Aromatherapy isn’t just about pleasant scents—it’s a powerful tool that can deepen your bodywork experience. When used with intention, essential oils can support the nervous system, calm the mind, and help the body settle more fully into rest and restoration.
In every session at Breathing Space Bodywork, I offer complimentary aromatherapy as part of the treatment. The right blend can gently guide your system into parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) mode—where real healing begins.
How it works
Essential oils affect the body in two key ways: through inhalation and through the skin. When you breathe them in, aromatic molecules travel through the nose directly to the limbic system—the part of the brain that processes emotion, memory, and behavior. This is why certain scents can create such immediate emotional responses.
When applied to the skin (always properly diluted), essential oils are absorbed into the bloodstream through the capillaries. Because they’re fat-soluble and made up of very small molecules, they can pass through the skin barrier and circulate through the body, offering localized or systemic effects depending on the oil.
This dual pathway—affecting both the emotional brain and the physical body—is what makes aromatherapy such a uniquely effective support during bodywork.
Why it matters
When paired with intuitive, trauma-informed touch, aromatherapy can help the nervous system shift into a state of calm. Clients often describe feeling more emotionally grounded, more present in their bodies, and more open to the deeper layers of healing that can emerge in a session.
Benefits often include:
A deeper sense of relaxation and presence
Emotional release or uplift
Slower, steadier breathing
Reduced physical and mental stress
A sense of calm that lingers beyond the session
Safe and thoughtful use
I carefully select and dilute therapeutic-grade essential oils for use in each session. Every body is different, and what supports one person may overwhelm another. That’s why I always check in about sensitivities and preferences before introducing aromatherapy into the treatment. You’re welcome to request specific oils, or choose to opt out entirely.
Guided by experience and intention
Over years of working with essential oils in a therapeutic setting, I’ve developed an intuitive sense for when and how to bring them into a session. Aromatherapy, like bodywork, is most effective when it’s intentional, supportive, and responsive to the moment.
It’s not just an add-on—it’s a companion in the healing process. The quiet encouragement of clary sage when you're holding something heavy. The warmth of sandalwood to help you feel grounded. The soft clarity of frankincense to reconnect with your breath. The skin-soothing comfort of helichrysum when your body is asking for gentleness. These small sensory cues create space for deeper letting go.
Relax. Breathe. Let go.
That’s the intention behind every session. Aromatherapy simply helps open the door