Detox? Understanding a Cleanse from an Ayurvedic perspective
As we start the new year many of us have new year’s resolutions of being more wholesome, create space for self care and a healthy lifestyle. Many of us embark on new diets, on detoxes and getting back to exercise and on the yoga mat.
I am delighted to support you on the journey with some Ayurvedic and Yogic tips. We will start with understanding the detox process and toxicity from an ayurvedic perspective and how to prepare body and mind for a reset for the new year.
Detox? Understanding a Cleanse from an Ayurvedic perspective
In Ayurveda we have a concept called Ama. Ama is loosely translated as toxins. But “undigested material” is perhaps a better translation. In a healthy person the food we eat will be digested. The nutrients absorbed and transformed into nourishment for the body. Any waste will be eliminated through the digestion. However, if don’t easily digest, if we eat or drink foods/beverages that are unwholesome, with no nutrients or simply incompatible with our constitution it can become Ama, toxic. Even thoughts, emotions and sense impressions can become Ama if we don’t know how to process them.
One of the main pillars of Ayurveda is a healthy digestive system where our bodies can simply detoxify easily. But sometimes we need to give our bodies a bit of a rest. Stop overloading it, support our digestive fire, Agni, and relax our mind. Then our bodies can effectively digest and eliminate. It can reset so we once again feel light, energised, wholesome and radiant.
How to Detox Ayurvedically
Let’s start with elimination. How well do you eliminate? In Ayurveda we talk a lot about our bowel movements; their consistency, smell, shape and frequency. Depending on your constitution we would generally like to have 1-3 bowel movements a day and feel comfortable and complete afterwards. If that is not the case our first step to reset and detox is to balance our bowels.
– Drink Cumin tea first thing every morning. One teaspoon of cumin seeds (you can get them in any supermarket or grocery shop) to a mug or glass of boiling water. Steep for minimum 10 minutes. Or simply soak the seeds in water overnight and drink the water in the morning.
– Exercise to get the blood circulation moving and stimulate your bowels. Try these 3 simple yoga poses.
– Abdominal Massage. Massage from the right hip point up towards the right lower rib, then across to under the left lower rib, down to left hip point and gently across to the right hip once again. Keep this clockwise circular movement going for a few rounds. You can use a massage oil such as almond or sesame. Add essential oils of black pepper, ginger and grapefruit for added warming and digestive power.
Continue with these 3 tips for the rest of the week. Next week will do a 1-3 day full on mono-diet detox. Get your ONE-DAY-DETOX here. This Ayurvedic Detox is super easy for our digestion to digest. It offers our body time to rest. Our Agni, digestive fire, can simply start to digest any Ama, undigested material, and a natural detox has begun. By preparing your body with the cumin tea, the yogic exercises and abdominal massage you are already starting the process. Making it even easier for the body to eliminate, let go and release any Ama.
Enjoy the process and let me know how it goes.
Your FREE guide to a one-day-detox – click here.
Learn more on Detox & Rejuvenate online Immersion.