retail spotlight: Yogandha natural oils

We caught up with entrepreneur Sinead Duffy and the story behind her new brand Yogandha natural oils. Yogandha is available at the triyoga retail spaces in Camden, Chelsea and Soho.

where did the idea for Yogandha come from?

When I went to India to do my teacher training, I brought my usual stock of essential oils. They are so multi-functinoal. But while on Vipasana, I felt their more meditative qualities. I knew in my head that Sandalwood had been used in yoga and meditation since records began, but I hadn’t felt the why of that until I experienced them in deep meditation. They are a gateway to the meditative mind.

what does Yogandha mean?

After returning from India, I started researching the use of these magic herbs – frankincense, cedarwood, jasmine – and discovered that their use in yoga is a part of bhakti yoga (yoga of the heart) and a part of puja (ritual) called gandha. So, I merged the word yoga and gandha to create Yogandha. I spent 3 years meditating and formulating on the intentions of my yoga students – the result was 3 rollerballs that you apply, just as gandha has been applied for 5000 years: right on the skin to give an instant shift in energy and mood.

what’s the science behind a scent-enhancing your yoga practice?

Not many people know that the sense of smell is the only sense that can bypass the thinking front-brain and goes straight to the older, more meditative back brain – the part we try to access in yoga and meditation. That’s why it’s been used in yoga and meditation since Vedic texts began.  It works for yoga in two ways:

  • gandha gets you into the headspace for practice. For example, frankincense slows and deepens the breath, and that’s why it’s in the Yogandha Ground rollerball.
  • the sense of smell is located in the back-brain, the pre-rational and pre-temporal part. We experience this as ‘smells that bring us back’, and it’s a power we can harness for our practice. If you use Yogandha Ground (or Salute, or Balance) with your practice every day, your body will remember the yogic state and your mind will be more calm instantly.

in addition to pre + post practice, when else can you use the oils?

For me, using the oils every single day is key to get daily elements of bhakti yoga. I use Yogandha Detox in the shower every morning. It works on multiple levels by clearing your mind and also your skin and organs of detoxification. When I apply, I reaffirm my detox intention – to let go of what no longer serves me. Intention needs daily repetition and the oils are a vehicle for that.

I use Yogandha Relax as face oil every night – frankincense is amazing for the skin and it sends me off to sleep. I use Yogandha Balance to balance my monthly hormonal cycle (I’m pretty sure it’s saved my marriage!). Yogandha Salute keeps me going when I am tired (we have a bottle in the car to keep alert on journeys). It makes such a difference to how you feel, instantly. I love when people discover their own uses and tell me – the herbs inform your day on every level!

what’s your favourite Yogandha oil to use during the winter?

I use Yogandha Muscle Soothe all winter for its warming properties. It’s full of ginger, so I use it for any aches and pains for me and my kids. Both my kids have a bottle each in their room and use after football and for sore tummies.

Yogandha Detox is perfect for the upcoming festive season. Lemongrass, sweet fennel and juniper berry mixed together as a cocktail to forgive all other cocktails.

what would you recommend as a perfect Christmas present for someone new to Yogandha oils?

We have put together gift packs:

Feel Relaxed has Yogandha Ground rollerball (which has Frankincense and Myrrh – 2 out of 3 wise men can’t be wrong, eh?) and Yogandha Relax body oil which is so soothing, nourishing and relaxing.

Feel Restored gift set (above)

Feel Restored has Yogandha Detox body oil which is a total body feel good and Yogandha Salute – the uplifting Rollerball (which was reviewed on TV a few weeks ago and called ‘a wonderbra for the mind’!)

For Her (left) and For Him (right) gift sets

We also have a For Her (Relax and Balance) and a For Him (Muscle Soothe and Ground) gift sets. I recently heard that Colin Farrell bought Muscle Soothe – I am pretty chuffed with that!

When you are buying 100% natural herbal daily products for yourself or others – don’t think – just go with your gut. You instinctively feel what your own body and those close to you need. A lot of Yogandha is about reconnecting with and further exploring that beautiful, earthy instinct.

Connect with Sinead and Yogandha at [email protected].

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