Relaxation Techniques Using Candles
Stephanie Davies
So you are tired and stressed out day after day. You’ve had thoughts of
yoga, meditation, and soothing spa experiences, but you either don’t
have the time to do those things, or it is beyond your reach right now.
Let me show you a few very simple, simple relaxation techniques that
you can use at any time, without any effort or previous knowledge to
accomplish – using candles! That’s right, using candles. Almost
everyone has a candle in the house, most of us have several, and if you
don’t have one, the nearest store is sure to have a grand selection.
To begin, you don’t need to have any certain type of candle. Almost any
candle will work, big or small, soy candles, paraffin candles, beeswax
candles, scented or unscented! Of course, scents will help with the
relaxation, so I will give you a few ideas on which fragrances to use
to help you to fully enjoy the benefits of candle relaxation.
Lavender is the fragrance most renowned for it’s relaxation benefits in
aromatherapy. It's a common ingredient in products aimed at relaxation
and stress relief, such as pillows, bath oils, soaps and lotions.
However it may not be the right fragrance for you. Some people find
particular scents relaxing while others do not. For instance, the
fragrance of warm cinnamon buns may smell like heaven to me, but may
make you want to run to higher ground! Other fragrances may have bad
memories attached to them in your own mind. For that reason, I
recommend that you take into account your own personal preferences in
choosing the scented products that are right for you. Other fragrances
that have a strong reputation for relaxation are: chamomile, vanilla,
ylang ylang, clary sage, bergamot, frankincense, and sandalwood.
Although if you have strong allergies or are highly sensitive to
scented items, we recommend going with an unscented candle for your own
relaxation.
The color of the candle you use is very important when you are using
candles for relaxation purposes. Use calming, muted colors to relax,
such as pale blues, greens, white, or violet. Bright colors such as
reds, oranges, and yellows can be stimulating to the mind and might
make it harder to fully relax. I personally recommend candles of a blue
color to relax, but if you personally really hate the color blue, you
may use any light color that pleases your eye.
The first way to use candles in relaxation and stress relief is a very
simple, yet utterly effective method. Simply take a deep breath, and
stare at the flame of the candle while it is lit. Focus in on the area
at the base of the wick where the flames color is blue. Watch how the
colors subtly change as you stare into the flame. Take deep, calming
breaths while relaxing and simply focusing on the candle flame. It
helps if this is done in a darkened room, however the exercise is
effective even while in a brightly lit space.
Another simple method for candle relaxation is to take your candle and
a small pin or other object to “write” on the candle, and write the
word “Relax” vertically on the surface of the candle. As the candle
burns, on each letter, meditate on a single thought. It can be anything
you want as long as it is a positive thought. As the candle burns to a
new letter, change to a different meditative thought. This is a way of
meditating while having a “timer” (the candle) to set a slow but
relaxing pace while giving you a focus for your meditation.
Finally, candles and water can be an extremely effective combination. I
recommend using floating candles in a combination with the first
technique, or alternatively to place a candle in a bowl and place small
attractive rocks or crystals around the base to anchor it, then placing
a small amount of water in the bottom of the bowl. This is not only
helpful for relaxation, but is also very decorative and in itself holds
many ideas for decorating your home.
Of course, the act of simply having lit candles is very relaxing in
itself. Whether simply around the house, in the bathtub, or during
intimate moments, candles can enhance and bring peacefulness to our
hectic lives. So the next time you are looking for a quick way to
de-stress and ground yourself, look no further than the wax and wick!
Stephanie Davies is a 27 year old Missourian with a loving husband and
an 8 year old son. She currently owns and operates her own business,
Mystickal Incense & More, which sells handmade candles, incense, bath &
body products and other handcrafted products at
http://www.mystickalincense.com
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