Let Your Light Shine Even though the long, hot, sunny, humid days of summer are behind us, you can still let your own light shine within you. Sometim
Let Your Light Shine
Even though the long, hot, sunny, humid days of summer are behind us, you can still let your own light shine within you. Sometimes our light gets a little dim for various reasons; perhaps stress, our food choices, toxins from food and/or emotions, overindulgences, deficiencies of nutrients, wild running emotions or operating for long stints in overdrive. You can easily re-ignite your glow and energy by slowing things down and weeding & feeding your system.
September heralds a time of fresh starts in North America as we return to school and routine. It also is a perfect time for a detox or cleanse. Cleaning out our system and re-fueling with premium gas allows us to keep our engines operating optimally. Just as you tune up your car, care for it, get it serviced and clean it out periodically (I hope) you can and should do the same for your body. The difference is your body lasts your entire lifetime. Now is the time to pay attention to it!
Detox = Vacation Time
Detoxing, just like vacationing can be done in various ways and in various durations. The foundational purpose of the vacation however remains the same; to give your body a break, to clean out the junk & clutter and to replenish it with goodness to come back super charged.
Here are a few things you can do anytime without the help of a health practioner:
1. Relieve your digestive system & bowels. Give them a break, a day off or even a few days off.
Juicing is a fantastic way to accomplish this digestion holiday while still obtaining beneficial nutrients.
2. Reduce or eliminate acidic foods; red meat, fried foods, alcohol, sugar, flour, dairy, wheat & caffeine. Drugs & chemicals also have an acidifying effect on the body. These foods and substances create a pH imbalance & cause congestion in the colon, the leading cause of disease.
3. Increase the Alkaline/Acid ratio (pH) of your body. Bacteria & disease cannot flourish in an alkaline body. Alkaline foods are mainly fruits, vegetables, yogurt & whey. Aim for 75% alkaline / 25% acid ratio. (I can provide you a full list if you're interested in learning more)
4. Eat sulfur containing foods & cruciferous vegetables; brocolli, Brussels sprouts, kale, chard, asparagus, parsley, cilantro, carrots, garlic, onion, nuts, seeds & legumes. These foods along with kelp will help remove toxins from the body.
5. Prime up your bowels. Mix 8oz of water with 1 tsp Psyllium, 1 tsp Bentonite clay, 1 tsp Caproil and drink quickly to avoid thickening. Follow the "sludge" with another glass of plain water. Take on empty stomach first thing in morning or before bed. Continue this daily for one month. This is a sure way to clean out the pipes. Use caution if you have IBS or Chrons.
6. Master cleanse. Try this 50 year old method by mixing 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper in 8 oz water. Try it warm, drink 8 -12 glasses throughout the day, eat or drink nothing else except water.
7. Deep breathing exercises. Alkalizes your body, helps balance your pH and also calms the nervous system and the mind.
8. Do Yoga. Yoga can help to re-align the chakras (energy system), balance hormones, relax the mind & nervous system and drain the lymph system. All helping to restore balance and remove toxins.
9. Meditate. Meditation will help you calm your "monkey" mind and clear the clutter in your head and your thoughts. Scientific research shows that meditation calms emotions, enhances creativity & problem solving, reduces fear, anxiety & stress and helps balance hormones icluding the natural feel good neurotransmittor "serotonin".
10. Drink WATER!!!! 8 -10 glasses of plain water per day. It is the ulimate purifier. Not only does it nourish all of your cells, it assists in removing toxins from your sacred body. The perfect flush!
11. Enjoy the vacation. Slow down. Get proper rest/sleep, reduce an overloaded schedule, trying saying "no" to some invitations or requests, take your time eating, enjoy the moment right where you are without planning the next one, spend some time on you or with yourself to get to know yourself, journal, pause. After all, that's what vacations are for.
Cleansing Juice Recipes
Autum Rejuvenation Ration
3 cups water
1 tbsp grated ginger root
1 - 2 tbsp miso paste
1 - 2 stalks green onion, chopped
Chopped cilantro, to taste
1 - 2 pinches cayenne pepper
2 tsp olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Boil water. Add ginger root. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in miso paste (do not allow miso to boil). Add remaining ingredients, cover & steep for 10 more minutes. Vary ingredient portions to satisfy your palate. Enjoy the goodness!
From: The New Detox Diet, Elson M Haas
Rise & Shine
1 apple
4 carrots
1/2 beet with the greens
1/2 cucumber
1 inch of ginger root
1/4 lemon
Process all of the above in a juicer. Feel the goodness pour into all of your cells!
As you rid your body of damaging toxins and give your cells an opportunity cleanse, heal & rejuvenate you will not only bring clarity to your mind, body & spirit you will also rediscover your natural radiant energy which will allow your own internal light to shine brightly so you can live fully; in a natural healthy, peaceful state.
I encourage you to explore your own body, get to know it, care for it and cherish it as it will carry you throughout the remainder of your life. Feel free to connect with me if you would like more details on a full detoxification, cleanse, recipes, juice fasts, acid/alkaline diet or if you just want to say "hi" and chat about overall health & well-being.
Check out PURE Natural Health & Wellness for our new fall schedule of yoga, meditation, shamanism & belly dance classes. Yep, you heard it right, Belly Dancing in Jordan with Molly Hogkins. Imagine what that can do for your overall attitude, muscle tone, strength & digestion!
Keep on shining brightly my friend,
In good health,