** The information in this article is intended for educational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programs.
Imagine you’re in a quiet, dimly lit room. There is soft music playing in the background, you’re lying on a massage table, and the only thing on your mind is how badly you need this massage and how amazing it’s going to be. There is a fragrant aroma in the air that is calming, pleasant, and is clearing your mind so you can focus on yourself.
Have you ever given thought to that aroma when you’re getting a massage and how it affects you for the rest of the day and into the night? Do you know that feeling of being completely relaxed and stress-free after such an experience?
That’s exactly what essential oils are meant to do. Amy Rempel is a professional aromatherapist who helps all kinds of people with physical and emotional issues using the power of scent as therapy. According to Amy, you can ACTUALLY use aromatherapy to reduce pain, balance your hormones, improve your digestion, and even sleep better by incorporating this kind of therapy into your daily routine.
To learn more about Amy and her aromatherapy practice, you can check out her website and social media links below:
Tell me about your professional background.
I have done a few things, I have a B.A. in Communication Studies and went into sales and marketing in the health food business and then I decided, a little later in life to make a switch. I became a certified Aromatherapist, Reiki, and EFT practitioner and started working in a clinic treating mainly women with emotional distress. I am also a best-selling author of two books, “I’m 30, Now What?” and “On Her Plate” and a speaker focusing on helping women find their worth.
What made you want to get into this field?
I have always wanted to be in the “healing” business and to be perfectly candid and I always said I wanted to heal like Jesus, lol. I actually wanted to be a Naturopath initially, but I really struggled with math unfortunately and I actually went on a very different path into the health food industry in the business route. I knew my calling was different though and I knew that I had to investigate this further and that was also the time I was introduced to essential oils. It was very timely! I was truly blown away at how they helped me. I was coming out of major surgery and because of the antibiotics I was on, I was getting sick every two weeks. After finding the right essential oil that helped my immunity and lessened the time of sickness, I knew this was something I had to learn more about, so Aromatherapy was my first love. After that, I just got deeper into different types of alternative practices by first using them myself and then because of my own transformations, I would then become certified so I could share it and help others.
What has been your favorite aspect of this work?
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a visible impact on someone’s health. I love getting a message about how I have helped someone live a more fulfilling life, whether that be without pain, better-balanced hormones, better digestion, sleep, and so many others! Knowing you had something to do with their betterment is the BEST and it makes me so happy that I am able to do that for them! I am also a connector, so I love being able to really get to know people. Being in this industry people feel very comfortable opening up to me and we get to feel connected so quickly that it turns into a really beautiful and special relationship.
Can you explain what aromatherapy is and what a typical session is like from start to finish?
So the specific definition of Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant extracts or essential oils during a massage or in a bath. But to me, it is herbal medicine. I use Aromatherapy during a massage, but the additional benefits from the essential oil last much longer than the actual massage, such as extended pain relief, better sleep at night or they feel more content throughout the day. It really depends on the essential oils used as each one has different emotional and physical benefits.
A session can be a massage or it can be a wellness consultation if someone is looking for tools to use at home for themselves and/or their family. We discuss their top 3 issues they are looking at natural solutions for and we go from there. By the end of the consult, they have full protocols they can use at home, or I can also start the treatments with them and teach them how to properly use everything, and then they can go home and be confident in how to use them. Either way, once they purchase their essential oils we meet again, in person or virtually to go over everything. My goal is to make my clients self-sufficient. On top of that, I continue to support them, through a learning group I have created and an essential oil app that I give to my clients. I truly want to empower them so they feel confident in taking care of themselves or their loved ones at home.
How can aromatherapy be supportive of overall healing and well-being?
Truth be told, there is an essential oil for everything, with this question being so broad, it’s hard to give a general answer because everyone is different and has different needs for their well-being and healing. However, I will say that aromatherapy, no matter what can give you comfort and relax you which gets you into that healthy parasympathetic state that we need for overall health. And let’s face it, essential oils smell so good that they can have an instant happy effect, which is good for everyone! This alone can keep our immunity strong and stress levels down.
Is there a modality in your practice that you have found to be the most beneficial to the people you work with?
I find Reiki to be the most helpful for an in-person session and the essential oils are best for having tools at home. I find with Reiki, I can really learn and understand the most about someone and how I can help them ongoing. It is treating and looking at the person’s emotional, spiritual, and physical health. I find this modality is a great way to really peel back the layers of someone to heal the subconscious issues they’re dealing with. The essential oils are a way to continue with this, but they are also helpful with everyday ailments or issues, physically or emotionally. It’s hard to pick just one as I feel these two are so connected and needed.
What is aromatherapy like from the patient’s point of view?
From treating someone to an Aromatherapy massage, I have gotten comments about how amazing it was and how relaxed they are. They also notice that once they are dressed and come out that they can still feel the essential oils at work, which is something I mentioned earlier. They have an ongoing effect for the rest of the day. I have also been told how they feel so cared for when I have treated them. There really is a lot of love that goes into it! Again, it does depend on the essential oils that I use in treatment because I can support various issues, I get a lot of different positive feedback on their results. I have even received messages the next day about how much I have helped them!
What would you say to someone skeptical about aromatherapy and its effectiveness? How do you approach that?
Honestly, I will ask them if they’ll try it out, but I don’t push and I don’t judge, I always say it with love. I’m not here to convince anyone, there are so many people who are open to aromatherapy and other alternative practices that I would much rather treat those people who want it. Of course, I hope those skeptics come around and that they pay attention to my success with the oils, but I’m okay if they don’t. There is only so much I can do.
Besides aromatherapy, do you have any universal health and well-being tips that you’d like to share?
Yes, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to treat our emotional stress, when we can deal with this we will all have less dis-ease in our body. Emotions and physical ailments are interconnected and its the emotional stress that comes first. If we can take the time to take care of ourselves, we will be much better off and healthier in every way.
If there was one piece of advice you could give to someone who is struggling, what would it be?
Well, I guess it depends on what they’re struggling with, but I would refer to my answer just above. Take care of it, talk to someone, see a Reiki or EFT practitioner to start working on that struggle to get through it. The good thing about EFT is that once you learn it, you can do it at home. This is another great tool for someone to use anytime they need it! I would also say having a good friend or family member you can talk to is so important to get any stress off of your chest or writing it in a journal is also helpful.
What resources would you recommend? (books, podcasts, websites that you’ve found helpful)
I am constantly working on myself, so I love anything personal development. If you are into essential oils there is a great book called “I Am Magnetic” and it’s about clearing self-worth and money blocks. I also love Gabby Bernstein’s books “The Universe Has Your Back” and I am currently reading “Super Attractor” by her. I also listen to her podcast as well as Oprah’s Super Soul Sundays sometimes. I also find following people on social media who inspire and teach also great, like the above mentioned. I also like authors Mel Robbins and Brene Brown for mindset growth.
Aromatherapy using essential oils is much more than just a pleasant scent. It’s something that works within you and continues to benefit you even long after the session is over.
To learn more about how Amy and aromatherapy can help you, visit Amy’s website and connect with her on social media below:
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