Unit 5 CAM Project Example

Yoga, Mediation, & Aromatherapy 101

Course Syllabus
General Information
Instructor: Amber Sutphin
Email: ASutphin@kaplan.edu
Course Meetings: Thursdays at 6:00 PM (Class is an hour and a half long)
Credit Hours: TBD
Course Description
This course will serve as an introduction to aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga. Each topic will
have their origins covered, basic concepts, and how to implement them into ones life. Basic
terminology and tools of the trade will also be covered.
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Objectives
1. To understand the basics of aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga.
2. To learn the basic concepts of aromatherapy and safety guidelines.
3. To understand the different applications for aromatherapy.
4. To learn the different types of meditation.
5. To understand the tools and aids used within yoga.
6. To learn a basic level one flow of yoga.
Required Materials
Something to take notes with; i.e. paper and pen or laptop/tablet
Yoga mat or long, beach towel
A cushion or blanket to sit on
Suggested Materials
A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook by Bob Stahl, Ph. D and Elisha Goldstein, Ph.
D.
Grading
Scale: TBD
Grading will be based upon the cumulative score of the worksheets, journals, and tests.

General Course Outline Handout

Lesson One:
Aromatherapy 101
o
Where did it all start?
o
Are there differences in essential oils?

Pure vs diluted

Essential oils vs carrier oils

o
Is it Safe? The risk & side effects
o
What are the different types of uses/application and their benefits?
Lesson Two:
Meditation 101
o
Where did it all start?
o
What are the different types of meditation?
o
The Perfect Time to meditate
o
What are the benefits of meditation?
Lesson Three:
Yoga 101
o
Where did it all start?
o
What are the different types of yoga?
o
Tools of the Trade
o
Sanskrit names and English names
o
What are the benefits of yoga?

Aromatherapy 101
Lesson 1 Lecture
Lesson Summary: This lesson delves into the origins of aromatherapy as well as how to use
aromatherapy in your own life. Basic concepts like pure oils, diluted oils, essential oils, carrier
oils, and the application of them will also be covered.
Lesson Content:
Where did it all start? The origin story of aromatherapy.
Egyptians are thought to be the first to have distillation equipment and create oils infused
with herbs to be used in rituals, medicine, cosmetics, and perfumery. The Father of
Medicine, Hippocrates, studied the effects of essential oil on health and supported their
use for medicinal benefits. The term aromatherapy wasnt coined till the late 1920s. A
French chemist Ren-Maurice Gattefoss learned after sustaining a severe burn which he
quickly on reflex submerged in the nearest liquid, which was a vat of Lavender oil, that
the oil helped speed up the healing process without scarring. He then began studying
essential oils, and in 1937, he published the book Aromathrapie: Les Huiles essentielles
hormones vgtales which is still in print today. During WWII, Dr. Jean Valnet used
aromatherapy to treat soldiers. He wrote a book, The Practice of Aromatherapy. Later,
Madame Marguerite Maury, an Austrian biochemist, brought aromatherapy into the
world of cosmetics and their use in massage. Robert B. Tisserand, an English aromatherapist, wrote the first aromatherapy book in English in 1977, The Art of
It was all baby steps that evolved like any classification of science. Someone found
interest in the properties of these essential oils and began testing their capabilities to ease
peoples problems. So while the use of essential oils dates back less than one thousand
years, the use of aromatic plants for things like incense, medicine, and perfumery goes
back thousands of years.
Resource for these notes - Aromatherapy. (Aromatherapy, A Brief History http://www.edenbotanicals.com/aromatherapy-a-brief-history)
Are there differences in essential oils?
Pure oils are those that have been undiluted in the extraction process while diluted oils
are those that have been diluted, hence the name. Lets talk a bit about the different
extraction processes first before continuing.
Essential oils can be gathered through steam distillation and extraction, concretes and
absolutes, CO2 extracts, and organic extracts. There are specialized glands in aromatic
plants which is where the essential oils are produced. Distillation can be done via steam,
hydro, dry, vacuum, or destructive. These different methods of distillation essentially
draw out those essential oils to allow for collection. Expression is typically done with
citrus peels where the essential oils are located; the peel is subjected to high pressure
which squeezes the oil out. The essential oils created with this process are light in color
or colorless, have a light aroma, are used for skincare, and used for therapeutic purposes.
Concretes and absolutes use a solvent to extract the aromatic oil from the plant. This
creates the concrete which is a semi-solid to solid material containing pigments and
waxes. They can be used to make solid perfumes. The concrete can be processed further
with ethyl alcohol; after the ethyl alcohol is removed, the substance is then known as an
absolute. This is a highly concentrated form of fragrance. These two are typically used
for natural perfumery purposes.

