My daily yoga practice, an essential, foundational aspect of my life. For a long time, in my life and through my yoga practice, I've had to reflect on and learn the simple but easy-to-overlook aspect of how much the foundation matters. To the extent we are able to root ourselves down, that will define our ability to manifest positively and sustainably in this life. Planting a cutting of the cultivar Tri2043 at the Glen Nevis Tea Plantation with its red porous, acidic soil. T

A place to come and stay, it will imprint itself deeply on you. The awarded Aratenna Silver Tips is produced from the cultivar TRI 2043 that was developed in 1958 from open-pollinated seeds. At Glen Nevis Tea Plantation , nestled within the hills of Sri Lanka’s Kandy region and experienced through the quiet elegance of Jade Villas , you will find a living expression of terroir—a concept often reserved for wine, but just as vital, if not more so, in tea. TRI 2043 (in the middl

The logo of the Monastery of Tea represents wholeness by the circle and forward movement through the person in the boat. When I visited the Monastery of Tea in Sri Lanka the other day, it impressed me deeply. I felt I was experiencing something rare but urgently needed: a shift in how we live. Set quietly among lush nature in the hilly Kandy region, the Monastery of Tea is not just a place where specialty teas are produced. It is a living philosophy. Everything they do is ro

The Buddha Temple in Kathmandu. One of the city´s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites!  I spent 10 days in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, and the Helambu Region, with the Ama Yangri Peak. Below are some tips and some of what I learned! The dogs in Nepal live a free life and are well cared for! Kathmandu is situated in a valley, which, according to an old legend, was once a giant lake. It was drained by the bodhisattva Manjushri to make the valley habitable for the people. It's a

A flush is a harvest, meaning that the tea leaves and buds have matured enough to be picked. The word flush is mainly used to describe the different harvests during a tea year in India and Nepal. Let’s look more closely at the famous Indian high-altitude region of Darjeeling and the main characteristics of the teas produced in each flush throughout the year. The expression "Darjeeling Teas" is protected under the Geographical Indication to prevent fraudulent use, similar to t

Tea can be more than just a drink and take us back to a place within that modern life often challenges us to connect with. When we slow down and truly engage with tea, it becomes a training ground for perception and deepened awareness. Let's explore how rushing changes taste, how stillness reveals layers, and the relationship between the palate and breath. A high-quality tea, steeped with care and attention, invites calm and focus, encouraging mindful tasting. How Rushing Cha

Today, February 16, is the last day of the Year of the Wood Snake. Tomorrow, we will enter the Yang Fire Horse! Does this have significance for us here in the West? Of course, it depends on what you choose to believe in. In any case, it's interesting, especially if you are into tea, because the largest tea nation in the world, where all six tea types are still being produced, is China. The Snake in Chinese metaphysics is not “evil” or “scary.” The year 2025 has had as its the

To be present is to be in a place before we sense, feel, and comment on what's happening. We are just our natural embodied selves. Life feels spacious and open, even magical—not contracted, narrow, and confined. It's a great place to be. But it's not a goal. Why? Because we cannot really create, do, or act in this place. To take advantage of our presence, we need to integrate it into action so that our actions become more skillful, which will make our lives flow more easily.

In the West, and quite often in Sweden where I come from, the potential in high-quality teas is often overlooked. People tend to choose tea based on added aromas rather than on the real quality of the tea itself. In classical East Asian traditions, however, high-quality tea is understood as something very potent and rich: a living substance that carries qi (氣 pronounced chee), the vital energy that gives aroma, flavor, and affects your physical and mental state. These are dim

Celebrations just got a healthier twist with this new sparkling non-alcoholic tea wine from Althaus. An innovative drink that is quickly becoming a favorite for those who want to enjoy festive moments without the drawbacks of alcohol or extra calories. Imagine the refreshing flavour of Tie Guan Yin oolong tea and Jasmine tea mingling with the sophistication of sparkling white wine! This is a delightful, low-calorie choice that perfectly aligns with today's wellness trends. A

And why we loose the spinal mobility as adults and how to reverse it! Our ankles provide the foundational contact with the ground. When our ankle joints are weak, stiff, or unstable, everything above adapts poorly. Ankles are often forgotten until they get injured! (as are feet - read about them in an earlier blog ). Our ankles are often the cause of other pains higher up in the body, but they rarely get "blamed". Why are our ankles overlooked? Probably because these joints a

How to find the light when winter is at its darkest in the northern hemisphere! And what the winter season invites us to do!

And is yoga really making you strong? Me competing in the Swedish Bodybuilding Championships. The picture above shows me some 20+ years ago. I look quite strong; however, my strength was very artificial, meaning it was almost entirely focused on my "outer layer." My spine was very weak, I had pretty low mind-body integration, and my nervous system, endocrine system, and parts of my body had strong energetic blocks that made me weak when it came to combining many muscle groups

While Eastern and Western approaches to health share the goal of promoting well-being and treating illness, they differ in their foundations, philosophies, and methods. Eastern health philosophy, for example, Chinese medicine, considers the body, mind, and consciousness as an interconnected system where maintaining balance and harmony is crucial. The Wu Xing theory outlines five phases: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, that are linked to meridians, organs, our mind, emoti

Prana is the vital life force that flows through everything in this universe, both external and internal. We find prana in nature, in the sunlight, and in the water, and it is distributed throughout the body via energy channels called Nadis in Sanskrit and Meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Prana influences every facet of our being—physical, mental, and spiritual. You can survive several minutes without breathing, but not a single minute without prana. We cannot see

Soothing and nourishing for both mind and body! Tea is more than just a drink; it's a warm embrace in a cup that has relaxed and nourished souls for thousands of years. Its ability to provide comfort, uplift spirits, and bolster health has made it a cherished part of cultures worldwide. Today, tea is produced in more than 50 countries. From cozy mornings and afternoons to moments of reflection, tea rituals are woven into people's lives, promising numerous benefits for both mi

What do we mean by the ultimate truth? And how does it relate to tea?

Each fine tea is a reflection of the unique area and cultural heritage that created it.

The tea industry offers specialized roles like tea tasters and tea sommeliers. And many other areas of expertise, from plantation to cup.

How tea influences my sleep quality. This is the topic of this week's Elevenses!