Live Strong

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May Cleanse

I have decided to partake in a cleanse this year. It has been in the back of my mind and suddenly with the advent of May, I'm doing it. I think it will prepare me for a strong and satisfying summer. Too many years have gone by that I have shunned the practise, and it feels so good to reset my goals, examine my habits, and give my body the rest and repair it deserves.

Generally a 4-5 week experience, the most basic premise is to flush the body, like a glass held under running water. I like to go gently, and approach the experience in a series of stages, eliminating certain things, replacing with others. I strongly believe in nurturing, to give, rather than suffer and starve. The cleanse must be faced with the idea of healing in mind.

Week One
Eliminate: milk, sugar, chocolate, baked goods, processed foods, deep fry
Substitute: fresh fruit, whole grains, vegetables, water!
Practise: yoga, udihana banda in the morning 6x, cardiovascular exercise at least 3x/week

Week Two
Eliminate: dairy, yeast, caffeine, alcohol, meat
Substitute: flat breads, brown rice, beans, tofu, herbal teas, cleansing supplement (milk thistle extract, green drink), fresh pressed vegetable juices
Practise: Sauna every other day, yoga daily, lemon water in the morning prior to udihana banda 6x, enema every other day (coffee, lemon juice).

Week Three
Juice fast. Continue lemon water and udihana banda in the morning, fresh pressed fruit juices, water water water all day. Herbal teas. Cleansing suppliment. Fresh pressed veg juice often. Brown rice if necessary. Enemas daily, basti at least once. Saunas and steams. Yoga daily, gentle exercise. Rest as you feel like it. Liver cleanse can be done at this time.

Week Four
As week two, slowly introduce foods back into diet, starting with soups. Gently does it! Resist urges to overeat, the body needs to slowly assimilate back into a regular pattern of eating.

Week Five
As week one, but don't be so hasty to add back all the things you so carefully eliminated. Habits take 28 days to break, so you are well on your way to developing new ways of being, for caring for yourself. And you will feel great!!!!

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