1. JUICE FAST
Juice fasting is believed to be the ultimate cleansing method by millions of health enthusiasts around the world. It’s said to provide “a healthy amount of calories and nutrients specifically suited for weight loss and cleansing, all while resting the digestive system and allowing the body to heal naturally”.* Depending on your reasons for a cleanse and your state of health (as well as tolerance), the juice fast could last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The juice consumed during a juice fast should consist of freshly pressed and preferably organic fruits and vegetables. If you don’t have a juicer or don’t want to deal with the process (and the mess) of juicing, you can purchase organic, cold pressed juices locally at Food and Thought or from Juicelation. Whether you choose the occasional 1-day cleanse or go for a week-long or even a 30-day juice fast, the health benefits seem to be indisputable for people of all sizes, ages, and levels of health.
2. LEMON WATER CLEANSE
One of the simplest ways to give your body a break from processed foods and stimulate the body’s natural detoxification processes is the infamous lemon water cleanse, also referred to as the “Master Cleanse”. Recipe: Mix 2 Tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder, and 8 ounces purified water. If possible, use organic ingredients. It’s recommended to drink between 6 and 12 glasses of lemon water each day during your cleanse. Some people prefer the 1-day lemon water cleanse once a week, while others believe it should last for a minimum of 10 days. In addition, there is a recommended 3-day “ease-in” period to prepare the body and a 3-day “ease-out” to follow the 10-day cleanse, and also other important steps to consider. See details at www.themastercleanse.org.
3. OTHER CLEANSING/DETOX PROGRAMS
There are endless detox products and cleansing protocols available online and in health food stores. Finding the one that works for you may be a challenge and will involve some research, as well as trial and error. One system comes highly recommended by numerous individuals who have tried many cleansing programs: the 10-Day Transformation Cleanse by Purium. It is an incredibly simple system, containing highly-alkalinizing, super-concentrated, organic and vegan superfoods that will help detoxify your body, reset your metabolism, clean your digestive tract, and break your addiction to processed foods. You can find it locally at the Salt Cave or online at www.mypurium.com/saltcave.
4. EXERCISE & SAUNA
Try to exercise at least 30 minutes everyday. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are evident, but we all need a little reminder and motivation every now and then. Any form of physical exercise is known to release endorphins, making it a perfect stress fighter and mood booster. In addition, it can help remove toxins from your body, as it increases oxygen to the cells and stimulates better circulation. Whether you join the gym or a yoga group, whether you prefer to run on the beach or just to go for a brisk walk around the block, daily exercise is an excellent way to improve your mood, boost your energy, fight disease, and to keep your body fit and clean.
The health benefits of Infrared sauna are also tremendous. Some of these include detoxification, relaxation, weight loss, lowering blood pressure, pain relief, and blood purification. Studies have shown that during a 30-minute far infrared sauna session an average person will sweat out 20% toxins and 80% water, and burn up to 200-600 calories. Heating of muscles with far infrared heat produces an increased blood flow level similar to that seen during exercise.
5. DETOX FOODS & WATER
Incorporate certain foods into your daily diet that are well-known for their natural detoxifying properties, such as: garlic, kale, ginger, turmeric, wheatgrass, cayenne pepper, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, beets, avocado, cabbage, green tea, seaweed, lemon, and grapefruit. Also, make sure to drink plenty of water. Water is essential for all of your organs, and for flushing toxins out of your body. If you are exercising and taking saunas to help release the toxins, it becomes even more important to stay hydrated. Add a hint of Himalayan salt or a drop of sole to each cup of water in order to replace vital minerals and trace elements that get flushed out of your body by perspiration during exercise. If you’re not used to drinking water daily, be sure to increase your intake by only one cup at a time so you don’t overload yourself. Your kidneys won’t know what to do if they’re not used to getting water and then get a ton of it. See more at www.bembu.com/detox-foods.
