Candles are scientifically proven to soothe us. The gentle, mesmerizing quality of their light makes them a perfect aid for any relaxation routine. Combine looking at a soothing candle flame with the therapy of nature-made scents of essential oils and transform your mood. Check out more here on the benefits of Aromatherapy Candles like those in our shop and also on my our collection is strictly Soy and Coconut based wax.
It’s a candle’s flame that helps to soothe our soul – reducing stress and increasing self-awareness. The soft illumination helps us to calm down and even achieve a meditative state.
But how does a candle flame help to calm us down and relax our minds?
The low light that comes from a candle is captured by your sight and sent straight to your brain for processing. Because of our associations with candlelight, the body begins to relax – helping how we feel emotionally and physically.
Some of the perks of feeling more relaxed include more energy, better sleep, enhanced immunity, less pain and a more pleasant personality.
The Candle Flame Itself Is Soothing And Induces Relaxation
There is nothing quite like the whispering, crackling sound that comes out of a slow-burning candle. Listening to the noise can help you relax at the end of a hectic day or even calm down frazzled nerves if you are going through a period of anxiety. Candle flames are scientifically proven to reduce stress and even help us achieve a more meditative state, as the low light is associated with relaxation in our brains. We will touch on that a bit more in the next section, so stay tuned! The candle flame’s sight is also soothing, especially when combined with the soft, ambient noise. The silhouette can enhance the spectacle that the fire creates against a wall, so if you are trying to use a candle to relax, do so in a dark or semi-dark room. As you feel relaxed, you will sleep better, strengthen your immune system, and improve your overall emotional state. Make sure you do not leave them on if you feel yourself drifting off to sleep, however! Your safety is the most crucial element.
Many People Use Candle Flames For Meditation
Candles have long been used to help people meditate. Meditation helps relax the waves generated by the brain to get in better control of your emotions and improve your mood. Meditation benefits are manifold, from decreasing your blood pressure and heart rate to enhancing your body’s immune response. It may take you a while to get the hang of it, so don’t give up! Use candles to customize your space and assist with your training. While you light your candles, use that time to ready yourself for a meditative session.
Use a specific scent for your meditation. As time progresses, the smell will become associated with the soothing state of meditation and make it easier to achieve that inner peacefulness. The relaxation that candles help to induce assists many people who are trying to meditate. Some look at a candle flame while clearing their thoughts, and others close their eyes and only listen to the whispering sound that the candle makes. Some candles are poured with a wooden wick to mimic the sound of a fireplace, so you can engage more of your senses while meditating!
The Low Light Puts The Brain In A Relaxed State
Watching television, working on the computer, and scrolling through images on your smartphone bombard your brain with a high-intensity light, often referred to as “blue light.” It is the same with fluorescent lights (how many disturbing scenes in movies involve fluorescent lights?). Over time, this light can cause anxiety and a more deprived mental state. Though we may need these lights for our daily functionality and productivity, we also need a break from them to maintain our health and sanity. Low light helps induce a relaxed mental state, so turn off the lights in your house and light a few candles. Maybe turn on a low-level lamp if the candles’ glow is not enough for you to see. In just a few minutes, your brain waves will start to slow down, and you will feel calmer. If you are interested in the science of it, we will explain it briefly. Looking at a candle flame allows our brain to shift from a beta brainwave to an alpha brainwave state. That means we shift gears from alertness and reactivity into relaxation and creativity. While we need both states for a healthy brain function, we often forget to allow ourselves to slip into that alpha brainwave state. Alpha brainwaves then shift into theta brainwaves, which is where we can meditate. Yay! All of this happens within a few minutes, and you have earned that!
Ironically, Relaxation Leads To More Energy
You might be tempted to believe that anxiety leads to more energy and relaxation leads to less energy, but in fact, the opposite is true. In actuality, relaxation ultimately leads to higher energy levels. The brain works on more optimal wavelengths to think through what you are doing and why you are doing it. With more self-awareness, you can better focus on the task at hand and see it through to completion. Moreover, you just may find that you have the energy to exercise – more than you do when you are anxious.Coming out of a relaxed state, you may feel more highly motivated, energized, and ready to face whatever tasks may lay ahead of you. Incorporating a relaxation session may not seem intuitive at first – we all lead busy lives and may not have much free time to “waste” on meditating or relaxing. However, it is an integral part of leading a healthy, balanced life. Stress decreases your energy to engage in meaningful and productive tasks; people who deal with chronic anxiety may run around continuously, but they accomplish very little.
Another Benefit Of Looking At A Candle Flame Is Improved Mood
The benefits of candles are immense – they can even help brighten your mood! Think about your overall perspective when you feel anxious and uptight. You are probably easily irritated and more prone to angry outbursts than when you are relaxed and calm. The brain functions that make you feel calm are also associated with an improved mood. So if you suffer from anxiety, depression, or any other mood disorders, or if you just want to feel all-around better even when you don’t necessarily feel bad, try lighting some candles and looking at them as they burn.
Though we will discuss the difference the scent of a candle can make later on in this article, let’s touch on that briefly. When you inhale a particular fragrance, the neurological effect of that can also alter your mood. The triggered area in your brain is associated with emotions, and it can easily soothe or excite you, depending on which memories are tied to that scent. Believe it or not, this is based on research conducted by the Sense of Smell Institute through the Fragrance Foundation. Isn’t it fun to know that exists?
Even Your Immune System Can Benefit From Candles
So much of your body’s health is dependent upon your mental state and emotional health. When your mental state is weak – you are anxious, sleepless, and depressed – you are more likely to get sick, whether or not you are eating healthy foods. However, you are more likely to eat poorly when you feel unwell, as no one wants to cook a full meal when they feel awful. Fatigue and anxiety lead to poor health, which can then cause a vicious cycle with your health as it snowballs.
The improved mental and emotional state that comes from burning candles can improve your body’s immune response. Your immune system is more prepared to fight off invaders, and as a bonus, you are more likely to get more and better sleep, eat healthier foods, and get outside and exercise. Your home feels happier, cozier, and more relaxed, and as a result, you will feel like a more balanced person. If you are not familiar with the concept of Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), it is the feeling of coziness and contentment one feels in their home. It is a Danish concept that is gaining trendiness in the decor world, and some warm candles are a great way to achieve Hygge.
