Squamish Wellness Directory

Wellness Wheel - One Woman's Journey for Healing: by Heidi Nielsen

When I think of the ways aromatherapy has transformed my life, I feel incredibly grateful.

Whether I am hopping into the bath with some Lavender, using Peppermint on a tissue during a road trip, or rubbing a Eucalyptus salve on my chest when I am fighting a cold, I feel very blessed to have these essences in my life.

I was introduced to Aromatherapy during my pregnancy with my son Sage, over 15 years ago. Having limited knowledge as to what essential oils were, I was inspired to learn more about their benefits, and so I embarked on a journey into the world of Aromatherapy. I quickly became enchanted. My attraction to scent takes me back to my childhood and a great love for my scratch-and sniff-sticker collection. I was also given a Christmas Storybook complete with smelly sticker of peppermint candy cane, pine tree, gingerbread cookies and  sweet orange. I still have that book in my collection; scratched dry, so to speak.

Aromatherapy is the holistic therapeutic application of genuine essential oils for enhancing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health of the individual. Genuine essential oils are steam distilled plant essences. Essential oils can also be ‘expressed’ by squeezing the rind of a fruit to obtain their vital oils. These vital oils are the life force of the plant, their quintessence, whether bark or flower, grass or root, essential oils are the aromatic molecules contained within the plant.

My introduction to these amazing essences, led me along a path to different healing modalities. It has shaped my life and taught me different ways to balance and heal at various times on my journey. Aromatherapy led me to Herbal medicine, which inspired me to deepen my knowledge of the plants that give forth their medicine and healing spirit. I learned how to use them in teas and tinctures, all the while harvesting and planting, watering and tending the plants themselves.

Essential oils can be used in many different ways to help to balance our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual states, in other words, our holistic health.

When I created the Wellness Wheel it began as a Medicine Wheel using the four elements: Water, Air, Earth and Fire - named after four of my nine synergies. It then expanded and transformed into a promotional tool to educate others about my synergies and my philosophy around the wheel. It serves the purpose of a medicine wheel/ lotus flower/sacred geometry/chakra wheel while also incorporating my other disciplines Mountain Shamanism and Medicine Wheel Teachings. The Wellness Wheel represents the present culmination of this knowledge and experience with plants, healings philosophies and aromatherapy.

Qualities of Essential Oils

Aromatherapy has gained serious momentum over the past ten years.

Everywhere I look a new line of essential oils appear on the market. More and more people have heard of aromatherapy and are interested in learning more. There are important reasons to be to be educated in the use of essential oils, but the fact is, with a bit of knowledge and experience, anyone can feel empowered to use essential oils.

It can be quite overwhelming to the newcomer entering our fragrant world, questions like,  Which oils are the best ? Are there varying qualities ? What can they do for me ? are all very common.

At the time when I began investigating for the purchase of my starter kit fifteen years ago,  I had no idea of the importance of quality in an essential oil. I would simply smell the oils I wanted and then buy them. With no comparison, I ended up with, what I would refer to as, ‘commercial quality essential oils.’

I eventually used these oils in my diffuser only. For any topical application, and especially for a therapeutic purpose, it is important to use essential oils of optimum quality so that you may obtain the full potential of healing held within the oil.

With experience, research and lots of questions, I am happy to have a few reliable sources, within the industry to chose from. I want to be assured that what I am using on my body and on my clients, is as pure, natural and ‘alive’ as possible.

‘Generally speaking,’ the oils available the retail market today run the risk of adulteration. This means the oils may be stretched or extended with another cheaper product, even a vegetable based oil. Essential oils are steam distilled or expressed concentrates. They are the life force of the plant. They are to be pure and uncompromised. Can the store manager tell you about the plant, the distillation, the trip from grower to distiller to wholesaler to retailer ? This series of interactions leaves plenty of room for compromising the purity of the essence. This is not to suggest that every oil available on retail market is adulterated, but with a bit of experience  and education you can be empowered to recognize the difference  between a quality essential oil and an oil you may just want to use in your diffuser.

When looking to purchase essential oils there are a few important tips to know.

From Nature to Nurture Aromatherapy and Massage... make good scents

 

Aromatherapy Massage & Essential Oil Products

It is within your power to take your health into your own hands to heal yourself.

Heidi L Nielsen - Certified Aromatherapist
International Certification with Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt and the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, July 1997. Aromatherapy Practitioner Program with Jade Shutes and The Institute of Dynamic Aromatherapy, March 1997. Holistic Aromatherapy Massage Certification with Lynda Henderson and Paul Crowder, December 1997.

Working with essential oils for over 10 years has enriched my life and taught me a great respect for plants and nature as well as to create a desire to learn more about Herbology, Ayurveda and Natural medicine.

I am proud to share with you a line of Therapeutic Grade Essential oils and Synergies, Salves, Solid Perfumes and Beeswax Candles & Adornments.

Aromatic House Calls & Consultations available.

604 892-9183 home

604 815-3194 cell

merrymaid1968@hotmail.com

PO Box 1333
Squamish, BC V8B 0A9

Aromatherapy Workshop

History and Practical uses of Essential Oils and Salves
Free Workshop brought to you by The Womenʼs Health Network

Take home a Customized Scented Salve!

Thursday May 14th 7-9pm
Squamish Public Library
37907 2nd Ave
Downtown Squamish

25 spots only!

To Register:
Please call Squamish Public Library
at 604 892-3110

For more information call:
Heidi Nielsen 604 892-9183

Download Poster for Aromatherapy Workshop

Your On-line Directory to Wellness!

Welcome to the Squamish Wellness Directory, your online resource for practitioners, education and information about all things healthy. You can find practitioners and learn more about what they do and what events they are hosting. Read articles about how you can make your life healthier in body, mind and spirit.

Learn about wellness and how the diverse, gifted and inspiring practitioners of Squamish and the Sea to Sky corridor can help you on your path to greater health and happiness.

Get started by discovering who the practitioners are and what they do with the Find Practitioners and Articles column. Each category lists people and has a link to informative articles.

Click on the Events category to find out what exciting, informative and fun wellness workshops and practitioner trainings are happening.

Enjoy and please post your feedback and questions after you read. You can also email info@squamishwellness.ca

If you are a practitioner and would like to be listed please email info@ahealthierme.ca or call 604-892-5452 for more information.

Enjoy good health,

The Squamish Wellness Practitioners