A Space to Slow Down
Private Aromatic Meditation & Breathwork in Woodside, CA
Held in a private setting in Woodside, California, these one-to-one meditation and breathwork sessions offer a quieter, more personalized alternative to traditional studio environments for those throughout Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Portola Valley, and the surrounding Peninsula.
About the Practice
These private sessions offer a quieter, more sensory-centered approach to meditation, using scent, breath, and guided awareness to help settle the body and quiet the mind.
Each session brings together guided meditation, subtle sound, and essential oils used as aromatic anchors throughout the practice. This sensory approach can be especially supportive for those who find traditional meditation difficult, struggle with a busy mind, or prefer the individual attention of a one-to-one setting.
The session is shaped around your intentions and experience, with a practitioner-formulated aromatic blend selected to support the focus of the practice. Breathwork is woven throughout, emphasizing gentle, calming patterns associated with grounding, relaxation, and parasympathetic nervous system support.
Who It’s For
This practice is designed for those who want to begin or deepen a meditation practice through breath, scent, and guided awareness in a private, personalized setting.
It may be especially supportive for those who find traditional meditation difficult, prefer individual guidance, or are curious about exploring a more sensory and embodied approach. No previous meditation or breathwork experience is necessary. Each session is adapted to the individual, making the practice approachable for beginners while offering experienced practitioners a different way to deepen their awareness.
The Space & Setting
Sessions are held in my private home studio, set within a redwood forest in Woodside, California, near Palo Alto and the surrounding Peninsula.
With no classes or other clients coming and going, the studio offers a rare sense of separation from the outside world. Each session is individually composed, with the pacing, aromatic blend, and practices selected to reflect the intention of the session.
What to Expect
At the beginning of each session, we take a few minutes to check in and establish what would be most useful to focus on that day. An aromatic inhaler is prepared in advance specifically for the session and is yours to continue working with at home.
The guided practice is followed by time for integration over an herbal tea chosen to complement the experience.
Private sessions are held one-to-one in my Woodside studio.
60 minutes · $250
New clients begin with a complimentary 15-minute phone or video conversation to explore whether this practice is the right fit.
Meet Your Guide
I’m Françoise Decatrel, founder of The Way Apothecary. For more than a decade, I’ve worked with aromatherapy, breathwork, meditation, and sound as tools to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and move through stress in a more grounded way.
Most people have experienced essential oils casually, but working with scent in this intentional and immersive way can completely change the meditation experience. Aromatherapy becomes a point of focus, helping guide awareness back to the breath, body, and present moment.
These gatherings bring those practices together in a calm, sensory-centered setting, using scent, guided breathwork, meditation, and subtle sound to help quiet the mind and support a deeper sense of presence and ease.