Hello again! In my previous two blog posts I answered Why take an aromatherapy course , and How to prepare for one. The Aroma online course opens with a warm welcome video from our instructor, the Spice Mistress herself, Glynnis Osher. There is also a bonus meditation audio meant to help with setting your intention before daily self-care practices such as meditation and yoga.
In addition to being led by a fantastic instructor, I found the course PDFs aesthetically pleasing and easy to follow. In an attempt to save paper I copied the PDFs over to my iPad and made notes on them digitally, but if you were so inclined, you could make yourself a lovely printed Aroma bible to use throughout the course. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the entire course, I think the part I liked best was Module 1, Lesson 2, in which Glynnis walks us through thirty-eight key essential oils, often elaborating on the information contained in the PDFs with interesting trivia.
My favourite newly discovered oil is Spikenard, an ancient, earthy oil often used for sacred applications. Through researching Spikenard I learned about issues of conservation and essential oil production, as well as alternatives to endangered essential oils. If in doubt about a substitution, the Aroma Facebook group is a fantastic resource. During the time it took me to complete the course, I regularly posted in the Aroma Facebook group, and always received quick and helpful responses from Glynnis.
This was an unexpected bonus to the course. Another nice surprise was how much non-aroma-related self-care advice was included in the Aroma course. Beyond aromatherapy Glynnis provides guidance on healthy breathing techniques and meditation, and gives other practical self-care advice. Of all of the additional knowledge that Glynnis shares in the Aroma course, her ability to draw Ayurvedic principles into each lesson is, in my opinion anyway, most exciting.
Many of her recommendations were based around the seasons, and on finding balance between the body, mind, and nature. Knowing which aromatherapy oils to use not only for specific healthcare purposes, but also in specific seasons feels a bit like magic.
