flowery scent or beach like scent where you can picture yourself laying out in a flower garden or on the beach.
Your next task is to find a quiet place to enjoy your “you” time. Here are some ideas for where you can get some “you” time in a quiet place. The great thing about using candles for relaxation is that you can do it in multiple places no matter how much time you have to spare.
If you have at least thirty minutes to yourself, aim for a nice warm bath. This will help melt away the stress. You can have the lights turned down, or off, with only the candles as your light. Make sure the water is warm enough to help relax your tense muscles in your shoulders. You can add bubbles or bath salts for added aromatherapy if you would like. As you lay in the bath, focus on nothing at all except breathing in and out. Your mind will try to wonder to something to worry about. Simply push the thought away and back onto focusing about nothing.
Another way to relax with candles is to use the candles while you do something you already do to relieve stress. If you make a habit to read during the day, set up candles next to you to enjoy the relaxing benefits of the aromatherapy while you read. You could even try the aromatherapy while you are doing something you may not be enjoying, such as paperwork. It could help lower your stress and make the task not so bad. If you do stress relieving methods such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, or other relaxation techniques and dances, you could burn candles at the same time to help enhance the stress relief.
If you are short on time but need a boost for your day, try just finding a quiet place to sit and enjoy the aromatherapy. Have the TV and all other sounds around you turned off and find somewhere comfortable to sit. This could be your favorite chair, your bed, a couch, anywhere. Light the candle and focus on breathing in and out. If any stressful thoughts try to enter your mind, simply push them away and go back to focusing on your breathing. After five to ten minutes of this, you will feel like a whole new person.
Times are tough and stress is running rampant in many of our lives. Luckily, aromatherapy and candles to the rescue! Try some of these tips to help eliminate some of your stress and getting some “you” time in the process. Your health is your most important asset, so make sure you take care of it. Stress has a hand in heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and other serious conditions.