The holidays are over? No, not for our minds or bodies they aren’t.
The effects of stress don’t end when the stressors do. And, the stressors haven’t ended! There is the whole process of taking down and putting away the decorations; all of the January 1st chores like changing calendars, closing out 2015; thank you notes to write; AND January is typically the coldest month of our year.
While all these are normal for this time of year, they are also stressors – they generate stress. (By the way, stress is defined as an organism’s reaction to its environment. So, basically, that’s everything.) The challenge to dealing with stress is to reduce it where we can, and nurture our Spirit, Mind and Body to help keep ourselves in good health.
The very best way is to NURTURE our Selves. Primarily, that means – RELAX. A cup of tea is one of the very best ways I know to do both of these.
The relaxing begins with the ritual of preparing tea. Taking a moment to choose the tea that will feel just right, getting out all of the accompaniments that will make it perfect for you – honey, milk, lemon, perhaps a small snack to go with the tea. Imagine, sitting with your hands wrapped around a warm cup. Feels good, doesn’t it? Imagine the relaxing smell – you get to pick your favorites! Feel the warm liquid warming your mouth and throat. YESSSSS!
When you use herbal teas, you bring a complexity to your experience. You not only get the benefits of ingesting the herb, you also use aromatherapy by just smelling the fragrance.
Here are a few of my favorite teas
Need an energy boost along with your relaxing moments? Try green tea. The stronger you brew it, the more caffeine.
Chamomile is beneficial for anxiety, depression and digestion. What a cool bunch of benefits – tastes good too.
Licorice is a soothing agent that helps digestion, acid reflux and indigestion – all of which go along with stress.
Pomegranate/Hibiscus - Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory and promotes good heart health. Hibiscus studies show it may help lower blood pressure and reduce high cholesterol. Together, they just taste good!
How do you choose which one your Spirit is asking for? For me, it is simple. I open the tea drawer and choose the first one that catches my attention. You can absolutely trust your higher knowing to choose the perfect tea for the moment.
So, brew a cuppa. Play with the process. Most of all, have FUN.
Carmen Iacino is an energy healer, psychotherapist and spiritual adventurer. He is committed to living in Love and JOY and can be reached at 970-309-3467, carmeniacino@earthlink.net, or www.embraceascension.com
