Cleansing is a hot topic in our society -- but why? Well, people are drawn to detoxing for various reasons. Some include: drop weight, reduce cravings, shift dietary or mental patterns, improve digestion and/or hit a reset button. As there are many reasons for cleansing, there are many options for cleansing as well. Some popular cleanses include: juicing, shakes, fasting, eating raw and/or a diet consisting of whole foods.
Prior to learning about Ayurveda, I had never participated in a cleanse. My interest was zero to none. The idea of not eating food seemed drastic, harsh AND plus I get really hungry. During my studies with Dr. Paul Dugliss from New World Ayurveda, I learned about the practical application of Ayurvedic cleansing. This style of cleansing is different, and has been practiced for thousands of years. I have since participated in an Ayurvedic cleanse every spring and fall since 2014, and am convinced from my experience that mind, body and spirit under-go a healthy release and reset. It is something that I genuinely look forward to.
Ayurvedic cleansing is different than most cleanses for a few reasons:
You Eat!
Our bodies are intelligent. If suddenly you stop eating, your body can go into survival mode also known as adaptive thermogenesis [1]. Survival mode means that even if caloric intake is reduced, weight will remain or may even increase. It also means that the body is holding on to everything it possibly can, and is using its natural defense mechanism to keep you alive for the "famine" or lack of food available. This begs a question: how can the body remove toxins if it's in survival mode?
Cleansing should be gentle for exactly this reason! Ayurvedic cleansing uses a very special and well formulated meal - kitchari. It is designed to create satisfaction and provide necessary nutrients so the body does not go into survival mode. Kitchari is mung beans, rice, spices and ghee which makes it the perfect meal of fat, protein and carbohydrates.
Self-Care Practices And Emotional Release
Many cleanses require a lot of emotional energy to stick-with-it. They test willpower, which can be emotionally exhausting. Yes, any cleanse requires a certain amount of accountability and commitment. However, Ayurvedic cleansing is designed to be simple and nourishing. Practice self-care techniques that are used to aid in emotional release - such as mindfulness (breath practice and meditation), self massage and ample sleep.
Ayurveda suggests that fat cells store emotions. Therefore, emotions can get "stuck" in the body. The cleanse uses ghee, clarified butter, to pull fat soluble toxins from the body which also releases emotions. [2] In addition, ghee feeds the healthy microbes in the gut. Butyric acid is the main fatty acid in ghee, and it happens to be the preferred source of energy for the intestinal cells. [3] Gut health and emotions are certainly connected! [4]
It’s All About Digestion
Impaired digestion is the bridge to disease. Inability to digest foods well is a sign that digestion needs a reboot. Wheat + dairy are well-known culprits that are hard to digest in our society.
Liken your digestion to fire. If you put a lot of liquid on a fire the fire will go out. If you put too many logs on the fire it will go out. If you put the right amount of wood on the fire, it will roar! This is the idea behind Ayurvedic cleansing, feed the body the correct food and correct portions to kindle the fire. Once the fire is strong, it will "burn up" or cleanse undigested foods, undigested experiences and environmental toxins.
Group Cleanse
Shri Wellness hosts Ayurvedic cleanses twice yearly - spring and fall. If you are interested in joining a group cleanse this fall, please consider our guided 12 day home detox. For further questions please contact us!