Looking to lighten your toxic load this spring? It’s the best time of year to do it! Here are some tips to help you get rid of some of excess stuff that may be weighing you down.
1. Something green in the morning
For years I couldn’t handle this idea. Salad for breakfast? Ugh. I’m going back to bed. But then I started making green smoothies in the morning. Let me be clear, I DO NOT OWN A VITAMIX (not that I don’t want one – text me if you happen to be moving abroad). I bought a good Oster blender, which I didn’t have to take out a second mortgage for, and it does just fine – a little noisier than my morning nerves like, but no chunks. In case you are considering crossing over to the dark green side, here’s a recipe to tinker with:
Ingredients:
1 handful of almonds
1 t of chia seeds
2-3 dino kale leaves – deveined
1 granny smith apple cored and cubed
½ cup of frozen blueberries
Maybe ½ of a frozen banana
1 T hemp powder protein
Maybe some greens powder or spirulina
¾-1 c of almond milk
The night before: Soak a handful of almonds in one small bowl or jar and a teaspoon of chia seeds in another. In the am: almonds and chias go in the blender first. If I have time, I pop the almonds outta their skins. Then the powders. Add kale, apple, blueberries and optional banana. Plug your ears. Blend enthusiastically, because you are going to feel great after you drink this stuff.
My friend Sam tells me my smoothies are like my schedule. Just shove it all in there and blend.
2. Twist poses are excellent for detoxing!
Matsyendranath, the father of Hatha Yoga, has a powerful pose named after himself – Ardha Matsyendra’sana. “Half Lord of the Fishes.” I’m sorry that the translation sounds, well, a little pathetic. Believe me, this sage had many talents beyond his skill for half-heartedly dominating fish. Matsyendranath can be accredited with initiating the understanding that asanas help to detoxify and rejuvenate the body. His name indicates that he was from a fishing caste. And also from the group of yogis called the “Nathas” who were Shiva worshippers and great Tantric experimenters. Whether or not Matsyendranath himself created this asana is up for discussion – nevertheless, it can be found in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika – one of the original poses. It’s a powerful digestive system rejuvenator.
3. Sweat
Which doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do sweaty yoga. In fact, it’s not my favorite way to detox with asanas – they can be used much more creatively and intentionally. However, sweating is really important so, in whatever way you like to get worked up, make a commitment to yourself that 4-5 days a week you will get out there and sweat somehow cause gosh darnit, you are going to feel better if you do. Lazy yogi cop-out tip: even though it’s not necessarily better than internally generated hear, you can also sweat in a sauna.
4. Examing the urge to retox
Here’s the thing: we’re all dealing with toxicity. Let’s face it, we’re pretty much living in a toxic garbage heap of a planet these days – but that’s another blog. Nevertheless, it’s essential to find ways to unload the burden from our bodies. But toxicity is not only physical – frankly, a lot of it is emotional. “Toxic” emotions like guilt, shame, anxiety and anger all inhibit the body’s ability to detox. It’s great to do all the right things physically but we also need to unearth the roots of the urge to retox. This calls for lots of mindful compassion. You have to recognize the urge before you can do anything about it. And when you see it, can you respond with compassion and kindness rather than judgment and punishment?
We’ll talk about all this and lots more next week! Hope you can join us for this free webinar next Tuesday night (May 7) at 9 pm EST.
And here’s a cat…
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