Tea and your mental health — Dragonfly Delights Tea Room

Hello Teatime Friends!

Hope you've had a good start to the year! Here is a little information about Tea and our mental health written by Luanne from Light House Wellness Center.

If you are anything like us a hot cup of coffee is LIFE. But it isn’t always the healthiest daily ritual for the nervous system. When Joanne contacted us to do a collab we took the opportunity to dive back into our old tea obsessions.

Why you ask? For one, tea is plant medicine! There is also so many fun varieties with different benefits, which I’m sure our tea lady, Joanne can tell you all about. The link between mental and physical health is well known. So, if tea has physical benefits, it also contributes to greater mental wellbeing.

Studies suggest that the amino acid L-theanine found in some tea plants can improve cognition and memory and soothes stress. For example, green tea has been shown to help individuals relax and concentrate more fully on tasks, without the jittery feeling that coffee can bring.

Aside from the health benefits, the act of making tea can be a feel-good practice and create some time in the day to practising mindfulness. Even the smallest of mindfulness practises give our mind and body time to slow down and get in tune with our thoughts and feelings. This reduces anxiety and can helps us to make good decisions for ourselves throughout our day.

Picking your mug or teacup, listening to the water bubble and boil, feeling the hot (or cold) tea moving through your body and observing the other sensations around you; the sound of your own breath as you drink the tea, the beating of your own heart. This is what allows you an opportunity to just be aware of the thoughts your mind is producing and be present in your body's sensations.

It is such a simple and profound way just to deepen our relationship with ourselves and improve our mental health. You don't need a bunch of fancy teas or teaware to be really present with your next cup of tea. We hope you give this practice a try and that it brings you a half an hour of total peace this week. I know we could all use a little bit more peace in our lives right now. Lighthouse Wellness

Lighthouse Wellness Centre is a private clinic located in the Bass Building (Unit T 29 10th street) in the heart of Downtown Brandon, Manitoba. We are a woman-led centre, that offers a range of quality, effective, empathetic counselling and wellness services for children, adolescence, adults and families.

We help individuals and families improve their resilience in mental and emotional health so you can feel empowered, happier, healthier, and, live a more fulfilling life.

To learn more about us, please visit lighthousewellnesscentre.ca or call us at 204-728-0054