Ebooks doTERRA eBook Essential Oils and Fitness | Page 25

Outdoor recreation Combating environmental threats
If you live near any beautiful terrain, or if you simply love being
outside, there are plenty of ways to reach your fitness goals by
having fun in the outdoors. Whether you are hiking, mountain
biking, skiing, kayaking, or rock climbing, you can always find
creative ways to exercise while enjoying some fresh air and
beautiful scenery. With all of the different elements found in nature, environmental
threats can arise and ruin your outdoor workout before it even
begins. To handle environmental elements and keep threats at
a distance, consider using essential oils with properties that
can protect against these types of threats. Essential oils like
Arborvitae, Clove, Coriander, Frankincense, and Melaleuca
have cleansing properties that make them useful for combating
environmental threats, and can be applied topically before going
outdoors for exercise.
Taking your workout outside can sometimes present a few
challenges, but as you might have guessed, there are a few
essential oils that can help make your outdoor exercising
excursions infinitely more enjoyable.
Keeping the bugs at bay
Did you know that some essential oils provide a way to
naturally repel insects? Experimental research has shown
that Arborvitae, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Geranium,
Lemongrass, Rosemary, and Thyme essential oils may be
useful for repelling insects naturally. Before you head outside for
your workout, topically apply any of these essential oils to keep
bugs away.
Soothing tired legs and feet
Whether you’ve hiked for miles to reach your campground,
spent all afternoon on your mountain bike, or have been skiing
through fresh powder all day, your muscles and extremities will
likely feel tired and worn out after a long day outdoors. To help
soothe your muscles, topically apply essential oils with warming
or cooling properties and massage them into your legs and feet.
The soothing nature of these oils will help you relax after a long
day of exertion.
Promoting motivation and vitality
Even if you love being outside, it can often be difficult to
maintain motivation throughout the course of a long hike, bike
ride, or trip down the river. To help keep yourself motivated, try
applying essential oils with uplifting tones before starting your
journey. Whether you apply the oil to your skin or your clothing,
you’ll be able to breathe in the aroma throughout your outdoor
workout to help you maintain motivation and vitality. Try using
essential oils like Cedarwood, Cypress, and Eucalyptus to keep
you invigorated and motivated throughout your adventure.
You can also use essential oils like Cardamom, Douglas Fir,
Eucalyptus, Lavender, Melaleuca, and Peppermint to promote
feelings of easy breathing and clear airways when experiencing
discomfort during an outdoor excursion.