Yoga Mat Cleaner

It's time for a yoga mat check-up. How is yours doing? Does it smell fresh? Is it spotless and begging you to jump on it in your down dog or side crow? Or is it a little stinky making you question if you should put off your yoga class until tomorrow when you've had a chance to clean it? Either way to keep it fresh and clean or to clean it up to avoid dreading your next child's pose, here's a cleaner that can do the job.

Ingredients:

organic witch hazel

organic thyme leaf

12 drops organic purification essential oil

6 drops organic citrus fresh essential oil

6 drops organic geranium essential oil

8 oz Glass Jar

4 oz Spray bottle

Directions:

Add the dried thyme leaf to your 8oz glass jar until it is half full. 

Cover this with witch hazel extract, and infuse for 2-3 days. (If this step takes too long for you, you can also dilute the oils in 4 oz. of water.)

Strain the thyme from the infusion and pour the liquid into your 4oz spray bottle.

Add your essential oils.

Shake well (each use) and spray your amazing cleaner on your mat after your practice.

Wipe down your mat with a cloth if you feel the need.

Et, Voila! You have a fresh smelling, clean mat.

Simple Scented Soap

I have been struggling for a while to find a liquid hand soap that isn't full of chemicals. While I don't mind using bar soap, which is easier to find with fewer chemicals than liquid soap, it can get expensive. In addition to expense there are the soap bar remnants to deal with; too small to use on their own, sometimes difficult to combine, and too expensive to just throw away. I've also used Dr. Bronner's as my main body wash, but again this can get expensive. After looking around I found that my best bet is to buy liquid castille soap and add drops of my desired essential oil to it. My go to oils are peppermint and lavender, however, any oil or combination of oils can be used to create a luxurious, chemical free, liquid soap to be used for hands, body or hair.

In addition to a pleasant scent don't forget to consider the benefits of the oils you choose. If you are using this soap as body wash consider when you normally shower and if you want an oil to help you wake up, recover from a workout, or, perhaps, fall asleep. If it is a hand soap, are you using it at work or at home? Ask yourself what atmosphere you want to create in the space where you will be receiving the oil's benefits.

To create this soap:
Choose your essential oil.
Fill your soap dispenser with castille soap.
Add drops of essential oil until your soap reaches the scent saturation you prefer. (This will depend on both the size of your dispenser and your sensitivity to smell.)
Gently stir.
Cap your soap dispenser.
Use the next time you wash your hands or take a shower!

*Note:  If your dispenser is a pump you may want to consider diluting the castille soap as it will clog the nozzle. For my pump I use a 2:1 ratio of soap to water, but the size and shape of the nozzle will make this ratio vary. Therefore, if that ratio doesn't work for you, experiment! That's half the fun of making things yourself anyway.

Recently Moved

Just a quick note to let you know that I have recently separated my blogs to have posts be a bit less all over the place. From now on all of my posts regarding a general healthy lifestyle will be found here. ie. exercise, self care, eating well, herbal recipes, essential oils, etc. My previous blog is at http://lovelysilverlinings.tumblr.com and https://healthinmusic.blogspot.com. That blog will now pertain mostly to Music Therapy, Neuroscience and Music.