A Cup of Mindfulness Tea

Welcome to Over a Cup of Tea ...

Tea time is a great opportunity to sit back close your eyes and either drift in thought through memories or dream of things you would like to come into your life. 

A pretty teacup helps turn an ordinary tea time into a special occasion.

Tea time is also a wonderful opportunity to practice mindfulness ...

mind·ful·ness

ˈmīndfəlnəs/

noun

noun: mindfulness

1. 1.

   the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.

   "their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"
2. 2.

   a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

With today's demands for us to always be connected it has become more important than ever to unplug, stop doing things on auto pilot and experience being in the moment. Try these simple steps the next time you brew a cup of tea: 

1. Take notice of your environment, the sound of the water as you fill the kettle. Smile at the thought of fresh water and give thanks for having it.

2. Take note of how your feet feel as you make your way across the room, how the floor feels below your feet.

3. Notice the various shades and textures of the dry tea leaves. If you use tea bags still touch the leaves and breathe in the fragrant scent.

4. Listen to the sound of the water as you pour it into the teapot see how the leaves begin to transform as the hot water envelopes them.

5. As the tea steeps try to quieten your mind focus on your breath - inhaling and exhaling through the nose.

6. Holding teacup with both hands raise teacup to your nose. Take three deep breaths inhaling the warmth and fragrant scent of your tea.

7. Take note of the flavours as the tea rolls over your tongue - see if you can identify their origins.

8. As the tea makes its way past your tongue invite it into your body to nourish and heal.

9. Repeat  steps 6-8 until you finish your cup of tea.

 Have you tried a mindfulness exercise similar to this one?  

Hugs,

Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...

Sharing this post with:  ~  Inspire Me Tuesday ~  A Return to Loveliness ~  Antiques and Teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea ~ Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea time Tuesday ~ Artful Affirmations and Martha's favorites for Teacup Tuesday ~ 

Improve your life - 6 Tips to get you started...

A new year, change of season and (actually) every day is an opportunity to start incorporating new habits into your life that will help improve your health, life and overall body, mind, spirit balance. Here are 6 tips to get you started...

1. Get Outside

No matter the weather where you live ... make it a point to dress appropriate - especially if you are living in areas like me, where the temps have been hitting -40 C. Get outside everyday for at least 10 minutes. This is great for helping to clear your mind, breathe in fresh air and connecting with nature.

2. Expand Your Knowledge

image credit: August US Vogue 2010

Learning is a life long thing. This year start expanding your mind - make reading part of your daily life; or learn about a topic that interests you. Exercising our mind is as easy as using it.

3. Explore

image credit

Broaden your horizons ...get out of your comfort zone and travel to a place where you do not speak the language or have never visited. Travel is a learning experience not only about another culture - but also about yourself. If you are daring travel on your own.

4. Discover Smart Casual

image credit Google

When we work from a home office or are a stay at home mom/wife - or in my case are recovering from an injury it's easy to develop "Sweatpant Syndrome". I hear you ... you want comfort, but let me tell you never underestimate how much the way you look affects the way you feel. So, make sure you shower, do your hair, apply some make-up (a little lipstick, blush and mascara) and most important get out of your jammies or sweats - Jennifer Aniston is one of my fav inspirations for comfy smart casual wear. Not only will your confidence and productivity increase, you are ready to - when someone calls and asks if you would like to meet for lunch or you find you need to go out an run an errand.

5. Get Social Face to Face

It's important to have a balanced life - that means making time to actually spend and share time with family and friends. And time via social media - does not count. Technology may enable us to connect virtually - but there is no replacement for face to face human interaction.

6. Take 30

Women are known to take care of everyone else's needs ...but when it comes to our self, we often forget to make time in our day for us. Make 2014 the year that you make time for you to re-energize and self-care. Here are links to posts from 2013 that offer suggestions for how to get the most of 30 minutes each day to help balance you body, mind, and spirit. 

Are You worth 30 Minutes in YOUR day? , A Cup of Tea and a Facial mask - 30 minutes for you , 30 minutes with a Cup of Tea ...week 2 , Getting Outside with a Cup of Tea , Meditation and a Cup of Tea, Afternoon Tea Make it Part of your Day, You Haven't had a Bath since ....????

What are you doing to improve your body, mind and spirit?


Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...

One Pair of Jeans - 3 Outfits

Spending more time at our city home (and it's significant smaller closets) has been a great kick start (not by choice) to my wardrobe simplification. Especially since the renovations in the upstairs bedrooms is currently underway - and Mr. G. and I are having to share a closet that is designed for one (which is really a rolling rack).


Deciding to end 2013 and begin 2014 in the city I decided to bring only 2 pairs of jeans. One pair being my straight leg Miss Me jeans. To maximize space in my week-ender bag I decided to wear them down to the city house with my light brown wool Dolce and Gabbana sweater.

This ribbon and glass leaf pendant were a gift from my Frenchie friend Victoria - I'm amazed how many times I actually reach for it. Leave to a born in France gal to pick the perfect accessory.

For my feet I slipped on my Michael Kors booties from a few seasons ago.

A few days later .... it was New Year's Eve ...and again I reached for my Miss Me jeans to ring in the new year at a friend's home. And created a new outfit by wearing a blue wool blend sweater; accessories - black cord and metal pendant a gift from Angel P's mom from her trip to Vancouver; a protection-eye bead bracelet from a Turkish market my friend Janice brought back from her trip for me; blue wool scarf with white pinstripes- bday gift from friend Victoria; Tiffany charm bracelet; Hermes H-buckle belt and Cartier Tank Francaise watch - thank you Mr. G. for such a fabulous and perferct bday gift.

New Year's Day ... I decided to wear the Miss Me jeans again. This time I paired them with a brown Ralph Lauren sweater; a leopard and equestrian print scarf; for accessories - Tiffany charm bracelet; Cartier tank watch; a protection-eye bead bracelet; Coach bangle bracelet; brown Gucci sunglasses; and Burberry cap.

What item in your wardrobe do you get the most wear out of?

Hugs,

Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...

Sharing this post with: Sunday - Tres Chic Style Bits ~   Still Being Molly:  Funday Monday~ Not Dead Yet Style:  Visible Mondays ~  Mosaic Monday ~ The Pleated Poppy: what I wore Wednesday ~ What I'm Loving Fridays ~ My Friday's Fancies ~ Friday's Fab ~