Can your cup of tea have the same benefits as a meditation practice?

“DRINK YOUR TEA SLOWLY AND REVERENTLY, AS IF IT IS THE AXIS ON WHICH THE WORLD REVOLVES – SLOWLY, EVENLY WITHOUT RUSHING TOWARD THE FUTURE”— THICH NHAT HANH

**Who doesn't love a reason to enjoy a nice cuppa??

National Tea Day was 21st April but I just got too excited about the news of sacking the single-use plastics so here we are.

What's your tipple? Coffee? Nescafe? Gold Blend? Tea? PG Tips? Tetley? I'm quite sure the rules on this awareness day are quite flexible, but how about trying something different today? Try swapping your usual choice for a fruit tea or a green tea or don't. Whatevs.

Allow some time to make your favourite drink.

Prepare it mindfully; feel the cold water on your skin, watch it boiling, and then pouring into the cup.

As your infusion of choice steeps, take some time to consider the liquid you're about to take into your body.

Notice the smell.

Watch the steam rise.

Take a few breaths where you can really notice the movement that the body makes as you draw in the breath. And as you let it go.

When you are ready to drink, do so with only this on your mind.

Leave everything else be.

Put down your newspaper, put your smartphone down, step away from your keyboard or the ironing board, and just. Enjoy. Your. Tea.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SINGLE-TASK IN THIS WAY?

We're often so busy that it seems to make sense to undertake more than one task at a time and we can wear busy-ness as a badge but even drinking a simple cup of tea can be turned into a mindful experience and the body can be nourished by both the liquid and the pause.

The psychological study of meditative practices tells us that when we experience a state of relaxation there are all manner of physical benefits that we can enjoy, such as

• lowered anxiety levels

• increased relaxation

• increased clarity

• increased attention

• more focus.

MINDFULNESS MAKES US FEEL BETTER.

Please give this a try every day for a week or so and let me know what you think, because I'd really love to know.

Love & light to you, all the way from Nottingham.