Do you feel it too? Spring is in the Air
- and you are not ready?

Spring Energy? Yes please.

We look around and we see nature come alive. We feel those little surges of excitement coming through us when the rays of the sun warm us up. We know it, because we can feel it; Spring is in the Air.

This is the time we start feeling like; ok - time for a change. We need to feel better, get rid of the extra pounds we put on to keep us warm for the winter, and time to get our energy level to match the sprouting of the season.

Everything around us starts looking like it needs a refresher, and we feel it too.

Time to refresh, rejuvenate, restart, reset your body, and be reborn.

Do you need a Spring Cleanse?

Why a Spring Cleanse?

The best person to know if a detox is needed is yourself. Our body gives us all the signals, but we have numbed out our sensitivity to these messages. In our busy life we tend to think that it is normal to have these symptoms because we are stressed, live in big cities, don’t have enough time to eat and exercise. So what do we do? We ignore the signals and live with it.

But maybe instead it is time for some self-evaluation. Time to deconstruct and revisit our foods + lifestyle. What we choose, how much we eat, the quality of what we eat, and how we take care of our Self.

Some of the signs for needing to detox are:

• difficulty concentrating
• mentally sluggish
• thinking is slow or fuzzy
• fatigue
• allergies
• bad breath
• bowel/elimination problems as for example constipation
• depression
• headaches, migraines
• irritability
• muscle and joint pain
• mood swings
• general discomfort
• overweight
• lack of energy, feeling of heaviness in the body

How does the detox process work?

Our body is actually naturally detoxing all the time. It is basically designed to do so and our organs are assigned the job to perform this process.

The organs assigned for eliminating toxins:

Liver, kidneys, intestines, and skin

• Liver; the filter system of our bodies. The liver takes the toxins out of the blood and filters them.
• Kidneys; toxins are eliminated through the urine. The job of the kidneys to help toxins escape.
• Intestines; with regular bowel movements the elimination is how we are getting rid of toxins.
• Skin; the largest organ of the body. Much comes out through the skin.
• Fat reduction; means less toxins, which are stored in fat.
• Blood flow; circulation through the cells are for cleansing and healing.

How:

• sweat
• breath
• exercise, increases metabolic rate
• yoga
• massage
• pressure points, acupuncture, reflexology, shiatsu
• stretch, specific moves affect specific organs helping them process toxins
• dry skin brushing, lymphatic drainage
• hydro therapy; increases circulation and reduce fat in the tissues
• reduce stress; tension disturbs the balance of the enzymes in the liver used for release and removal of toxins
• jumping rope; helps the liver
• herbs and tinctures; many herbs help the body and organs rid of toxins.
• and of course; through a detox program designed to rid your body of toxins and a diet with cleansing foods.

General guidelines : for a detoxing way of living

Poor food combining is one of the most often seen causes of toxicity. We can cleanse effectively from time to time with a detox diet, intestinal cleansing, and herbs. However, to heal we need to adapt to a new way of taking care of ourselves. Once we eliminate residue of foods and chemicals from our system and gain the feeling of well being and vitality, we also have to learn to keep our bodies toxic free.

Eliminate toxic waste: Practice proper food combining
The simpler the meal, the easier it is to digest. To allow proper digestion and limit build up toxins here are some guidelines:

• Eat acids and starches at separate meals.
• Eat protein foods and carbohydrate foods (grains, bread, pasta) at separate meals.
• Eat but one concentrated protein food at a meal.
• Eat proteins and acids at separate meals.

A good rule of thumb is to combine vegetables and protein together at one meal or starch and vegetables together without protein. It is especially good to follow this rule while trying to heal the digestive tract.

The digestion time of various foods is determined by how easy they are to digest and assimilate in the body. Foods that take less time do not require a lot of work and energy to digest.

Always:

• Get enough fiber. Eat a diet rich in grains, vegetables, and fruit.
• Eat mostly protein from the vegetable kingdom. Note: some need animal protein more than others – all diets are individual, all needs are individual!
• Eat greens, drink green juices.
• Drink at least 2 quarts of water daily.
• Dilute fresh and bottled fruit juices with 50% water.
• Water to be filtered or spring water.
• Use organically grown food as much as possible, preferably only.
• Get at least one hour of exercise daily.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Avoid activities at night that tend to be uplifting, energizing, and stimulating as well as energy depleting (such as TV ).

Avoid products with sugar and preservatives added (read the labels)

• Vitamin C helps detox cells.
• High antioxidant foods – vegetables, nuts and seeds.
• Water – half of your body weight in ounces is the general rule of thumb.
• Sleep at least 6-7 hours per night.
• Chew, chew, chew and chew some more.
• Sweat every day.
• Develop slowness which can be translated into awareness in the moment: Slow down, sit down, savor every single meal every single bite. Take moderate portions, allow your body to decide when full, not your eyes or your mind, your body!
• Exercise, breathing and meditation.
• Body work, to unlock tension, which holds the toxins in the tissue and muscles.

Never:

Eat in a hurry


Eat when not genuinely hungry


Eat when physically or mentally wired or tired


Push beyond your boundaries, respect your body.

And:
Live clutter free, release the energy in your environment. Create a healing space that encourages, supports and balances your energy.