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Best Teas for a Yoga Lifestyle
"Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole earth revolves— slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future." —Thich Nhat Hanh
Tea, Yoga and Meditation go hand in hand and are great for your health. In fact, many yoga studios and yoga teachers serve Lifetime Tea after their classes. Drinking tea after meditating and performing yoga poses (asanas) gives Yoga students (Yogi’s) a way to slowly go from the peaceful experience back into the real world. I will offer insight as to why tea, meditation and yoga are beneficial to your health and what types of teas makes a great ending to a rejuvenating or relaxing workout.
One of the challenges of meditation is how to deal with your mind wandering while you're just sitting there. One way to ease into the concept is to do a moving meditation. My moving meditations are yoga and tea. Just taking the time to brew a cup of tea mindfully can quiet my mental chatter and help me tune into the present moment and stay connected to my breath.
How to Meditate With Tea:
Boil Water-
Simply sit, and watch the water boil. Yes, even a watched pot will boil. Notice your breath as you sit there. How does it feel as you inhale the steam from the pot? Inhale and exhale as if each breath is cleansing your lungs and your mind.
Steep-
Just sit there and let yourself steep in the moment, while the tea leaves steep in water. Continue to stay connected to your breath. If your mind starts to wander, think of three things you’re grateful for, right now. Savor the quiet, and relax into it.
Pour-
Before you even taste the tea, consume it with all of your other senses. Listen to the tea pouring into the cup like a bubbling brook. Appreciate the rich color. Feel the weight and warmth of the teacup in your hands and inhale the complex aromas. What does the scent remind you of? Honey? Grass? A forest after the rain?
Drink-
Sip your tea like it’s the first cup of tea you’ve ever tasted. Offer gratitude to the tea and to yourself for taking the time to practice awareness. Your tea meditation doesn't have to be long; just take five minutes in the morning, or whenever you need a break.
Morning and Afternoon Tea Choices
I start my day with Queens China Oolong and then transition to Genmaicha Gisakone Green Tea throughout the rest of the day. Oolong provides just the right caffeine boost to get me started and the Genmaicha keeps me comfortably balanced all day long. While preparing tea in a tea kettle is the preferred method we don’t always have the time. When this occurs (and it does often) I simply fill my Tea Press Travel Mug with tap water, stick it in the microwave for 2 minutes add 1 teaspoon of my favorite tea tea and voila it’s done! When I drink quality loose leaf tea I enjoy the nuances of amazing flavors found in each sip. Just the idea of additives like sugar, honey or milk in my tea would be unthinkable. Even our finest quality most expensive teas have a ‘cost per cup’ over 70% less than the low grade ‘tea-dust’ served in most coffee shops.
Some Of Our Best-Selling Morning And Afternoon Teas For Yogi’s:
Some Of Our Best-Selling Evening Teas:
Health Benefits of Yoga
Yoga offers so many benefits, it’s impossible to name them all. The following are some of the ways that yoga is a healthy form of exercise:
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It helps circulation.
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It helps to alleviate stress.
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Yoga reduces the risks of developing heart disease.
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Regularly participating in yoga can ward off depression.
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Since yoga makes the spine stronger and more flexible, it helps to thwart back pain.
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When performing inversion poses, such as head and shoulder stands, we age more gracefully since these poses offer anti-aging benefits.
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Yoga helps women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause.
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It helps decrease respiratory symptoms, such as asthma and bronchitis.
Anton Mackey
Yoga Instructor, Certified Strength & Conditioning Trainer
Lifetime Tea Drinker