Golf and Essential Oils: Formulas for Weekend Warriors
Updated: Aug 4
“Mistakes are part of the game. It’s how well you recover from them, that’s the mark of a great player.” – Alice Cooper
If you’re a golf addict like me, the work week may not always be advantageous to playing 9 holes, so you try to jam as many holes into a short weekend as you can, especially if there’s a limited weather window. Trouble is, it can make for a sore back. Even though I know I’ll be sore, my desire to walk the course, feel the freshly mown grass under my feet, and occasionally hear the ball hit the sweet spot are strong calls that supersede any pain. Considering that I swing the club over 100 times and walk an average of 6 miles during 18 holes, no wonder I’m tired and sore. But alas, the next morning I wake up and, weather permitting, I’m ready to go!
Caring for ourselves and our bodies during golf season is a must. The spine, muscles, and energy needed to move our hips, shoulders, and arms take a toll on our bodies. Muscle strains cry out for relief. We need to engage the caregiver archetype during and after play. Caregiver energy is positively focused on short-term and long-term success and achievement. Caregivers are mentally strong, emotionally balanced, and have many skills to provide comfort for others and themselves.
“The most important shot in golf is the next one.” – Ben Hogan
I developed several great essential oil blends to use before and after rounds of golf. I place a 10% dilution of a golf blend on the lower back and upper shoulders to promote mind and muscle relaxation. These high dilution formulas are made specifically for small, targeted areas. As an alternative, I use a 2% to 3% dilution of these golf blends for an all over body massage.
Organic arnica and castor oils are fantastic carrier oils for the golf blends. Great essential oils to use in your custom golf blends include Cajeput Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. Cajuputi or Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis L. ct. camphor, Spike Lavender Lavandula latifolia, Black Pepper Piper nigrum, Ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Clove bud Syzygium aromaticum (L), and Peppermint Mentha x piperita L., Regular application of your golf blend can make your weekend warrior smile a bit wider, and who knows, it may just improve your score! Applying a golf blend to our lower back and shoulders is part of our caregiver energy to enhance both mental and physical performance. To all the weekend golf warriors, find a great golf blend and let your caregiver archetype flourish. It is an excellent choice to soothe our muscles, minds, and emotions. I hope I’ll see you on the links!
“Cajeput promotes alertness and focus due to its pungent-fresh aroma.” -Peter Holmes
References:
The relationships between golf and health: a scoping review, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27697939
Golf Injuries: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29329123
Holmes, Peter, (2016). Aromatic; A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics: Volume 1: Principles and Profiles; Philadelphia & London; Singing Dragon Publishing.
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