THE ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE“Fitness is a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Imagine knowing the what body craves from every experience it encounters, what fuels the movements of every great physique, and what keeps a gym goer transfixed. Essential oils (EOs) complement fitness in many ways—and it’s a game changer for anyone who takes advantage of their uses. ![]() The day I used Young Living Essential Oils’ products for my fitness, was the day I knew my fitness experience had become unique. Have you ever felt like you would do anything to have more of something you enjoyed? Well that day Peppermint essential oil brought a sensation I would never forget. Its smell instantly captivated my senses, and after several minutes of application I felt a burst of energy I had never felt before. My focus became clearer and I was thrilled to tackle my workout for the day, but let’s step back for a second. My history with Peppermint goes back to when my wife Victoria shared an essential oil blend called “Breathe Again.” At that time I had never heard of essential oils or their benefits. Soon enough I came to know the respiratory history of this blend after the instant win I gained to up cardio. It was packed with fitness enhancing properties like Peppermint, Myrtle, Copaiba and four different types of Eucalyptus Blue-to impact the respiratory system and create a powerful, invigorating experience. ![]() In addition to learning about this EO, 20 years of EO information began to fry my brain as her mother spoke on how she’s uses EOs for her wellness purposes. After I gained my “EO Degree” from the Thania Webb University, I knew my essential purpose was to share the benefits and takeaways from using EOs for both fitness and overall wellness. Every essential oil has its purpose. I’ve used essential oils in my fitness regimen for several years now and I can promise you that they are what they are hyped up to be. Did you know that essentials oils have been used as folk remedies for centuries? So why has there been an epidemic revive in recent decades? The answer lies within the historical accounts and progression of Young Living Essential Oils as a company. Powered by the pioneer D. Gary Young and his wife Mary, Young Living has become the top essential oil provider in the world, and for good reason. Their Seed to Seal promise provides the best care to reach your personal fitness and wellness goals. Cultivated in delicate environments, each essential oil is proved through the standards of Young Living’s Global Compliance and sourcing protocols to ensure their promise is met. After researching their methods of production I was excited to know the tale of processes provided by this company. I knew that I could reap results without the use of harmful, synthetic, adulterated or unethical sources. This was a game changer for myself and for the history of EOs. It’s not only right to grant Young Living Essential Oils for giving history a future but to realize that this company intends for its members to live above the wellness line. So what are the benefits of using EOs for fitness and how do you use them to ensure you reap the best results? First let’s talk application and the basics of EOs. EOs are aromatic compounds and volatile liquids that are carefully extracted through steam distillation, resin tapping and cold pressing. EOs are fat soluble and can quickly penetrate skin tissue. With over 3,000 compounds identified, they been shown to boost cognitive ability, exercise performance and support overall health. Did you know it takes seconds for an essential oil molecule to be recognized in your mouth after applied to your chin? Try it with Lavender! It will blow your mind and have you screaming “Hallelujah!” Essential oil penetration starts with sensory receptors that are located throughout your body. Anytime you apply, rub, or massage essential oils onto your skin, these receptors gather electrical signals to communicate with your brain. No wonder my first experience with essential oils hit me with such surprise! The bioavailability of EOs is incredible and when they enter the bloodstream they can have an instant effect the entire body. As your body absorbs, distributes and metabolizes these aromatics, there are different metabolites sourced from the central cite of the liver that have been found to be biologically active and render their own effects. There are 3 ways to use these bottled remedies to ensure you see the best results; they are aromatic, topical and internal. Depending on which EO you choose to use, will determine the outcome of the application process. Take Peppermint essential oil for example, it is packed with wild molecules that give the body and energizing response. It’s my favorite essential oil. Peppermint EO has been shown to boost grip force, standing vertical jump and the broad jump, while promoting higher energy output and advanced respiratory flow rate. This EO is great for muscle stimulation and muscle recovery, and has been a top performer in elevating mental agility during fitness sessions. During my fitness sessions, I simply apply this EO topically to my area of concentration, place a drop or two