CO2 extracts are a mix between essential oils and absolutes. Instead of using a solvent
for extraction, CO2 and pressure are used. The process results in either a select extract or
total extract depending on the amount of pressure used. The select extract is similar to
essential oils while total extract can be thicker and waxier like the absolutes. This process
is typically used by the food, body care, and herbal industries, but can be good for
aromatherapy and natural perfumery as well.
Organic extracts soak a flower in vegetable fat and then use alcohol as a solvent which
separates the oils from the fat. This process is good from body care, aromatherapy, and
perfumes. This is, however, a process that is meant for flowers like rose, jasmine,
carnation, orange blossom, and tuberose.
Pure essential oils, which will be labeled as 100%, are the end result of these extraction
processes. Using pure essential oils is not a recommended thing; they are very strong and
can cause adverse reaction. Make sure you are reading labels before purchasing essential
oils to make sure that they have been diluted.
An essential oil is diluted using a carrier oil. Carrier oils are a vegetable oil that isnt
harmful to the skin. This include almond oil, apricot kernel oil, argan oil, avocado oil,
coconut oil, and rosehip oil to name a few. Each has a little bit different qualities to them.
(Great resource for more about carrier oils and some suggested combinations with
essential oils: https://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/aclearn/features/aura-cacia-webinarcarrier-oils-may-23-2013%282%29.pdf) The amount of distillation can depend; it is wise
to start at 1% and see how your skin reacts before moving up to stronger concentrations.
A 1% concentration would be a teaspoon of carrier oil with 6 drops of essential oil.
(Great resource for concentration amounts:
http://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/documents/aura-cacia-essential-oil-dilutiontable.pdf)
An essential oil is a long list with each doing and smelling differently. Some examples
are tea tree oil, vanilla oil, orange oil, sandalwood oil, lavender oil, and spearmint and
peppermint oil. (Great resource for list of essential oils and describes the aromatherapy
benefits: https://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/aclearn/ar_directory.html)
Resource for these notes - http://www.edenbotanicals.com/extraction-methods
Is it safe? The risks & side effects

