Drink up!

5 Benefits of drinking White Tea

If you need a reason to enjoy a delicious cup of tea here are some things you may not have known about what it can do for your body!

1) Plenty of antioxidants! While all teas have antioxidants, research shows that since white tea is the least processed, it carries the most antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight off the nasty radicals floating around in our bodies that accelerate aging and damage DNA.

2) Stronger bones! Even without adding milk to your tea it can help build stronger bones. Studies have found that over a 10 year period people that drink tea on a regular basis have a stronger bone density and strength than non-drinkers.

3) Kills viruses and bacteria, naturally! Who needs drugs these days just drink a nice warm cup of white tea and watch your cold or flu disappear. The antioxidants that are so abundant in white tea help build the immune system and provide a protection against a variety of invaders. It can even ease the symptoms of HIV!

4) Healthy, sparkling teeth and gums! White tea contains a small amount of fluoride and other nutrients that help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy and not to mention white! It also kills bacteria which can cause tooth decay, bad breath and plaque.

5) Lowers cholesterol and blood pressure! Researchers have found that not only does drinking white tea thin the blood and improve artery function it also has a group of antioxidants called Catechin that have shown to reduce cholesterol. Catechin in the tea increase the good cholesterol while decreasing the bad, in turn preventing the hardening of arteries and blockage of blood flow.

Drink up and enjoy all the benefits along with it!

Soulful Sister - Made in Victoria!

Come and check out our line of all natural body care at our new Victoria location. Soulful Sister is a line that is made right here in Victoria BC, and all products are free of parabens, SLS, petroleum and fragrance. Come and see the array of lotions, aromatherapy spritzers, massage oils and more!

Visit us at Unit #105 561 Johnson in the Paperbox Arcade

NEW Victoria location!

Have you checked out our NEW Salts Organic Clothing Boutique in downtown Victoria yet? We just opened up before Christmas in the Paper Box Arcade Alley on lower Johnson St. The store features sSalts along with some great designs from Nixxi, Lav&Kush, Lilikoi and many more. Everything in the store is Made in Canada!

Come and say hi! We hope to see you soon :)

Salts Organic Clothing Boutique

Unit #105 561 Johnson St.

Victoria BC

Simple Meditaion - A Quick Refesher!

I often find myself browsing the Yoga Journal webpage (http://www.yogajournal.com/) for new inspiration in yoga poses. Today my cursor fell onto the meditation section, and my mind marvelled over what a wonderful practice it is.

In the fast-paced, stressful society that we find ourselves in, finding time to relax is essential. It can aid in the destruction of stress and anxiety, help with insomnia and sleeping disorders, improve overall relaxation, and so much more. Here is a list of 100 ways in which meditation can improve your life: http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/

So, in celebration of this practice, here are a set of simple instructions for a simple refresher, from yoga journal!

Sit comfortably in an upright but relaxed position. Close your eyes and bring your attention to your nostrils. As you breathe notice the subtle sensation of cool air passing into, and warm air passing out of, your nose. Without manipulating the breath, simply notice the sensation. Maintain your attention to every breath. Staying relaxed and mentally alert, become curious about each passing one as if it were your first.
If your attention wanders, simply notice the distraction and patiently return to the sensation of the breath. Your ability to stay present deepens by consistently returning to the current moment.
Do this exercise 10 minutes once or twice a day, gradually extending your sessions to 20 or 30 minutes each.

Enjoy!

-Staff@Salts

Happy Thanksgiving!

According to the Canadian Heritage webpage, the first Thanksgiving Day in Canada after Confederation was on April 15, 1872. It was set up to celebrate the recovery of The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness. An interesting start to a wonderful holiday!

On the note of celebration, I'm a big fan of crafts, and thanksgiving seems to have a lot of fun possible projects. While browsing for ideas, I discovered this clever one, and thought I would share it with you all!

It's a "tree of thanks" which can be used as a decoration or center piece.

What you'll need:

• Twig with branches
• Heavy vase, container or basket with rocks
• Floral foam
• Silk leaves
• White card stock
• Black marker
• Hot glue gun

How to make it:

1. Fill container (we used an urn) with floral foam. Pack it in tight so that it doesn’t move around.
2. Insert twig into the floral foam until secure.
3. Hot glue one silk leaf for each member of your family that will be attending the holiday celebration onto the end of each branch.
4. Write each family member’s name on pieces of card stock. Hot glue one name below each leaf.
5. Place on the holiday table.
6. When the guests show up, give them the option of writing one thing they are thankful on their card stock.

I hope you all enjoy this idea, and have a marvelous thanksgiving!

-Staff@Salts

New Global Mama's Products In!!

We've just recieved a load of new products from a great label: Global Mama's.

It's a fair trade, nonprofit organization assisting women-owned businesses in Africa. Everything is made by hand in Ghana, and all of the proceeds go directly to the producers and programs that help them with business development!

Come check some of their great stuff out in the Sooke store, or the online store: http://saltsorganic.com/shop/

Thanks!

Yoga Pose of the Week: Bharadvaja's Twist

Here's a pose that stretches the spine, shoulders, and hips; Massages the abdominal organs; Relieves lower backache, neck pain, and sciatica; Helps relieve stress; Improves digestion; And strengthens the lower back! Wow!

1) Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Shift over onto your right buttock, bend your knees, and swing your legs to the left. Lay your feet on the floor outside your left hip, with the left ankle resting in the right arch.

2)Inhale and lift through the top of the sternum to lengthen the front torso. Then exhale and twist your torso to the right, keeping the left buttock on or very close to the floor. Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor to keep the lower back long. Soften the belly.

3)Tuck your left hand under your right knee and bring your right hand to the floor just beside your right buttock. Pull your left shoulder back slightly, pressing your shoulder blades firmly against your back even as you continue to twist the chest to the right.

4)You can turn your head in one of two directions: continue the twist of the torso by turning it to the right; or counter the twist of the torso by turning it left and looking over the left shoulder at your feet.

5)With every inhalation lift a little more through the sternum, using the push of the fingers on the floor to help; with every exhalation twist a little more. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then release with an exhalation, return to the starting position, and repeat to the left for the same length of time.

I grabbed this pose and description from http://www.yogajournal.com/, check it out for more!