I have been practicing Chinese gong-fu tea as a hobby for many years and now that I have received my official tea expert certification, I would like to introduce you to the world of traditional tea ceremony, which gives you a very special mindfulness experience.
The ceremonies are performed with absolutely premium quality teas - green, black, white, oolong and pu'erh teas from China and Japan, from my own personal collection - and traditional tea sets are used.
We will take time to learn about tea, immersing ourselves in the smells, sights, temperatures and tastes, sharing our experiences, associations, thoughts, memories and emotions that tea brings to the surface.
It is important to know that these teas contain caffeine, although most of them contain very small amounts. But they also contain the calming, stress-relieving compound L-theanine, antioxidants, and some of them even act as probiotics... But I'll tell you about that live, as I have fun facts about the history of tea and the areas where it is grown 🙂
You know that feeling when you go to a nightclub and the loud, powerful music clears your mind of all thoughts in minutes.
And I'm sure you know that feeling when you're in a yoga class, paying attention to your body, aligning your movements with your breathing... and the thoughts just disappear again.
Techno-yoga combines the two: as the raw energy of the music meets the meditative movements of yoga, you're guaranteed to dissolve in the moment.
These classes are intense, dynamic and work the body, but because they are based on a rhythmic repetition of fairly basic Hatha poses, they are easy to follow for beginners. At the end, of course, there is a guided relaxation - NOT to techno music!
Stress will not go away by itself!
From my own personal challenges, I know how important it is to “take care” of the nervous system on a daily basis. Which sometimes fits in the evening, sometimes in the morning, sometimes just five minutes before bedtime... But if you work from home, or have a flexible commute, or are your own boss, why not file it in at lunchtime?
Yin yoga is a pleasant, slow form of yoga that is based on long, sustained stretches, so it can be enjoyed immediately after eating. In addition, stress hinders digestion and the calming exercises stimulate it, making it a great class for the middle of the day. Plus, the Yin yoga poses are mostly done with your eyes closed and supported by essential oils and soft music, so you're sure to be feeling smooth by the end of the 60 minutes 🙂
