Healthy Habit

Sometimes our belly need some help after we have a meal.

Do you ever experience bloating, gas, indigestion, or acidity after eating? If so, then give this routine a try!

Daily Routine: Post-Meal CCF Tea

CCF stands for Cumin Coriander Fennel and is an herb blend that provides many benefits if taken as a post-meal tea (I take my CCF tea after lunch). CCF Tea is famous in Ayurveda for supporting healthy digestion, soothing common digestive discomforts, and supporting your body's natural ability to detox.

Each herb has its own benefit:

Cumin: aids digestion

Coriander: cooling effect that soothes your stomach

Fennel: reduces acidity and relaxes your digestive tract

How To Make CCF

Enjoy CCF tea after lunch, steep the herb blend for ~10 minutes, and add a squeeze of lime for a zesty twist.

Adding a pinch of holy basil (aka tulsi) to the CCF blend adds a tasty quality and includes added benefits from its adaptogenic qualities: calming, immunity boost, respiratory support, and anti-inflammatory.

After drinking CCF for over a year, I've noticed a happier gut.

Since there is a link between our gut and mind, a happier gut can lead to a calmer mind.

Give CCF tea a try and see how it works for your gut!

Where to Purchase CCF

Visit an online store such as Banyan Botanicals or Mountain Rose.

• I purchased my first CCF tea blend from Banyan. It's convenient to have the tea blended, but not cheap.
• For Mountain Rose, you would need to purchase the three seeds separately and then blend the seeds yourself.

Go to an in-person apothecary such as Vervain Apothecary in Boise.

• Purchase one ounce of each herb and then blend the herbs together.
• Store your herb blend in a glass container with a lid.

Create Space “Peace is always right here. You just have to create space for it.” ​ ~ Carol Tuttle  Does it sometimes feel like you have WAY too much going on? Between work and your personal life, when do you have time to "just be"? The importance of creating space hit me as I was learning about Cognitive Load Theory during a recent Psychological Safety workshop. Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) According to PsychSafety.com, CLT was created in 1988 by John Sweller, Emeritus Professor at the University of South Wales, Sydney. CLT suggests that our working memory, the part of our brains that gives us the capacity to learn and solve problems, is only able to hold a small amount of information at any one time. Therefore, to maximize learning, you should avoid overloading your brain. Take a look at the below illustration and keep the below 3 points in mind: Intrinsic: what you already know Extraneous: external things you need to find out, understand, or deal with Germane: active learning & problem solving - the VALUABLE stuff Cognitive Capacity The above image drove home the importance of giving ourselves time and space to "be" - whether we're doing something creative or learning something new for ourselves (not work) - our brains can LITERALLY only handle so much. Take some time and think about what you can leave off your Extraneous plate in order to give yourself room for the Germane things that add value to your life and bring you joy. One idea: Update your phone's wellbeing settings to set time limits on your social media usage.

Breathwork Technique: Walking Meditation

I learned about walking meditation in almost all of the Thich Nhat Hanh books I've read and I love how practicing this meditation brings me into the present moment so I can fully enjoy nature.

How to Practice

Ideally you're outside in nature.

Standing still, exhale all the breath out of your body.

As you inhale, step your right foot forward.

As you exhale, step your left foot forward.

Keep practicing with each step.

Inhale - step right foot forward

Exhale - step left foot forward

Example meditative saying you could use with each step:

Breathing in, I know I am alive.

Breathing out, I feel the joy of being alive.

Short "How To" Video

​

Tips + Things to Remember

You will move slowly. Make sure each part of your foot is touching the ground. If you're walking outside, look at what is next to you as you pass by. Notice the little things - the rocks, the flowers, the buzzing bugs - things you may not normally see in your usual comings and goings.

If your mind wanders, bring it back by focusing on your breath and step.

Benefits of Walking Meditation (these are just a few)

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Deeper mindfulness and gratitude
• Improved mood
• Enhanced focus and concentration
• Improved emotional regulation
• Enhanced cognitive function
• Better sleep
• Stronger mind-body connection

Book of the Month!

If you REALLY want to get your creative juices flowing, then "The Artist's Way" is for YOU! I knew someone who read this book and she loved her weekly artist dates. There's also the daily pages, but I won't spoil it for you. Full disclosure: I put this book on pause so I could focus on other things and I look forward to picking it back up again when I have more free time! The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Join Me at these Upcoming Events!

• Yoga on the Mountain @ Bogus Basin: 9/1 (10:00-11:00am) - FREE
• 4pm Warm True North Flow @ True North Yoga: 8/30 - $25 or included in membership (class sign up on True North's Class Schedule page)
• Wise Womb Ways: Embracing Your Feminine Rhythm workshop on Yoni Steaming @ True North: 10/12 (1:00-3:00pm) - FREE (workshop sign up on True North's Workshop page)
• Moon Cycles + You: How to Live in Sacred Cyclical Attunement 4-part workshop series @ True North: Thursdays, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20 (5:30-6:30pm) - $99, includes unlimited yoga pass for duration of series (workshop sign up on True North's Workshop page)

See you next month!

Angela

FIG Bites' intention is to "Feed your body and mind so you are a fully nourished and joyful person able to fully embrace life" whether you're at work or home.