Awareness – October Issue 2014

Ayurveda Fall Cleanse

This week we started the annual Fall Cleanse. The word cleanse can be very intimidating and confusing. So what does it really mean? Does it mean no eating, only drinking vegetable juices and starve for a week? No, it is quite the opposite. It is all about keeping you metabolism going, which means three meals per day and some small healthy snacks in between, if needed.

The cleanse emphasizes healthy eating but perhaps even more importantly creating healthy lifestyle habits. Living clean goes beyond what we put on our fork.

With the past spring cleanse I learnt that it really is possible. It can be very intimidating (I had never done one before) but to my surprise it was not all that hard. It all made sense. The body craves these natural ways of living. In a way, it was like coming home.  We have just become so disconnected due to hectic schedules and with a deteriorating food industry.

The Challenges 

Habits. We tend to make it hard because of old habits. Habits are comfort and any change can be scary. The unknown can be hard to face. Change requires an open mind, which does not come ease in a society that tells us what to think and who to be.

I learnt many things about myself during the cleanse. It invites you to sit with yourself, and yes sometimes that is not easy, but necessary. The things we resist are typically the things we need the most. For me, I ended up acquiring new habits that lasted through the whole summer up until now. I changed my morning routine completely. All of a sudden I found myself lighting a candle and sit down every morning with a cup of tea, meditating and having quiet time before the day begins. Before, I would say there was no time for that. But I proved myself to be wrong. It is possible. It is just a matter of mindset.

And kind of funny, you think taking time to self-care takes time away from that to-do-list that is waiting for you (which stops you form doing it first place), but interestingly enough changing my habits improved my focus and stress management throughout the whole day. Significantly! I was more efficient and found myself having more time to actually do nothing. It made me smile, how wrong we can be without even knowing it. Now I cannot go back. The new habits had become a part of me.

How Cleanse Promotes Detoxification

“Cleanse” means getting rid of toxins that we accumulate in our bodies. Toxins store in our fat tissues and when we go through a cleanse we typically see a slight weight loss, which further enhances the detoxification. The cleanse is about eating wholesome food and hydrate with water and herbal teas. No stimulants (caffeine, alcohol and other recreational drugs). Basically, it is all about eating simple foods allowing for grains, vegetables, seeds and healthy oils and fats. During the cleanse we avoid animal proteins.

The Reason To a Plant Based Diet 

Animal protein is hard on the digestive system, and in today’s world we tend to overeat animal proteins (chicken, eggs, pork, beef and fish) having it with every meal we eat. The cleanse is to reset the digestive system, to give it a break. A chance to heal and build up strength again. Serving it gentle and easily digestible foods allows for the body to preserve energy. Rather than wasting energy on breaking down tough food the energy can now go to healing and battling infections, disease etc. After the cleanse you can introduce animal proteins again. Start small, and you may find that you do not need it with every meal again. There are may other options to get delicious proteins into your body.

Rest Without Guilt

During the cleanse rest is important. It makes us slow down, as each meal should be enjoyed sitting quietly for 20minutes. Preferably in silence. Try it, it is harder than you may think! We are so accustomed to fast pace, many times finding ourselves walking and eating at the same time. And we wonder why we suffer from acid reflux, bloating and upset stomachs? Once again, what we resist is what we need the most. Rest is not to feel guilty about.

A good seven to eight hours of sleep is important. Sleep is typically the first thing that goes in a hectic life, but lets not forget that this is the most important time for the body to restore and recharge. Much sickness could be prevented if we only got more sleep.

To Live With The Natural Rhythm

During the cleanse it is encouraged to rise with the sun and slow down as the sun settles. For most of us this is very hard. Longer days with electronic devices shining brightly close to midnight hours. Time to bring out that dusty book! (And I don’t mean an iBook or Kindle…)

Bottom line is, the cleanse is so much more than just eating clean. It is a whole package, for your body and mind. Living more in sync with your body and listen to its needs.

Now remember, in the middle of it all, you may not feel all that great. Simply because you have a lot of junk to get rid of. But once you are through it, you will feel like you have a new bounce in your step. Your old aches and pains are gone, and most importantly you feel a smile on your face – proud of how well you have treated your body!

With Fall Cleanse think:

• Eating wholesome foods, easy to digest
• Drinking more water and herbal teas to hydrate and flush out toxins (elimination through body fluids)
• Rest
• Mild to Moderate Exercise (avoid strenuous exercises as this is a time to receiver and use the energy to heal not to break down)

For detailed information I would recommend contacting Bethany Cantin, who counsels in Ayurvedic living and runs these Cleanses.

To a life in good health.