Sammy Swayn launches Claritea mindfulness program
Great news for lovers of tea. The simple act of making a cup could help boost your mental health, according to one mindfulness coach. Here’s how it works.
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If mindfulness programs aren’t usually your cup of tea, here’s one that could be — literally.
A new course is giving people the chance to find clarity and calm by drinking a series of flavoured teas.
The brainchild of Toorak entrepreneur Sammy Swayn, Claritea is a 21-day mindfulness program based around the simple act of sipping tea, inspired by a trip to Russia.
While in Moscow, Swayn met prominent mindfulness coach Darya Pepelyaeva and one of her students in Gorky Park for some tea.
It wasn’t a mindfulness exercise, they were just drinking tea — but in that moment Swayn says the quiet and stillness of the ‘tea ceremony’ helped him achieve a new level of clarity.
“We sat there drinking tea really slowly and deliberately over a couple of hours and I couldn’t believe how clear my mind was — it was magical for me,” he said.
As he was making his morning cuppa back home in Melbourne about a month later, the idea for Claritea was born.
“It just hit me — this is how I can help teach people mindfulness,” he said.
“I’m a massive tea drinker from way back and it just felt logical to launch a mindfulness project based around something as simple and easy to understand as making a cup of tea.”
Swayn, who has struggled with his own mental health since he was young, said he was passionate about helping other people through their dark times, especially now.
“What we’ve been dealt this year is so unnecessary but it’s also a gift for so many people — a chance to slow down and reflect,” he said.
“Mental health isn’t easy to navigate and the first step is awareness. Claritea focuses on building that skill.
“For beginners, focusing on the tea is helpful, it gives them somewhere to focus their mind, a point of concentration.”
The program is simple. You open the next tea envelope in the series, read the flavour card and take a moment to reflect, then enjoy your tea.
Flavours include Swayn’s signature Claritea Leaf blend, honeybush chai, lemon lift, harmony peppermint, snow bud green, ginger glow and turmeric chai.
All teas are locally sourced in Australia.
Swayn also plans to run monthly online mindfulness sessions for participants in the future.
You can find out more at claritea.com.au
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