Aromatherapy is safe as long as one keeps in mind that it has to be used properly. There
are general safety suggests as well as dermal and pregnancy safety. With these
following safety tips in mind, it is unlikely to have serious injury or lasting physical
problems; there can, however, be occasional irritation or minor discomfort.
Basic things to think about with essential oils are their quality (pure, authentic, and
genuine essential oils are better), chemical composition (some oils are rich in aldehydes
and phenols which can cause skin reactions and should be diluted more so than other oils),
method of application (dermal application, inhaled, diffused or taken internally all have
different risks for different reasons), dosage/dilution (higher dilutions are more likely to
cause dermal reactions), integrity of skin (damaged, diseased, or inflamed skin is more
likely to be sensitive to oils and have a dermal reaction), and age of client (youth,
elderly, and pregnant or nursing women are more sensitive).
General safety tips: keep oils out of childrens and pets reach, dont use
photosensitizing oils before sun exposure, avoid prolonged use of same oils, learn about
oils prior to use, avoid using undiluted essential oils on skin, perform a skin patch test if
you are concerned about a reaction, keep essential oils away from eyes, essentials oils are
flammable and should be kept away from heat sources like candles, matches, etc., do not
use internally unless properly trained to do so safely. (National Association for Holistic
Aromatherapy has a list of their approved schools for education in aromatherapy:
https://www.naha.org/education/approved-schools/)
Dermal safety focuses on the use of essential oils upon the skin. The negative reactions
that can be seen are irritation, sensitization and phototoxicity or photosensitization. Use
caution with essential oils that are more of a dermal irritant on inflamed or allergic skin
conditions, avoid undiluted application, avoid using on open or damaged skin, and
perform skin patch tests if there is any uncertainty to test if there will be a reaction.
(Source for a table of dermal irritants, dermal sensitizers, photosensitizers, mucous
membrane irritants at: https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/)
Pregnancy Safety is both for the mother and the unborn child. The use of essential oils
is still a controversial topic with incomplete information about its safety. There is,
however, a list of essential oils to avoid during pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding.
(Table available at: https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/)
Resource for these notes: https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/
What are the different types of uses/applications and their benefits?
There are a few different forms of application including massage and body oil; facial
creams, lotions, and oils; baths; steam inhalation; aromatic spritzers; diffusion; and
different types of inhalation.
Massage and body oil uses a mixture of a carrier oil with essentials oils during massage
sessions. These massage oils can be useful for headaches, insomnia, pain relief, relieving
muscle spasms, or help with sprains or strains to name a few. The focus for the oils is
more focused on physical ailments.
Facial creams, lotions, and oils can be made from scratch or by adding essential oils to
unscented creams and lotions. These treatments focus more on slow aging of skin, scar
reduction, detoxify the skin, improve tone of skin, and soften and smooth skin. There are
plenty of other reasons for their use, but this type of application is typically aimed at
beauty and skin care.

Baths can be enhanced by putting 2-12 drops of essential oils into either a teaspoon of
honey, whole milk, or vegetable oil and adding the mix into the bath. This can help in
reducing stress, alleviating muscle aches, improving tone and health of skin, or stimulate
circulation. This method can be great for developing a calming feeling or easing physical
symptoms.
Steam inhalation is done by placing 3-7 drops of essential oil into boiling water, then
covering head with towel and breathing through the nose. This can help with congestion,
sinus infections, and enhancing respiratory function.
Aromatic spritzers are a blend of essential oils and water often used as a room freshener.
It can also be used a facial spritzer during massage sessions. They are beneficial for
enhancing breathing, soothing emotional states, and reducing undesirable odors.
Diffusion is typically a combination of a room diffuser and essential oils. Its basically a
humidifier that allows for oils to be used within it. This can be great for creating
environmental ambiance, reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing mood, and purifying and
improving air quality.
Different types of inhalation include the use of essential oils placed in bottles,
handkerchiefs, cotton balls, or on the skin. These are helpful for relieving stress,
uplifting mood, relieving nausea, and emotional support.
Resource for these notes: https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/aboutaromatherapy/methods-of-application/
Last part of this lecture is spent with students smelling some different types of essential oils and
carrier oils. This will be provided by the instructor. The students are allowed to use the oils on
cotton balls, but are asked to not apply to their skins to prevent any adverse reactions. This will
also be an open forum for students to ask any questions regarding essential oils, carrier oils, and
application.

Meditation 101
Lesson 2 Lecture

Lesson Two:
Meditation 101
o
Where did it all start?
o
What are the different types of meditation?
o
The Perfect Time to meditate
o
What are the benefits of meditation?

