I was wondering if you have ever done a cleanse, or wondered if you should do one?
Have you ever come across one that caught your interest?
Maybe you thought you should give it a try because it promised you'd feel lighter, have less brain fog, and tons more energy? But then doubted if that cleanse would feel good or even work for you?
Your intuition not to dive into a cleanse right away was correct... because deciding to do a cleanse safely and effectively DEPENDS on many things like;
The kind of cleanse
How long the cleanse is
The strength and integrity of your body at the time of the cleanse
Plus, many more key factors
Do you remember learning from me that one of the most important principles of Ayurveda is understanding HOW and WHEN we do things matters? Cleansing is a perfect example of this concept.
Let me explain what a cleanse is, why we do them, when to do them, and how to do them... according to Ayurveda.
WHAT IS A CLEANSE?
A cleanse is a period of time one takes to remove the accumulation of waste and pollution from the body and senses in order to restore harmony and resiliency to the entire body. During this process deep support is given to the mind, body and spirit in the form rest, easily digestible food, and self care practices.
A cleanse is NOT just what you eat or don't eat.
A cleanse should NOT be unpleasant, painful, or depleting.
A cleanse should NOURISH every part of you. This is why, in Ayurveda, we like to use the word REJUVENATION over the word CLEANSE.
WHY SHOULD I CLEANSE (rejuvenate)?
A cleanses helps clear excess Vata, Pitta, and Kapha from the channels of the body, it alleviates heaviness, stagnation or ama (waste) that has accumulated in the tissues over the past season and it reignites agni or digestive strength. Health begins in the gut, and having strong digestive strength is the ticket to longevity and health.
So, whenever you feel your digestion has been bogged down, or you've been eating differently than usual, doing a gentle cleanse to give your digestion a break would be a good thing.
Sometimes a digital cleanse is necessary over a food focused cleanse in order to rest and reset your senses and get back to living in accordance with your natural rhythms. My clients are always shocked when I direct some of them to this type of cleanse, but I'm surprised how easily they take the suggestion and run with it to great success.
WHEN DO I DO A CLEANSE?
It's traditional to "cleanse" around the seasonal changes. I plan my main cleanses around the Fall and Spring equinoxes. But, you can do a cleanse whenever you feel your body/senses need one.
HOW SHOULD I DO A CLEANSE?
An Ayurvedic cleanse always includes:
A pre-cleanse period, an active cleansing phase and a post-cleanse period. All three parts are integral to the process of rejuvenation.
The pre-cleanse is usually 3-4 days and involves preparing yourself for your cleanse; weening off caffeine, alcohol, and other things that may be difficult or painful to eliminate all at once, making sure you have cleared your schedule and notified friends/family that you won't be returning calls/texts during this time (if so desired) and buying your food and supplies for your cleanse.
The active-cleanse period depends on your needs but, a typical seasonal cleanse is 3-4 days. This is when you are following a mono-diet, and following your cleanse protocols.
The post-cleanse period is 3-4 days this is when you begin reintroducing other foods back into your diet and return to your regular routines.
To make your cleanse easy and most beneficial, make each phase the equal number of days.
There are general rules to cleansing but the specific KEY elements to a cleanse will be determined by what you need at the time of the cleanse. Your cleanse should be specific to YOU.
For example, eating kitchari 3x/day can feel nourishing, and supportive for you but might make someone else feel heavy and uncomfortable. You need to understand the state of your digestion when it comes to WHAT you eat for cleansing.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR YOUR CLEANSE?
You Call me! 216-501-1465. Or schedule one HERE
I would be happy to create your personalized cleanse. Investment: $50.
Members of www.practicewithjulie save $10.
I hope this helps you feel less confused about all the "noise" out there regarding cleanses. And reply to this note with any questions and I will be happy to answer them for you.
There is more to say about all this so stay tuned for PART 2 of the cleanse series next week.
If you don't already follow me on Instagram @clevelandayurveda come on over for recipe links, and more ayurvedic tidbits and fun.
Have a great week, friends!
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