Ever felt that your workouts are going nowhere and wondered if there was something to give you that boost to up the level of your workout. Well, surprisingly essential oils can aid you in your quest for the converted summer body or your new personal best.
Pre-workout
As the saying goes "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step", so does your journey to your fitness goals and that perfect summer body. Fitness freaks need no motivation to start a workout however like most normal people, we all need that little boost before we hit the gym.
Some of the recommended essential oils for the pre-workout energy boost include Lemongrass and citrus oils such as Grapefruit, Lemon and Mandarin. One can either massage them on the body or inhale them.
For Lemongrass essential oil it is known to have thermogenic properties helping you start your warm-up before the workout. While the citrus oils help you to feel energised and pumped for your upcoming workout just like the song "Eye of the Tiger".
It is good to note that it takes about 30 minutes for your body to fully take in the essential oils and experience their benefiting effects, so it is a good practice to preplan your essential oil application such as applying the essential when you get out of bed for a morning workout.
Workout
Now you are midway through your workout, your body is starting to overheat and you are starting to get foggy from the lack of blood flowing to your head. One of the essential oils for this situation would be Peppermint oil, which helps in giving you a cooling sensation while increasing your alertness and focus. You can apply it by massaging it onto your chest or by mixing it with water and sprinkling it on your head, shoulder or the affected body part. Say "bye-bye" to being the person with 2 left feet in the aerobics class.
On the other hand, you may be trying to beat your own personal best, the solution to this is yet again Peppermint oil. In a study done on 10 athletes, Peppermint oil was shown to increase the oxygen and blood flow of the 10 athletes after daily applications of Peppermint oil. Thus, Peppermint oil might be the missing ingredient in unlocking your "beast" mode.
Post-workout
After a workout, it is time for some "rest and recovery" or "R&R" for your muscles, this is where Marjoram essential oil comes into the picture. With its relaxing and muscle recovery properties, Marjoram essential oil is one of the best choices for a post-workout R&R session. It can be applied topical or by adding a few drops into your post-workout bath. Other muscle recovery options include Chamomile, Clary Sage and Frankincense essential oils.
Feeling a little sore for over-exerting yourself during the workout, consider applying Eucalyptus, Rosemary or Lavender essential oils topically to the aching area.
Complementary activities
Some good complementary activity to do in order to make the most out of your exercise is first, proper nutrition and eating habits are critical. You are what you eat so if you are pigging out on junk food after every exercise session, it will lead to a case where you are unlikely to see much positive results. Try eating proper meals with enough proteins for the repair and growth of muscle.
Secondly, R&R for your muscles is paramount as with exercise there is muscle damage and muscle growth. Thus, overexercising is more likely going to lead to injuries which will put a major roadblock in achieving your fitness goals. Give yourself rest days and proper sleep for muscle recovery.
Lastly, don't be afraid to mix things up. Your body adapts to the physical activities you are doing, try a new exercise or sport every now and then to keep things fresh and interesting. Bring along a friend to keep each other motivated on your fitness journey.
Wishing you all the best in your fitness journey and your journey to that perfect summer body.