6. ENERGETIC CLEARING
In addition to cleansing your physical body, you should consider clearing your ‘subtle energy bodies’ as well. They form the layers of your energy field, also called the aura. Your aura contains information about you, your physical health, your experiences, thoughts, and emotions, your spiritual path, and your soul’s true essence. Traumas brought on by people, events, and past hurts can leave negative energetic imprints on your aura that in return can affect your physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s recommended to get an energy healing session or ‘aura cleanse’ on a regular basis to help clear your energy field of debris. You can have an aura cleanse done by a certified Energy Healer, a Shaman, or a Reiki Practitioner. You can also cleanse your aura yourself and get rid of the stagnant, negative energies around you by “smudging”: that is by burning herbs like sage (most commonly used), sweetgrass, lavender, and tree resins such as frankincense, myrrh, and copal, or even by burning salt and certain wood like cedar or Palo Santo.
7. CHAKRA CLEANSE
A chakra cleanse can be done with the help of crystal layouts, chakra meditation (or the combination of the two), Color Silk Therapy, Colorpuncture, Visualization, or energetic stimulation done by an Energy Healer. The principle of a chakra cleanse is to activate, balance, and align the whole chakra system and to get rid of blockages. Each chakra corresponds with specific areas of the body and stores information about your state of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Chakras transmit and receive life-force energy often called qi (pronounced “chi”), prana, or universal energy. When this flow of energy is disrupted in any way — for examples by stress, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, exposure to toxicity, etc., life force energy cannot flow in and out freely and the chakra system becomes blocked or out of alignment. Blockages and imbalances in the chakras can manifest as physical and emotional problems; therefore, it’s crucial to keep them clear and balanced with frequent chakra cleansing.
8. CRYSTAL THERAPY
Many crystals are believed to have cleansing properties and are able to help clear mental and emotional blockages. Some of these purifying crystals are: Amethyst, Citrine, Amber, Peridot, Danburite, Smoky Quartz, Tourmaline, and Dioptase. Numerous minerals are also said to provide aid for physical detoxification, including Herkimer Diamond, Calcite, Jade, Opal, Charoite, Bloodstone, Flourite, Obsidian, Ruby, and Stillbite. Often, just by carrying a small piece in your pocket or as jewelry you could benefit from the vibrational healing energies of the crystal. Meditating with crystals or building crystal grids are also common practices for utilizing their cleansing and detoxifying abilities.
9. EDITATION
To meditate is to become deeply aware of your eternal essence; it’s about learning to clear and quiet your mind so that you can focus your awareness on the present moment. The practice of meditation can help you stay centered and calm regardless of your surroundings and circumstances.
“It doesn’t teach you to avoid pain or discomfort but to experience and accept it so you can move through any situation with profound clarity and a sense of inner peace and calm.”** Meditation has been practiced for millennia for purifying the mind and the body. The physical and emotional benefits of this ancient practice are well-known: it balances the body’s neurochemical system to reduce anxiety and depression; it slows your respiration for longer, deeper breaths; it boosts your immune system by slowing the production of the stress hormone cortisol; it also stimulates the nervous system that helps your body return to a calm, relaxed state, in which your body can naturally rejuvenate, repair, and rebuild itself.
Buddha was asked, “What have you gained from meditation?” He replied “Nothing! However, let me tell you what I have lost: anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.”
10. MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a practice, rather a life choice perhaps, which helps to keep your mind and body clean, centered, and calm. It is defined as becoming aware and accepting of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings in the present moment, without judgment. When you practice mindfulness, your thoughts tune into what you’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. According to Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., and Wendy Millstine, NC, mindfulness is “… an awareness that is sensitive, open, kind, gentle and curious. Mindfulness is a basic human capacity. It arises from paying attention on purpose in a way that is nonjudging, friendly and does not try to add or subtract anything from whatever is happening.”***
11.SOUL CLEANSING
A sure way to purify and uplift your Spirit is by letting go of anger, bitterness, hatred, and fear; and by filling your heart with love, joy, gratitude, compassion, and light. It might be easier said than done, but simply becoming aware, making a conscious effort, and making the very choice to cleanse your entire being and to get rid off your negative emotions can set you off on the right path.
SOURCES:
*Master Cleanse and The Lemonade Diet by Mike Olaski – www.themastercleanse.org
**Meditation provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits – An Excerpt from YogaFit by Beth Shaw on www.humankinetics.com
***Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind by Jeffrey Brantley, M.D., and Wendy Millstine, NC