It’s mid-year and July is here! With the temperatures heating up, I’m ready to pursue yet another way to chill. Literally and figuratively. First, let me tell you about June’s listening experience. Tuning into adagio music really did put me at ease. With its slow and steady beats between 55-65 per minute, it was so relaxing!
At least three times a week, I treated my ears to classical piano compositions, yogic compilations, Gregorian chanting, instrumental pieces featuring cellos, and nature sounds set to soft woodwind notes and stringed chords. Because I found CDs containing this type of music in a home cabinet, it was readily accessible and no cost to me.
As in the past, I gauged my calmness level by checking my Fitbit heartbeat readings, my breathing rate, and my overall body tension before and after listening to these CDs. I discovered that the rhythmic Brahms concertos soon blended into the background which allowed me to focus on my tasks at hand. Yoga Revolution Volume One had me humming and singing along as each song contained vocals. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it wasn’t conducive to doing activities that required my full attention like writing. The Gregorian chants were sublime and serene once I refamiliarized myself with this music. I felt like I was in church, a place where I’ve always found comfort and peace. The cello compositions on David Darling’s CD “Homage to Kindness” were mellow, encouraging me to breathe more deeply. And “Whispers of the Trees” by Blessed Blend, a mixture of nature sounds set to tunes featuring the Native American flute and Celtic Harp relaxed me the most. At times I felt as if I was laying on a quiet beach with the waves lapping at the shore and other times as if I was sitting in a cool dark forest before a crackling cozy campfire!
This genre of music certainly has the power to soothe. My heart rate decreased, my breathing slowed, and any tension I was feeling dissipated after hearing a few songs. I was easily brought into a tranquil place while listening to them all. However, I will seek out more instrumental music combined with nature sounds going forward.
So far, I’ve experimented with calming techniques as they relate to the sense of sight, smell, touch, and sound, so this month it’s only fitting that I focus on taste! Because of its host of health benefits that include regulating blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, boosting the immune system, and helping to relieve pain, I’ll be taking time out for tea!
I’ve written about my love of this drink in my July 12, 2021 post entitled “Suits Me to a Tea”. Brewing and savoring tea is such a mindful ritual for me. And over the years, I’ve sampled hundreds of kinds. Black, green, and white. Rooibos, puerh, and oolong. Chia, matcha, and assam. For this month’s quest for calm, I’ve decided to choose three teas known for their stress-relief properties that are new to me.
From my journal: March 18, 2008, E. Twickenham, England
“Walked home from Genean’s book club with Virginia…she invited me in to meet her husband, dog named Martha and cat…we enjoyed a nice cup of tea together…builder’s tea, she said it was called that because it is strong…and it was! Really liked it.”
Among the recommended brews to soothe the body and mind are mint, chamomile, lavender, rose, tulsi, and green tea. Because I regularly drink mint, chamomile, and lavender, I’m going to give the remaining three a try. Used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, edible rose petals are also brewed to make tea. Caffeine-free, rose tea is primarily comprised of water so in addition to enjoying its purported relaxing effect and aroma, I’ll be upping my hydration intake, too! Also known as holy basil, tulsi tea is thought to promote stillness, tranquility, and clarity of mind. Native to north-central India, this aromatic herb may directly affect cortisol levels in the body to bring about balance. Something I look forward to! And containing plant-based antioxidant compounds, green tea is widely used to boost mood, cognition, and brain function. In addition, a recent review touted its ability to increase metabolic rates. Another plus!
Just as in prior months, I will engage in this activity at least three times a week and will record my findings. The boxes of rose, tulsi, and green tea I bought cost me just under $20. A minimal investment that I hope will yield maximum calming results. So, here’s to a relaxing and taste-tea July…sip, sip, hooray!
A Journal Journey 