New Year thoughts

New Year Cleaning!

The New Year is here and most people or is that some people have cleaned their house to sweep out the old and allow space for the new. Me, I haven't quite got there thank goodness there is Chinese New Year (Feb 7th) to clear out the past years spirits. I have, however, begun to clean my class yoga equipment: washing the blankets, bolster covers, scrubbing the mats and revitalising the eye pillows. 

I then decided to clean all my own props: mat, blankets, bolster covers, sandbag covers, gertie ball and my collection of eye pillow covers. This included all my meditation tools and other requirements for class: clock, meditation bowl, tingskas and oil burner. Wow what a  collection!

This got me thinking about Kriyas or cleansing practices that can be followed in yoga. Practices such as using a neti pot to clear your sinuses, pranayama like nauli or lauliki to massage the abdominal organs and digestion, and other practices like swallowing a cloth to clean or cleaning your own colon by sucking water. Yes its true; amazing yet weird. Needless to say that many of these practices are quite advanced and require a teacher for guidance, and dedication and skill on part of the practitioner. Now, as much as would like to say this is me, it is not, for I am the mere mortal variety of yoga student/teacher or another way of putting this would be to say I'm not that far down the path (and may not ever be there), however, there are still a range of safe cleansing practices that can be followed. A simple detox whether simply lightening up on what and how much we eat or something a little more substantial like a detox such as a kidney or liver cleanse.

I will be launching into my five day liver cleanse tomorrow schedule allowing! It is important to have space and time to yourself to do this first part as you can feel a little tired and nauseous and emotional so be kind to yourself over this period as the toxins leave your body. Following this with a general detox diet for the next three weeks making the whole process around a month.  Many people swear by detoxes and recommend four times a year. 

Shiva Rea , a great yogi, regularly does a liver and gall bladder cleanse following 

 The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush by Andreas Moritz. 

Clean out body and soul with fresh fruit and vegetables; cut out refined and processed foods - very simple.

Some fruit from our orchard.

 I follow a very simple process and start with a five day cleanse before slowly reintroducing solid foods. This time I'll be staying on a detox diet for longer as like the food and feeling of lightness.  By the way this type of eating is not for everyone my partner thinks the body is perfectly capable of doing this cleaning on it's own and maybe it just us more sensitive types, you know those who cannot tolerate gluten and diary and have digestive issues. What I have discovered is if you eat lots of greens - silverbeet, pak choy, spinach - cravings for sugary food disappear. I guess that is why ancient yogis follow a Falahari diet which is simple diet of mostly fruit and vegetables. Great! Goodbye sugar and hello green food.

 Lettuce from our vegetable garden

Some ideas for detoxing:

Remember to check with your Doctor or Healthcare Professional before attempting any rigorous cleansing plan.

Include for detox:
•    Vegetable juices and smoothies
•    Salads and raw foods e.g. sprouts; lightly steamed seasonal vegetables
•    Use spices cumin, coriander, cardamom, fennel, fenugreek, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger to spice your food (stimulate digestive fire and aids cleansing) 
•    Herbal teas, ginger and lemon drinks 
•    Plenty of warm water

Eliminate for detox
•    Cold aerated drinks 
•    Alcohol, caffeine and smoking 
•    Dairy products 
•    Fish, meat and eggs 
•    Sweet fruits and foods 
•    Wheat and gluten products

When you have finished detoxing, reintroduce whole grains and solids slowly being gentle with your digestive system. To assist with elimination include plenty of twists in your yoga practice and spend time being quiet and still. Be well and smile:)

Om Shanti 

Margot