I promised to write a post about my first AromaTouch treatment, which I got on Tuesday. I’m not sure whether to begin at the end or at the beginning. I think, perhaps, the beginning.
Deb put on relaxing music. Together, we chose the “zen” music channel on TV. There were beautiful, yet soothing sounds made by unexpected instruments floating in the air, yet not so ethereal as to be distracting or intrusive. Rather, the music seemed to ground and center me, getting me to focus on the moment.
Both dogs and the cat decided that this was a party for them as well. As I lay face down on the massage table, wearing my pajama pants, I could see Biddy Kitty through the sheer headrest cover, looking up at me expectantly, waiting for a rub. Indigo had positioned herself well out of the way, on the rug by the front door. But Pippin laid right in Deb’s way and would not budge. She had apparently decided she was a vital guest at this meditative party. (If you ask Deb to do a treatment on you and you are at our house, rest assured that the animals will not be allowed to so freely invade-unless you choose to let them. I did.)
Before beginning, Deb explained that she would be putting eight oils on me, one at a time, in a specific order. The oils would be dripped along my spine and on my feet one at a time, and would be activated, also one at a time, through light touch- lighter than massage. (I have to confess, I was hoping to get a massage out of this-but I think I actually got as much or more benefit from the Aroma Touch treatment, without the pain that comes from having muscles worked by firm hands, although I will always love getting a good massage.)
Because my skin was so dry, in order to make the oil application go smoother, Deb began by preparing my back with a slick of fractionated coconut oil. There is virtually no scent to this smooth oil. She explained that depending upon the person and situation, the fractionated coconut oil is not always used.
Then, Deb got down to business and my complete sense of contentment in the moment rolled in as I relaxed into the smells and gentle, methodical movements incorporating the oils, one at a time. With each layer, my groundedness, contentment and relaxation grew. I realized, after the third or fourth oil, that all of my muscle soreness and chronic itchy back were resolved and dissolved. I occasionally reached down to rub on Biddy Kitty purring below the headrest. As I said, I was totally relaxed into the moment, and Biddy was part of that present moment, so her presence in the present seemed right.
With each layering of oil, I experienced new smells, but not overwhelming smells. As each new drip drip drip splashed to my spine and each new scent wafted toward my nose, I felt a new layer of strain fall away, replaced by a sense of “settling”. My breaths lengthened and slowed, but I maintained an alertness, aware of my surroundings (including Pippen on the floor at my feet and Biddy focusing those big yellow eyes on me).
Before the treatment, the bottoms of my feet had had been very tender and slightly swollen, making it painful for me to walk (I suspect plantar facetious, but I haven’t gotten them checked out). As Deb moved to my feet with the combination of Wild Orange and Peppermint oils together, she worked down toward each toe from the heel, along each of five lines, which stimulated various reflexology points to create a balance among my organs and bodily systems.
As she methodically worked along those five lines, I pictured the plowing patterns made by the tractor in the field behind my childhood home, readying the spring Earth for sowing. The plow went over the fields three times. The first tractor pass was to break apart he compacted soil and to uproot the first growth of weeds. The second pass was to break down the big, hard dirt clods and to uproot the second growth of weeds. The third pass was to soften the Earth into a rich loam, perfect for a young girl to run in barefoot or for an old farmer to bring to life with seed. Deb traced each row of my foot three times, like the tractor of my memory, gradually loosening the compacted pain buried there until it was broken up, perfect for a middle aged woman to stride barefoot without pain.
Once Deb had finished the final stage of the treatment, to create a state of homeostasis, applying the final two layers of oil along my spine, she told me to take my time getting up. I was aware of my surroundings, not tired, but very relaxed. I began by rising up on my hands and knees, transitioning into a yoga position known as the child’s pose while still on the massage table. I slowly sat up, dangling my feet over the edge before slowly and carefully making contact between my feet and the ground. I felt relaxed, at peace, and pain free.
For the rest of the day, I kept getting different whiffs of scent at different moments. Was it orange? Was it peppermint? Clove? Lavender? “Yes.” Each time I experienced that aroma sensation throughout the day, I was again relaxed, alert and balanced.
The eight oils used in this treatment are available in an Aroma Touch Kit. I highly recommend experiencing this treatment for yourself. You can contact Deb if you have questions or want to schedule a treatment. Allow yourself about an hour or so, about 35-40 minutes for the treatment and a bit of time to re-orient.
Blessings,
Aimee
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