The arrival of Spring often inspires us with thoughts of new beginnings. Getting "in shape" seems important. We may decide to start an exercise program which might include jogging or bicycling, yoga classes, bodybuilding, etc.

If we have not exercised in a while, we might need some encouragement. While it sounds like a good idea, when we start exercising, we may find that the body needs increased stamina to follow the routine we set for ourselves or which a coach suggests. To help increase stamina, you might inhale any of the following essential oils.

Angelica
Black Pepper
Clove
Peppermint
Basil
Cardamon
Sage
Pine
Benzoin
Cinnamon
Ginger
Cypress

If your exercise program is one you will do at home, you can use these essential oils either individually or make a blend, which you can add to a light ring or electric diffuser for use while you are exercising. If your routine is done in a gym or outdoors, you may add a few drops to a hanky, flannel, or cotton square or ball and tuck into your workout suit so you can inhale the aroma as you are exercising. To produce a relaxing but focused atmosphere during a yoga workout, you might use one of the candle-warmer diffusers.

While you can inhale a single oil, it is usually more pleasant to blend a few oils together. If you like clean, fresh aromas, you could use pine, cypress or peppermint. The spices-cardamon, cinnamon, clove, ginger and black pepper blend nicely together and could be freshened using pine or peppermint. Basil has a strong personality of its own but blends well with black pepper, ginger, pine, peppermint and clove. Angelica, with its earthy, rich herbaceous, pepper-like aroma, also blends with pine.

If you would like to improve your athletic performance by increasing blood circulation, you might use some of the following essential oils.

Cypress
Geranium
Lemongrass
Eucalyptus
Ginger
Rosemary
Fennel
Juniper

Before you begin exercising, you might use your chosen essential oils in a massage oil which you can apply to increase your circulation. The essential oils can be used individually or combined in a blend. When applying to a local area, for each ounce of carrier or fixed oil, you might add about 24 drops (3% of essential oil). However, do not add more than 8 drops of lemongrass (1%) because it is a hot, burning oil. If you are going to apply it as an all over massage, then decreasing to 1% (8 drops per ounce) may be sufficient.

When you are making a blend, you might try fennel, geranium, rosemary and juniper, or rosemary, geranium, ginger and lemongrass also blend well together.

As an athlete, having good blood circulation is important. Your blood brings the oxygen for energy to your individual cells from your lungs and brings nutrients for fuel from your digestive organs to your cells.

The citrus oils of grapefruit, lemon and bergamot as well as camomile, cedar and frankincense improve the integrity of your blood vessels helping the blood pump faster and with more force to help the blood vessels stay strong and flexible.

The pleasure and assistance essential oils add to your routine may help you with the persistence necessary for achieving good results.