green & black

I made a little diagram thing to try to explain the difference of green and black tea. Oolong tea, which is what Cho Yung Tea, my sponsor, is; a green tea but slightly more oxidized. Most tea experts actually agree that Oolong tea is the healthiest. Hope you learn something from it!

Oolong Tea

Cosmin Dordea

As I started my Cho Yung Tea scheme on Monday I thought I would look a little further into what Oolong tea actually is.

First off, what a lot of people doesn't know is that green, black and oolong tea all come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. The secret to the individual tea's properties is in the processing. 

The level of fermentation (oxidization) is what really separates the different teas. Oolong tea is midway between black and green tea as it is semi-oxidated. This level of fermentation allows for a harmonious balance that preserves some of the grassy-floral quality often found in green tea, yet maintains the deeper-tone character of black tea. You can read more about the different teas here.

Oolong tea has many active pharmacological elements such as vitamin C and E, carotene and minerals such as zinc, selenium and florin. The tea also contains caffeine and tea polyphenols such as flavonol antioxidants. These elements all help us stay fit and healthy. In addition to these, Cho Yung Tea also includes a "blend of traditional herbs and plants to help purify the body's cells and support the essential organs through the digestive process" - Cho Yung Tea. It's mother nature's all natural blend for a happy, healthy life.

I hope you head over and check it out and it would mean the world if you also followed them on instagram (here) as I will be posting there a few times a week as well! 

Cho Yung Tea

Last year when I lived in Southampton I discovered Cho Yung Tea. I was half way through my final year, writing my thesis, had just been given my exam assignment and was working part-time at a nightclub 3 days a week. I had just gone through a bad break-up and was eating junk food and whatever high energy-food the university vendors offered. It's hard even thinking back to the state I was in. One morning on my way to the library I stopped by Holland and Barrett (it was on my way) and found Cho Yung Tea on sale. I wanted something different than watered out coffee so I got it.

It was probably the best decision I made that year. I felt the difference already the next morning. My stomach felt amazing. Not bloated or hard (the sort of thing junk food will do to you), a result of the tea helping my digestive system work more efficiently, and my head felt clearer because of the herbs and caffein.

I've been at a happy, healthy weight now. I do expect gaining a couple kgs during winter and loosing a few during summer, but I feel absolutely fine doing so. However, when I go beyond those couple kgs I feel absolutely terrible. And lately I have. I ran out after moving back to Norway so I emailed Cho Yung Tea, told them my story and asked where I could buy the tea here. They were so happy to hear that they had been able to help me through a difficult patch in my life and wanted to send me a packet for free if I shared my story and some info about the product through my blog and Instagram (which I would've done either way).

My weight and health goes hand-in-hand with my happiness and Cho Yung Tea helps me stay happy :)

a week of little yoga wonders

I've had good progress with my practice this week, although I must say it's hard to stay patient. To let my body work into the postures on it's own time and not over work or stretch my muscles. This month I'm doing two yoga challenges on instagram (see which in this post or by following my instagram here). They are both great for someone who is new to the practice, or are getting back into it. Now that I've done an entire week I thought I would revisit the yogasanas each week to try and track my progress. I would love to hear about yours too! The more we share, the more we learn! 

New Years Exclusive After Party

What better way to ring in the new year than with amazing green tea, great company and yoga?! After dinner at my aunt and watching the fireworks over our little town together with my love, I took us home where we had our own exclusive after party with some psychedelic tunes, mate tea and the first yoga session of the year. Some exciting blog stuff went down yesterday, but I can't confirm till in a few days. So excited to tell you though! 

So to the actually important stuff. As this was in the middle of the night I did the Moon Salutation routine. One of the few routines I'm actually pretty comfortable with. The sequence I did was Pranamasana, Hastauttan-asana, Padahastasana, Ashwa Sanchalanasana, Dandasana, Shishuasana, Ashtanga Namaskara, Bhujangasana, Parvatasana, Ashwa Sanchalan Asana, Padahastasana, Hastauttan-asana, Tadasana.

Vegan Wonder

    

I would love to live a purely vegan life, perhaps even raw food vegan, but I don't think it'll happen. At least not any time soon. Over the years I've learnt that I'm the kind of person who needs a consistent external environment to commit to certain types of lifestyle changes. Hopefully lots of yoga and meditation can help me change that and become a more "settled" soul, but for now it is what it is. That doesn't stop me from pretending though! In the end it's about what makes me feel good, inside and out. 

In Norway we have a very limited selection of foods for people with any sort of restriction to their diet. Even something so common as lactose and gluten free alternatives are hard to find. A good example is how I've only ever come across one coffee shop that offers soy-milk, and it was located at the airport of one of Norway's largest cities. I hope that over the summer, when I move down south, I'll have more options and it will feel more natural to chose plant over animal. 

Back To Basics

My wonderful vegan breakfast consisting of pure coconut water, antioxidant-filled blueberries, green tea with chamomile and last, but not least, the daily essential when in Norway; orange!

I've been a vegetarian for over 6 years, but last summer I started eating fish to see if it would give me a punch health-wise. I've given it a solid try, but I really don't feel much of a difference, if any, so I've decided to go back to vegetarianism, but to adopt an even more plant based diet. From experience I know that dietary changes requires dedication, but I want to eat with a clean conscience and go back to feeling amazing in my own skin, so it's a commitment I'm more than willing to make. 

Living in this age of time makes it so easy to find inspiration and help to make lifestyle changes and mold your mind and body to become the person you want to be. I hope that this blog can be a sort of inspirational space consisting of inspiring texts, tips and pictures I've accumulated.

I'm off to walk my little dog, Tia, and then work, but please share your tips and thoughts in the comments below! 

Love & Peace Triné