NEWSLETTER

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse…
by Nancy  Shanteau

Embarking on a cleanse brings the anticipation of good health, the excitement of trying something new, the fear of hunger, scarcity, and the unknown, the joy of simplicity. Will you survive and thrive, or will you find out that cleansing is not for you? Yogis have long used cleanses to enlighten and enliven their daily practices, to shed light on habits, and increase appreciation for the abundance we experience everyday.

What is a cleanse?

Traditionally, an Ayurvedic cleanse involves eating a mono-diet of kitcharee, a blend of brown rice, vegetables, and the optional addition of ghee, clarified butter. Wild Mountain yoga teachers have cleansed their diets using the following combinations: brown rice and tea, cabbage soup, a vegan diet with no sugar, alcohol, or caffeine, or a lemon, honey, and cayenne pepper drink. Whatever you choose, a cleanse brings attention to your daily choices.

To help you decide if and how to cleanse, we asked our yoga teachers to share their cleansing know-how with you. Here are some tips and suggestions gleaned from their experiences.

1. The First Few Days Are The Hardest: Start your cleanse with lots of support. If your significant other, housemates, and friends are not cleansing with you, ask them to prepare their food separately so you don't get tempted. If others aren't cleansing, honor and accept their choice and ask them to honor yours. Find a cleansing buddy for daily check-in conversations, or keep a cleansing journal to give you space to express your feelings around the experience.

“My determination of completing what I had decided to accomplish made it easy for me to stay on the cleanse.” -- Maria Zarate

1. Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew: Cleanse in moderation. Perhaps eliminate one or two things in your diet for one or two days and watch your response. Or, instead of changing your eating habits, perhaps you might de-clutter your home, or practice mono-tasking instead of multi-tasking. Turn off the radio while driving, and pay attention during meals instead of reading or having a conversation.

Ask yourself: “Can I allow peace and quiet to seep under my skin?” -- Katie Carter

1. Intention, Intention, Intention : Getting in touch with your purpose will help you maintain the cleanse. Write yourself a note at the beginning, and post it in a conspicuous location to offer you frequent reminders of why you are cleansing. Share your reason for cleansing with your friends and supporters, and ask them to remind you and encourage you during the cleansing week.

“It was rewarding to realize how much we have in exess that we do not really appreciate.” -- Mandy Farnsworth

1. Savor the Experience: Enjoy the flavors in the food you eat during the cleanse, the feeling of lightness inside and out. Instead of focusing on the food you are missing, notice and appreciate the food you are eating,. Take time to listen to your body, and harmonize with your own rhythms. Practice remembering where your food came from, from seed to fruit, through weather and travel, and appreciate the gift of nourishment it offers you.

“A cleanse doesn't just work on the body, it is a renewal of mind, body and soul.” – Elke Brown

1. Less is More: Cleansing is an opportunity to awaken to our habits, our patterns of eating, thinking, and doing that are unconscious. Free your schedule to enjoy the experience of cleansing, and practice yoga that eases digestion, and frees trapped and stagnant fluids in the body. Meditation and introspection offer time for rest and reflection, setting the stage for the blossoming of spring.

“Cleaning out has always brought more energy. A lightness in being all the way around.” -- Linda Savitz

However you choose to cleanse this week, may you delight in the richness of emptying out and relish the simplicity of doing less. Cleansing is a great opportunity to pay attention and raise your consciousness.

Nancy Shanteau helps real people write great books.  She's also a children's novelist and a yoga teacher at Wild Mountain Yoga Center.  She can be reached at shanta@onebox.com or
530-273-5170

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