Cha Chat Episode 2.3: Take 5 with Tea

Listen to the Episode

We chat with Zoe Peralta-Page, Denise Dempsey and Gabby Tirsell, discussing tea and mindfulness.

Recorded: July 2, 2021 via Zoom

About the Episode

We are joined today by Mindfulness educator, Denise Dempsey, therapist, Zoe Peralta-Page, and undergraduate student, Gabby Tirsell. Together they have created a mindfulness project revolving around tea and designed to be incorporated into daily practice.  Zoe developed a mindful tea exercise while in Graduate school at University of Washington and this project was developed to address the needs of the veterinary community and the risk of burn out in the profession.  The idea is that this tea meditation can be applied universally, as well.

Denise has always enjoyed tea and found it to be enjoyed contemplatively in her life.  She has developed a professional interest in tea as it represents an opportunity for daily mindfulness.

Zoe enjoyed Liptons but her eyes were opened to a larger world of tea on a trip to China.  As her passion for tea grew, she found an opportunity to meet with Dr. Katharine Burnett of the Global Tea Initiative at the North Western Tea Festival.  She decided to make tea the centerpiece for her graduate research project.  She met Erik through the Global Tea Scholars Network developed by the Global Tea Initiative.

Gabby has always enjoyed tea growing up Japanese Buddhist.  In middle school, she observed a Japanese tea ceremony and realized that tea is more than a beverage.  Gabby met Erik in her First Year Seminar, “Global Tea Culture and Science”.

Erik discovered tea in high school because coffee was too hard on him.  In the last six years he got into gong fu and has become obsessed with tea.  Erik is professionally interested in tea for mindfulness and specifically, as a tool to address burnout in the veterinary profession.  This is ideal because it only takes five minutes.

To understand the tea meditation, please look at our how to infograph, podcast, or video. Erik asked the question, “What have you or what do you hope others will get out of this tea mindfulness meditation?”

Denise started by saying tea has an inherent nature of contemplation.  If she is having a busy day, there is something about tea near her that gives pause despite its energetic properties.

“For students, this is a tangible time out, a sanctioned break”.

– Denise Dempsey

The warmth of the cup, the beautiful tea colors, it could be a lovely break.  Despite this as a formal practice, it may carry over to daily life with tea or mindful eating.  Denise sees mindfulness carry over into many aspects of her daily life.

Zoe starts out with the fact she has anxious moments and it gives her three minutes before going onto the next thing.

“You just need a few minutes for self-care and it doesn’t have to be this perfect thing”. 

– Zoe Peralta-Page

Gabby says as a student and for people on the go she has not enjoyed meditation in the past.  As a Buddhist she had to do it but now incorporating tea, she came to realize that it is something she can enjoy.  She hopes students will find enjoyment with it.  Gabby points out there are many meditations that involve tea.

Erik says tea and mindfulness wasn’t a mistake because of its long history in Buddhism.  The L-theanine and caffeine in tea are unique chemically that it calms and allows focus unlike other caffeinated beverages.  Erik has learned from this the idea of equinimity where hard times make better people and to treat triumph and disaster the same.  He sees a connection with tea, because the best teas are made with hardships of environment, altitude and pests.

What are your parting thoughts?

We offer weekly tea meditations.

Denise feels this is a creative way to bring mindfulness into the university environment.  It is about self-care which we need to make a priority.  There is potential for this to benefit many people.  It can influence how people think about tea and mindfulness.

Zoe said this doesn’t have to be perfect but take a little time for self-care and check in.  If you can’t meditate, reach out to some friends.

“No matter what it is, find a way to do self-care.”

– Gabby Tirsell

Mindulness Tea Meditation