in my water (Peppermint Vitality), or use my FUM to promote higher energy outputs. Applying these compounds pre, intra and post workout are vital to their capabilities and your results. Energy boosting oils like Lemongrass, R.C., Peppermint, Breathe Again, Frankincense, and a few others have been some of my go to EOs in many cases. There are so many EOs to choose from, it’s important to explore what works best for you. If you are new to the EO community or new to using essential oils for fitness, I recommend starting with the Premium Starter Kit (PSK). I call it my “Fit Kit” because each of the EOs in this package delivers fitness boosting components to make your fitness experience a good one. Every country has a different PSK uniquely design for the needs of that community. Checkout the United States PSK below and imagine the use of its’ benefits. U.S. Premium Essential Oils Collection
Depending on what part of the world you are in be sure to checkout the PSK designated for your area. Isn’t that a wonderful list of EOs to help boost your fitness experience? Although there are many EOs choose from, there are just as many infused supplements to help you reach your fitness goals. Some of my favorite fitness supplements in Young Living are Ningxia Red, Aminowise, Balance Complete Protein, Pure Protein Complete (Chocolate & Vanilla), Agilease, Powergize, Inner Defense, Super C and Super B, Multigreens, Omegagize, Mindwise! We have over 400 products to choose from, which means there’s plenty of room for growth as you travel this fitness journey. I can tell you from experience each of these supplements provide exactly, if not more than what they intend to do. In addition, these essential supplements are infused with EOs which makes their systemic activity readily available to deliver nutrients to the body quicker and more efficient. Did you know the Ningxia Wolfberry lands the highest on the Oxygen radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) scale? Ningxia red has a ORAC score of over 30,000, one of its predecessors, blueberry, has an ORAC score of 2,000! ![]() That’s a remarkable difference! To show you how important this is for your fitness, lets look at the role of free radicals. Free radicals are killer molecules known to come from overly processed foods, air pollution, dietary toxins, excess sugar and alcohol intake, and even sunburns. These molecules are also produced during exercise which can effect optimal recovery if not balanced with antioxidants. It’s important to note that antioxidants provide a mitigating effect to help balance the production of free radicals. In turn, Ningxia Red provides a whole body source of antioxidants also known as “exogeneous antioxidants” that contribute to optimal cell function. I like to use this antioxidant friendly supplement 15 minutes before my workouts or during each session to ensure a quality source of energy return and set my free radicals in their place. This supplement was made with the athlete in mind, it’s effective in initiating a response throughout the body by providing a powerhouse infusion of Ningxia wolfberry puree, blueberry, aronia, cherry, pomegranate and plum juices. And its backed with Lemon, Yuzu, Orange and Tangerine EOs! Who wouldn’t want such a great product in their pantry? Using essential oils and infused supplements are just the beginning to amplifying your fitness experience. I’ve come to love how these essential additives have complemented my lifestyle and I know they can do the same for you. Young Living Essential Oils has given the wellness community a plethora of choices to enhance their fitness experience. It’s up to us to take advantage of their benefits and enjoy the process. I believe that the future study of fitness and essential oils will render more techniques and practices of their uses to reach the entirety of they have to offer. In duration, there is much yet to understand as the world of EOs rises in the fitness industry, I continue a perspective of gratitude for the history and future of essential oil usage within the fitness world, and their capabilities to always help you leave the gym better than you found it. I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime and if you are ready to take the leap to making your fitness experience unique, tap the button below! Until next time, always leave the gym better than you found it! References: Meamarbashi, Abbas, and Ali Rajabi. “The effects of peppermint on exercise performance.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 10,1 15. 21 Mar. 2013, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-15 Kohlert, C., et al., Systemic availability and pharmacokinetics of thymol in humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Jul;42(7):731-7. Satou, T., et al., Anxiolytic effect and tissue distribution of inhaled Alpinia zerumbet essential oil in mice. Nat Prod Commun. 2010 Jan;5(1):143-6 Chaves, JS., et al., Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of the sesquiterpene alpha-humulene in mice. Planta Med. 2008 Nov;74(14):1678-83. Pham-Huy, Lien Ai et al. “Free radicals, antioxidants in disease and health.” International journal of biomedical science: IJBS vol. 4,2 (2008): 89-96. |