Lesson Summary: This lesson explores the roots of meditation as well as the different types of
meditation. As well as guides the individual to how to help build a meditation practice with
props, aromatherapy, and setting up a meditation center.
Lesson Content:
Where did it all start?
Meditation can be traced back to wall art in the Indus Valley approximately 5,000 to
3,500 BCE. Indian scriptures also describe meditation techniques dating back to around
3,000 years ago.
The essential cornerstone of meditation is still spiritual development regardless of culture
or location on the globe. Most major religions have incorporated meditation in some form
into their ideology. Judaism has the Kabala which is a meditative field of study with
hitbodedut as one of the best known meditative practices. Islam has Tafakkur which is a
reflection upon the universe type of meditation and Sufism which is a more mystical form.
Buddhism uses variations like Zen, Tibetan, and Theravadan to move towards
Enlightenment. Christianity isnt as obvious, but practices like counting rosary beads
and the Adoration are similar to meditation. One does not have to be religious to receive
the benefits from meditation though.
The United States saw an increase of yoga and meditation in the early 20th century when
Swami Vivekananda introduced them to the states. Paramehansa Yogananda and
Maharishi Mahesh helped to popularize yoga and meditation as well.
Resource for these notes: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meditation-modernlife/201307/overview-meditation-its-origins-and-traditions
What are the different types of meditation?
There are several different types of meditation; we will cover concentration meditation,
mindfulness meditation, and moving mediation techniques.
Concentration meditation involves focusing on a focal point. That focal point can be
the breath, a mantra, a candle flame, listening to a repetitive gong, or counting beads on a
rosary. Every time the mind wanders off, the practice is to refocus upon the focal point.
Mindfulness meditation is focused on being an observer to ones thoughts. It could be
described like cloud watching; you observe the cloud as it passes and then move to the
next cloud. A sense of detachment is also attempted in this type of meditation in an
attempt to not judge those thoughts that pass or get caught up in them.
Moving meditation techniques include activities like tai chi, qigong, and walking
meditation. Unlike most meditation which is done in a seated, laying, or nonmoving
position, move mediation focuses on stillness in the mind with defined movements.

The Perfect Time to meditate

There is no such thing as a perfect time in the sense of it being a universal time. Some
individuals will enjoy starting their day with a meditation session while others will prefer
after their day is over. For some, it can help prepare them for a stressful event while
others will use it to unwind from those stressful events. Others might find a before and
after as a beneficial decision rather than an either or type of decision.
A meditation practice can benefit from some props and aids though. A cushion of some
type to sit on is great when trying to sit still from long periods of times. Two examples
are dhyana meditation cushions and zafu. The dhyana meditation cushion has a twotiered design which can help for knee support while a zafu is a round cushion. Tibetan
singing bowls can add a nice tone to a practice; this can be done with one in person a CD
containing tracks with the bowls being used. Water fountains can also create some nice
ambient noise for meditation while candles can add some ambient lighting or act as a
focal point for practice. Incense can also bring a nice aroma for practice or essential oil
whether used as a room spritzer or dermal application. A statue of some kind may be nice
as well. Elephants with their trunk up are a symbol of good luck; a happy monk statue is
a symbol of good luck as well. More traditional options are a statue of Buddha which can
be calming to look at or Foo dogs, which are actually lions not dogs, are a symbol of
protection. (A great resource to help build you meditation space can be found here:
http://life.gaiam.com/article/make-your-space-sacred)
What are the benefits of meditation?
There are several benefits of meditation due to its ability to activate the relaxation
response. This is something that has been studied and has scientific backing. The shortterm benefits include lower blood pressure, improved blood circulation, lower heart rate,
less perspiration, slower respiratory rate, less anxiety, lower blood cortisol levels, more
feelings of well-being, less stress, and deeper relaxation. Researchers are now looking
into the long-term benefits of meditation and noting some positive effects on brain and
immune function.
Resource from http://life.gaiam.com/article/meditation-101-techniques-benefits-beginners-how
Last part of this lecture is spent with a guided meditation from A Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction Workbook by Bob Stahl, Ph. D and Elisha Goldstein, Ph. D. The class will have been
informed to bring something like a cushion or blanket that they can sit comfortably on for some
time. First, a five minute mindful breathing will be done as a class. Second, a fifteen minute
body scan and/or sitting meditation will be done as a class. If time allows, all three will be done
with little breaks between for questions about that specific practice or other meditation related
questions.

