Up Your Meditation Game with Kajio Perfumery & Aromatics

In a world where being busy is a status symbol, burnt out is the new norm, and caffeine + Adderall can be found in every household, it's no wonder we've reverted to ancient ways of chillin' the fuck out. Meditation is the new black, with celebrities swearing by it and scientists and gurus discussing the benefits on podcasts and talkshows everywhere. Calgary has certainly embraced this venerable Buddhist tradition with a modern twist! 
I'm happy to see we are realizing the importance of reducing stress + 

increasing mindfulness for the ultimate mental health benefits; 

and Kajio is making it an even more beautiful experience.

I had the privilege of meeting Kajio's creator Kaitlin Zarowny-Roth during my time working at Juice Because; light-hearted and kind, she embodies the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. She emanates a blissed out, balanced energy that will make you wonder what her secret is (and I'm here to tell you.)

Her desire to seek out holistic methods of achieving inner peace and stability sent her on a journey that would land her at the Wild Rose College of Alberta, becoming certified in Flower Essences. A girl of all trades, she's also a Reiki practitioner with two Bachelor's degrees in sociology and archaeology. She started making her products out of her house several years ago and has continued to tweak + perfect the formulas to 

what they are today.

I was lucky enough to try her luxurious Balancing bundle - which includes a bath soak, a meditation roll on and a massage oil. While she has a calming and energizing range of products as well, I was enamoured with the Balancing scent. In the world of aromatherapy when you're drawn to a certain essential oil, it means you could probably benefit from the emotional/psychological effects of that oil.

While all of her products have the grounding scents of Frankincense + Myrrh, this blend also contains Patchouli + Clary Sage. Frankincense is earthing and grounding and has been used in meditative practices for centuries. A beautiful spiritual oil, it is only enhanced when combined with the herbaceous scent of myrrh, touted for it's ability to balance emotions. I'll mention now that both these oils are amazing and renowned for their anti-aging benefits as well, so you'll be happy to know Kajio makes a facial serum, too!

I used the meditation roller on my temples and pulse points on my arms. The steel ball felt cool and calming. I put on one of my favourite guided meditations, and let the magic happen. As an aromatherapy junkie, I usually meditate with Frankincense and Lavender in my diffuser, but I enjoyed this blend so much more! I think the game changer was the Patchouli - this oil, when inhaled, can have antidepressant effects by stimulating the brain's release of serotonin. Clary sage is also amazing for reducing anxiety and improving hormonal balance and spiritual clarity. I felt beyond euphoric - as someone with a tirelessly racing mind, meditating is a huge struggle. Guided meditation is a must for me, and the roll-on felt like a guide itself, clearing my mind of mental chatter and allowing me to be more present.

I next tried the massage oil, which came with a special massage technique guide. The flow of the massage reminded me of a lymphatic drainage technique, always moving upward on the body. I like that this felt like it released emotional tension and stress from my body, and also toxins from my lymph system. I shook the bottle beforehand as instructed + the oil imparted a subtle glow to my skin that I loved. The base oils are jojoba and fractionated coconut oil; both light, fast absorbing and non-comedogenic. I massaged these oils over my stomach and focused here for a while because I have digestive issues that are worsened by stress, and some of the oils like mandarin and frankincense have carminative and digestion supportive effects. 

Lastly, I tried the bath soak - I'm not a huge bath person, and I only incorporate them on super serious self care nights where I go all out with candles and wine and the whole nine yards. I can't half ass a bath. Anyways, the sea salt and Epsom salt in this soak were great muscle relaxants, and I made sure to soak all the way up to my neck where I hold most of my stress. The magnesium content in these salts do physically relax muscle tension and the scents (patchouli, red mandarin, clary sage, frankincense and myrrh) allowed for amazing mental relaxation. I'll also mention that these essential oils have some aphrodisiac properties, so if you decide not to bathe alone, you're in for a fun night!

All in all, I was so impressed with these products - the packaging is high quality and luxurious. The ingredients are clean and cruelty free. The essential oil blends are intentional, well balanced, therapeutic and smell amazing. I worked for an internationally renowned company (well established for over 30 years in the natural skincare world) and Kajio's ingredients and quality are extremely comparable.

So, next time you're headed to Modern + Mindful, YogaMCC, a Gold Minds meditation or a yin yoga class - make sure you have your roll on in hand! And then come home for a mindful bath and a stress relieving massage - PERFECTION! 💗 

Have you tried aromatherapy for mental health? What do you think? Let me know!