Integrating Tea and Bodywork at House Nine
Greetings friend,
An important step to unwinding stress and tension is mindfulness. As we say at House Nine, the path to wellness is not only preventative healthcare but also a sacred act of reverence that pays homage to body and spirit. We believe that tea plays a crucial role on this path of reverence. This week we want to show you how.
‘Why Tea?’: The Art of Cha Yi
When we commune with one another, we each bring our own histories that have shaped who we are. As a traditional act of communion, tea arts—or Cha Yi—also represent a history and tradition commonly associated with modern-day Gongfu Cha.
What is Gongfu Cha?
First mentioned in 1970s Taiwan, Gongfu Cha is a ceremonial practice in which people enjoy the serene nature of tea. Traditionally, local tea houses would cultivate a soft, quiet, contemplative atmosphere with high-quality teas, elegant tea utensils, and beautiful art on the walls.
Although traditionally, Gongfu Cha can be very social, loud, and messy, our approach at House Nine emphasizes mindfulness, presence, and intimacy. Using a small pot—or gaiwan—our brewing process follows only the tea’s needs from moment to moment. Tea is then served with small cups, a pitcher, a strainer, and a tray. Everything you need to enrich the present moment; nothing to disturb or distract.
So, when someone asks, “why tea?” The answer is not only paying honor and respect to the history each cup represents or the people you choose to commune with while drinking it but to yourself and your surroundings. Of course, the experience will be different for everyone, but the act of brewing and enjoying tea in this way offers us a chance to breathe and notice the simple beauty around us.
This time of contemplation also reveals points of tension within ourselves, helping us begin to move away from stress and heal. In other words, the dissolving of tea leaves mimics the dissolving of tension, preparing your body for massage and opening your mind to the present. Ideally, you can settle into our space with a cup of tea before beginning your bodywork session, which can be explored and enjoyed in solitude or with company.
Intimacy as Openess to Healing
House Nine co-founder Sarah Shah draws our attention to the intimacy of enjoying tea in the Gongfu Cha style: “There is an intimacy to be built with each tea, each pot, and each cup. Presence and thoughtfulness are encouraged.” We think of therapeutic massage in a similar way: “Bodywork is inherently intimate, and sometimes you need to continue that intimacy with yourself to really propel your healing,” Sarah says.
Herbal infusions like tea tie into our love for plants, plant medicine, and the gifts they give us. “Whether you’re caring for a houseplant or trying to understand its medicinal or energetic properties, we attend to this relationship through deep listening and feeling,” Sarah explains. In other words, the closeness with which we regard our tea—the preparation behind it, the sensations it inspires, the plants from which it is derived—is really a practice of intimacy that unifies these concepts.
Of course, steeping botanicals is an inherently somatic experience. The boiling water, the aroma, the color moving from leaf to water and, of course, the first sips are all invitations to tune into the body and the present moment. Complemented by our light-filled studio and therapeutic bodywork, we hope to represent the traditions of Gongfu Cha by offering you a place of respite, recovery, and relaxation, right here in Portland, Oregon. We invite you to use this space and continue your journey to better health.
Our Tea Selection
We curate our herbal infusions with medicinal and spiritual benefits in mind. All blends are organic, fair trade, and sustainable. As long as these infusions can be harvested safely, we will carry them. From our popular Honey Dust tea blend to our floral Rose Quartz blend, we have something for everyone.
Laying a Foundation for Wellness
At House Nine, we know holistic approaches to wellness are essential to living fuller, more pain-free lives. Discover your Path to Wellness and get started with our services today.
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Until next time, friend.
1413 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214
E: hello@housenine.com
P: (503) 841-6460