Yoga 101
Lesson 3 Lecture
Lesson Summary: This lesson explores the roots of meditation as well as the different types of
meditation. As well as guides the individual to how to help build a meditation practice with
props, aromatherapy, and setting up a meditation center.
Lesson Summary: This lesson looks at the history and start of yoga. There is a closer look taken
at the different types of yoga and props that can aid in yoga practice. The differences with the
Sanskrit and English name are touch on, and the benefits of yoga discussed.
Lesson Content:
Where did it all start?
Yoga began as an oral tradition with a teacher passing their knowledge directly to their
students. It is an Indian sage named Patanjali who is created with taking the oral
traditions and making a book called Yoga Sutra which is a 2,000 year old treatise on
yogic philosophy. This book is the framework upon which all yoga practiced today is
built and based around. Hatha yoga, or the physical aspect of yoga, was meant to serve as
an aid for meditation. It was meant to prepare the body for the stillness that meditation
asks for and build the physical strength and stamina that would allow for a calm mind.
Resource for lecture notes: http://www.yogajournal.com/article/beginners/the-roots-ofyoga/
What are the different types of yoga
There are many different types of yoga. Some include anusara, ashtanga, Bikram,
hatha, hot yoga, iyengar, restorative, and vinyasa.
Anusara was developed by John Friend in 1997 and revolves around a belief that we are
filled with an intrinsic goodness. The goal of this yoga is to open students hearts,
experience grace, and let that goodness shine through. The classes are rigorous both for
the body and the mind.
Ashtanga was developed by Pattabhi Jois in the 1970s and has a rigorous sequence of
postures that are linked with the breath. The classes are hot, sweaty, physically
demanding practice.
Bikram was developed by Bikram Choudhury around 30 years ago and is done in an
artificially heated room. There are a series of 26 poses that are done in a specific
sequence. The classes are hot and sweaty while also demanding.
Hatha is a rather generic type of yoga in that it teaches physical postures. It is an
introduction to the basic yoga postures with the classes being more relaxed and helping
one feel longer and looser.
Hot yoga is similar to Bikram. The difference is that hot yoga doesnt follow the
Bikrams sequence. The room is still heated, so the classes are hot, sweaty, and
demanding.
Iyengar was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar. The type of yoga focuses on alignment within
the poses and uses props often to help with this alignment. The classes wont get your
heart racing, but it is still physically and mentally challenging.
Restorative focuses on relaxing and soothing frayed nerves and uses passive poses. The
class is not intense, but instead can leave a person feeling rejuvenated and rested.

Vinyasa is often called a flow class. The goal for the class is to have fluid, movementintensive practices. The intensity of this class can be similar to ashtanga.
Resource for the lecture notes: http://life.gaiam.com/article/beginners-guide-8-majorstyles-yoga
Tools of the Trade
Yoga uses some specific tools of the trade to help improve the quality of practice. For
some, it can help them keep in a posture that they arent as flexible in or can help them
achieve a deeper stretch. Some examples of yoga props that are often used include blocks,
blankets, straps, yoga wheel, chairs, bolsters, and sometimes a rope wall. (For references
of some examples: http://www.gaiam.com/yoga-props-accessories/)
Sanskrit names and English names
Yoga poses have a Sanskrit name which is often translated into English. Some teachers
will give both names while others will only use the Sanskrit name and other only use
English names. It depends on the teacher. Here are a few examples: chair pose =
utkatasana; downward-facing dog = adho mukha svanasana; eagle pose = garudasana;
extended triangle pose = utthita trikonasana; and half moon pose = ardha chandrasana.
(More examples and images of the poses can be found here:
http://www.yogajournal.com/category/poses/)
Resource for the lecture notes:
http://www.yogajournal.com/category/poses/types/standing/
What are the benefits of yoga?
Yoga has many benefits, and each yoga type has slightly different benefits. Some benefits
are increasing endurance, strength, and flexibility; mental endurance and physical
stamina are tested and increased; build muscles that help better support the spine; posture
improves over time; and muscles are tightened and lengthened in appropriate places.
Resource for lecture notes: http://life.gaiam.com/article/benefits-yoga
Last part of this lecture is spent with a guided mindful lying yoga from A Mindfulness-Based
Stress Reduction Workbook by Bob Stahl, Ph. D and Elisha Goldstein, Ph. D. The class will have
been informed to bring something like a towel, blanket or yoga mat so they can comfortably do
yoga. The session chosen will either by fifteen or thirty minutes depending on the amount of
time available. The class will then be given an opportunity to ask questions about yoga.