Playing with Scent: A Simple Somatic Practice for Daily Self-Care
If you’re a teacher, there’s a good chance your days are full of noise, movement, decisions, and a never-ending to-do list. By the time this season rolls around – somewhere between winter exhaustion and spring anticipation – your body might feel just as tired as your mind. That’s where somatic practices come in, and one of my personal favorites involves our sense of smell!
Somatic practices help us come back into our bodies through movement and sensory experiences. Instead of thinking our way into calm, we feel our way there. Fashion Designer Donna Karan reminds us that scent is especially powerful because “smell is the primordial sense, more powerful, more primitive, more intimately tied to our memories and emotions than any other.” Think of scent as a way to anchor our presence, awaken our senses, and connect with our bodies. One breath can shift our entire mood, slow down our body, or help us feel grounded – no lesson planning required.
Using scent as a somatic practice can be so simple, but if you are new to aromatherapy, here are three ways you might try incorporating scents:
Keep a favorite aroma in your bag or desk as a reminder to pause and take 3 slow breaths between classes.
As part of your end-of-day routine include a hand acupressure practice like Dots and Squeezes that layers a scented hand lotion or oil to signal relaxation to your nervous system.
If essential oils or other scents are not easily accessible, try using your memory of a particular scent to evoke comfort and relaxation. You might gently close your eyes and think back to a specific memory or even feeling associated with an aroma.
As you build scents into your routines, you might notice specific ways that different scents impact your wellbeing. For example, citrus may feel energizing during long afternoons, while something more woodsy may help you relax at the end of the work day. Over time, your body will start to associate certain scents with feeling safe, calm, and focused.
Here are some of The Teaching Well’s favorites that may offer support for whatever you face this season…
If you’re curious about the benefits of aromatherapy and want to explore which scents are most supportive for your nervous system, join us on March 24th @ 5PM PST for The Teaching Well’s FREE virtual Microdose of Wellness: Spring into Wellness with Essential Oil Blends. This time of year can feel heavy, but your wellness doesn’t have to feel like another thing on your to-do list. Let it be light. Let it be sensory. And let it be a little fun - one breath at a time!