Living the Ayurveda Lifestyle is a continuous education.  A large portion of my studies is aimed at being able to successfully and properly instruct current and future clients. Very rarely do I have the chance to take a step back and put myself in the shoes of the student.  Fortunately for me, the final lesson in obtaining the Ayurveda certification, requires future instructors to experience first hand the Perfect Health program. Massages, Ayurvedic meals, meditation, philosophy, are daily aspects of the week long program.  The program also includes a Detox of the body, mind , and spirit.  Needless to say, I was ready to jump head first into the ocean of Perfect Health.

Reflecting on my experience of a Perfect Health week…

The week was amazing.  All of the teachers willingly share their knowledge and provide constructive feedback.  My primary objective during the Perfect Health week was to enjoy the experience, but I must admit, every night I would journal my thoughts and ideas on how I could share this experience with my friends, family and clients.  My personal reflection lead me down a path of recreating a Detox at home that is easy on the body and can be performed at the beginning of every season. Ayurveda suggests that at the beginning of each season or every time we experience a major life change we should do a reset of the body and pay closer attention to what we are digesting in our body and mind.

At home during our everyday activities, it is hard to take the time to slow down and spend a week dedicated to removing toxins. My recommendation is that you take a weekend out of your busy schedule to work on removing what no longer serves you and bringing nourishing choices into your life.

Okay, so how do you get started…

Start on Friday night by having a small dinner such as a light soup.  This step is very easy, but also the most important to get the most out of the process. This is a signal to the body that you are preparing to slow down. Prior to bedtime, enjoy a nice bath with a reading of inspirational literature. Nothing too serious or lengthy, but something that you really enjoy and makes you smile.  Wrap up your evening by surrounding yourself with a small collection of your favorite scents and sounds and go to bed early (aim for at least 30 minutes earlier than usual, 1 hour earlier is the recommendation).

On Saturday begin your day with meditation and light yoga exercises. For breakfast, have one serving of Armenia’s green juice along with a tablespoon of an oil combination (such as Udu’s oil blend) and 8 oz of water mixed in with a vegetable source of fiber powder (such as Garden of Life). For lunch enjoy a blended soup (for easier digestion). Drink plenty of room temperature water and ginger tea throughout the day. In the evening repeat the soup and the oil/fiber blend. Spend the evening journaling about the feelings that arise during this experience and enjoy a nice bath before bed.  Don’t forget that early bedtime!  Try to push it up by another 15 minutes!

Sunday spend the day as you did on Saturday, but if possible, spend the day in silence with nature. Walking barefoot along bodies of water and reflecting upon your experience can be very rejuvenating to your body and mind. Let go of toxins by releasing them through a ritual during your walk with nature. (The silence may be the hardest and most rewarding phase of the detox)

Begin your week by making nourishing choices to your mind and body. Be conscious of the signals your body is sending you. Your breakfast after the detox should be something gentle on the body. A small bowl of porridge with some dried fruits and nuts is an easy option.

There are many ways to perform a detox, but few are as simple, reasonable, and effective as this approach. Think about how it would feel to have a weekend dedicated to yourself. The Summer weekends and vacations are coming to an end, perhaps a detox weekend is the right way for you finish the summer and reset for the fall.

If you and/or your partner live in the Upstate of South Carolina, or even interested in visiting the area, I would love to hear from you and discuss options on having a weekend retreat hosted by me. 

http://www.blissbalancehealth.com

armenia@blissbalancehealth.com

http://www.facebook.com/blissbalancehealth

864 551 5731