Spring cleanse
How to prepare for a light and bright Summer and feel joyful, well and balanced
We do have the conscious choice to feel healthy and joyful. Take the time for yourself, go for a long walk in nature and listen to the sounds of spring. The birds are singing, trees are in bloom and colorful flowers are everywhere and we feel grateful for the Sun and warmth, that brings many blessings to the Earth.
Maybe you feel the urge to clean your home, the windows, that we always forget, closets and kitchen, pantry, attic, garage, your office table and organize your computer files. Some of us feel the calling to work in the garden, remove the debris and prepare the soil for the new growth.
As we work eagerly on our new cleaning, clearing, organizing projects, we get rid off the heaviness of the winter. In Ayurveda (the meaning of the word Ayurveda is the wisdom of life), the holistic healing system of ancient India, we find suggestions to shake off the heaviness of winter.
I always struggled with overweight and for me the best healing method was to get moving my body. I start the day with yoga, shaking my body a few minutes and go for a long walk with the dog. Whatever you love to do, start a new daily routine, bike, run, walk, practice yoga, swim or go to the gym.
The cleansing process starts in our head. We decide to change something and will stick to it. "You become what you believe" is a saying. So consciously repeat new positive thoughts, use affirmations and guided meditations. "I am enough. I am whole. I am capable to change."
Tip #1 - Daily gratitude practice
Start a new journal and write down every morning or evening what you are grateful for. Establish a regular meditation practice and say words of gratitude at the end of your practice.
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
Tip #2 - Green juice
I recommend you to get Medical Medium's book, Cleanse to Heal. I learnt so much from Anthony. I start every morning with 16 oz lemon water, move my body and afterwards drink my freshly prepared 16 oz celery juice. Chose your favorite green juice or smoothy and start your day with a new heathy habit. Be the inspiration for your family, friends, colleagues. The Sun, warmth and longer days bring cheer and hope. Let's ride the playful, upward moving energy of spring!
Photo by Alex Ivrs on Unsplash
"No cleansing diet works unless you are eliminating sufficiently. Have at least one bowel movement every day. Drink a cup of herbal laxative tea in the morning." – Sharon Gannon in her book, Simple Recipes for Joy
Tip #3 - 21 Days Cleansing Diet
Raw cleansing diets never worked for me personally. I felt bloated and always hungry after a huge plate of salad. Feel free to experiment and see what works for you! How is your day, are you a person on the go or you have more time in the morning? Make it work for you. Pack a lunch box for the next day with yummy roasted vegetables or a glas of overnight oats and have a few nuts and seeds in your pocket. I always make mistakes when I am hungry and have nothing prepared with me. I run and get a coffee and a croissant, "because it is yummy and I deserve it"... we all have been there. If life becomes stressful, we grab a chocolate bar, a coke, a cigarette or a coffee.... you name it.
Have healthy snack options with you. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A handful of almonds, a banana, sliced pineapple, dried papaya, a box fresh blueberries, a packed rainbow smoothie from home will help you to get through the difficult times.
You don't need to starve. There are so many food options with much fiber. Soak beans and lentils overnight and cook them with asafetida to reduce gas. Serve your brown rice lentil dish with kombu seaweed. Kombu contains enzymes that help break down the bean and increase digestibility. It is high im iodine, potassium, calcium, Vitamin A and C.
Optimally you want to drink green juice until noon and than add solids at lunch and dinner. However it is not working for everybody. If you need your breakfast, enjoy gluten-free toast with avocado to have gluten-free oatmeal for late breakfast, have a soup for lunch and steamed vegetables for dinner. Cook your own food and prepare everything with love in advance. Reduce salt and oil.
Kitcheri is a cleansing, healing food from India. You cook 2 cups of red lentils with one cup of brown rice and 8 cups of filtered water until you get a creamy porridge-like consistency.
If you like to enjoy fresh fruit, please eat it alone.
Drink lots of filtered water and herbal teas throughout the day.
Tip #4 - Use spices
As we start to eat light food, we may want to try different tastes. Fresh steamed vegetables taste rich with ginger, turmeric, cumin, coriander and black pepper. Pippali belongs to the pepper family and is a powerful stimulant for digestion. It has a strongly heating quality, so use it in moderation, when you have a lot of internal heat (Pitta dosha).
The taste bitter, pungent and astringent help to cleanse and keep you feeling light and bright.
Bring your own spice mix with you! Mix together: 1 tbs turmeric, 1 tbs cumin, 1 tbs coriander, 1 tbs fennel and store it in an airtight small container. Bring it with you when you dine out.
Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash
Tip #5 - Finish strong
Source your food from your garden, community garden, local farms, that is organic and seasonal!
Be kind to yourself and to all. We all make mistakes, we all come back to some old habits. See what you accomplished in the last 3 weeks and what can you integrate into your daily routine forever. Maybe walking your dog or your neighbors dog brings you so much joy, that you keep going. Maybe the daily gratitude practice brings you back to a happy and harmonious state of being, that you just keep going. Maybe yoga helps you to find balance in your crazy life and you find the time slot to integrate it to your daily routine.
What you focus on for the next 21 days is important! Concentrate on the positive rather than the negative! Think about how you talk to yourself and to others. Is your language kind and uplifting?
Your cells have ears! Every cell in your body is listening.
"I am capable, confident, intelligent, resilient and in charge. Health and happiness are my birthrights and I accept with gratitude." - Kris Carr
Support your cleansing process with a gentle yoga class. Click below to book a private yoga class.
I invite you to leave a comment below my post. Let me know how you are doing? How is the cleanse going? Where do you need support?
When you cleared out the excess flow, plant something beautiful, tend to it with care and offer it to the world.
Wishing you all a healthy, happy Spring and lots of JOY!