Mindfulness And Meditation With Tea

Stress has become the only constant in today's busy lives. The pandemic has only worsened the situation even more. People are trapped inside their houses, which has reduced social interactions, leading to a buildup of greater stress and anxiety. And the harmful effects of excessive stress isn't unknown to us. Various diseases like heart problems, diabetes etc., have their roots in stress and tension. 

Researchers have found out a special technique of meditation called "mindfulness". Being mindful means nothing but being fully aware of the present situation. The majority of people go with the flow of life, hardly observing the intricate details.

When we deliberately choose to focus on the activities going around us, our stress response gets lowered automatically. Now drinking tea has a great role to play in this process, which we shall discuss in the upcoming paragraphs. 

The process

If you have a habit of drinking tea daily, this can be your best opportunity to step into the world of mindfulness and meditation. The most important thing to do here is explore your senses of hearing, tasting, seeing and feeling.

While boiling the water, hear the various sounds coming from it. See the steam emerging from the kettle. You shouldn't just analyze it but feel and observe the scene. Try to feel your feet touching the floor or your body sitting on a sofa or chair. 

Observe the transition of plain water into tea, the change in colour and take in the aroma. Hear the tinkling sound while tea is being poured into the cup. While doing all these things, your mind will automatically shift from any source of stress. 

Now comes the part where you start drinking the tea. One thing must be kept in mind, never rush or gulp down the tea. That would defeat the entire purpose of the process. Let the warmth of the liquid tickle your taste buds and introduce a new vigour. Do not bring any judgments in between. Several thoughts will come into your mind, and go, don't follow them. 

While swallowing, notice if it's an involuntary reflex or an intentional decision. How does it feel when the liquid goes down the throat? All this while, keep your attention on the happenings in your surroundings and within your body. Remember that there is nothing wrong or right to notice here. From the perspective of meditation, the main goal is to become aware of the mind. 

You do not need to follow every step. The vital thing here is to include mindfulness into your daily routine, which is being done with the help of tea. As a drink, tea is known to possess multiple healing benefits. It heightens mental activity and improves the quality of sleep. You will notice the results in your work efficiency and overall quality of life within a few weeks. Following this method will have positive rewards in the long run.