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& this transition time from Winter to Spring, to many means time of ALLERGY SEASON. Seasonal allergies may cause stuffy or runny nose; teary eyes; coughs; sneezing; headaches and migraines; cold & flu like symptoms. As in Ayurveda and in Eastern Medicine, the theme for my yoga therapy sessions will focus especially on Respiratory & Heart Health.

It appears that some people dismiss the above symptoms as a common cold but … there’s a possibility that perhaps consulting an allergist could serve to benefit … it might be an allergy. A check on this site might be helpful. https://www.pollen.com/

What can we do to minimize the discomfort?

For one thing – yes, we need to exercise but consider exercising at a space with superior ventilation system preferably with ION air purifier or better yet, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. The ultra-fine mesh on these filters traps all sorts of irritants that would otherwise circulate through the space. Then … those sun salutations in the morning and evening practice will be enhanced with the purity of the dust/pollen/molds free air.

More to come …

Hello Spring 🙂

there is this small hole in the wall.  It’s located on an alley and you might find a line foamed out the door into the side street with a sign that reads “outrageous coffee” in English. First time I dropped in, there was such a line and after waiting for awhile I gave up as I had an appointment to get to.     This time, no line. Off-hours.

Turret Coffee is a really tiny space with just one single Barista serving one of the best coffees I’ve ever had – and I have been to Blue Bottle, Starbucks, Petes, sipped Blue Mountain, etc. – kind of reminds me of java in Tahoe/Truckee sipped in high altitude that gives you a sigh of gradual wakefulness, like a brain-fog clearing, not a jolt. The place seems to cater to the foreign visitors and expat crowd as customers were mostly non-Japanese. Foreigners in Tokyo walks in, practically staggering in, for that real espresso they probably miss so badly. Their facial expression tells all.

While Starbucks Tokyo is better than Starbucks SF (sorry Bay Area – Starbucks Tokyo is better in taste and the seasonal bakery offerings), this place is so real. Latte is so real. Delicious. Latte is even superior to Starbuck’s located just around the corner from here … the Barista knows it. Otherwise you wouldn’t last running a place like this essentially serving the same thing as Starbucks – as literally Starbucks is a one minute walk from here.

小っちゃな幸せ！　(happiness comes in small dozes:)

A side note – Starbuck Tokyo’s Matcha Latte is wonderful – matcha taste is more intense leafy – deeper, greener) I gladly got the Matcha Latte instead, when I was in a hurry and could not afford the LONG wait at Turret. After all, Japan is a refined TEA country with centuries of tea culture. We take tea seriously here in Japan:)

Of a flower …

opportunities to learn something new … Various names of a variety or type of flower; the given name of the flower; location its from; then the nursery it was grown. In contrast to the big arrangements, these single arrangements impart the idea for me that life is fleeting and time is slowly ticking. Let’s make each day, each moment, each breath … count. Passage of time is noted as we cycled through 3 varieties of flower arrangements during my visits. To greeted by a flower each day is … a treat. Grateful for the beauty … blessings of nature’s creation in the everyday.

Name of that rose shown last? It’s called “Victorian Secret”, grown in Shizuoka prefecture.