It’s that time of year again. Actually, it begins today! This is the spring cleanse I recommend for those of us living in the Northeast US. Charlotte Clews is geeky, fun, and accessible. You won’t be sorry who join us.
Update: it’s a good practice to get out the old and organize what one keeps:
This morning we marked a full moon, and tonight, we’ll observe the Summer Solstice. The last time this happened was in 1967, during the “Summer of Love.”
So I do like the advice above from @mysore_sf to rest. The full moon in summer lends enough energy on its own, and the solstice does even more so. Our inclination, observing and sensing these energies, is to expend a lot ourselves. We can really go off the charts with that energy, and should balance it with more resting, cooling practices. Minimize those things that aggravate pitta dosha: caffeine, alcohol, activity, and strenuous practices. Being as I am largely kapha dosha, I can forget I also have a fair amount of pitta, which can get easily aggravated by such energies. It’s wonderful in vata autumn and winter, and kapha spring to rely on such energies, and so invigorating to use summer for what it’s for, but if I find myself getting strung out as I have over the past few days, I have to dial it back, to “lean toward earth’s moist green gifts,” which also are made possible by the sun.
Remember also that the sol–stice refers to the stillness or stillpoint of the sun.
Cate Stillman says it, also, and even @ski_yoga_guy, normally known for his arm balances and inversions, is doing stillness today. Please consider this.
Also, as an added bonus, enjoy this song by “The Head and the Heart.”
Oh yes, this is the e-mail I’ve been waiting for. Sign me up!
This cleanse is dedicated to helping you head into the Winter feeling nourished and resilient. The goal is to eat whole-food meals with little or no snacks in between so as to balance your blood sugar, rest your digestion and reset your taste buds. Resting and cleansing your digestive system will help you clear allergies, constipation and skin issues and will help strengthen your immune system so you are less prone to summer allergies and rashes.
This is not a depletion cleanse, we will not be juice fasting or focusing on weight loss.However you can expect to loose some weight simply by clearing out winter’s digestive and cellular waste.
A Spring cleanse is like a good chimney sweep. It makes for a good clear draft and lessens your chance of a chimney fire.
Pre-Register by March 16 and save $25!
via 21-Day Spring Cleanse and Sugar Detox | Wild Open Heart Charlotte Clews.
It’s about now that many of my students and fellow teachers complain about the winter. It is true that for those of us who live in other than tropical climes, the weather can be hard on us.
But there’s more that we can do than simply wear appropriate clothing. For that I turn to Cate Stillman’s “Winter Day Survival Guide.” And I recommend it to you. Click the image at the top to download the PDF, or click the link below to the page where it may be found.
…and I am meditating on fullness.
See you at Noontime Nourish today, and Slow Flow on Saturday, October 18.
Perhaps knowing I’ve been having a pretty stressful week, or perhaps simply because we are likely to have this foundation of exchange, a dear friend shared this recipe with me yesterday afternoon. I made it this morning. I won’t say that it has made all the difference, but it makes enough so I’d notice, going about my day. Please enjoy, and comment to share about your variations.
Enjoy the satisfying creaminess of piping hot oatmeal topped with the nutty aroma of roasted sesame and coconut. As the weather turns cool in early fall, your body seems to crave the hearty warmth of roasted nuts & grains. Here the bold & flavorful crunch of roasted coconut & sesame adds more than adventure. Sesames natural warming properties make for a robust start to a hectic day, while coconuts sweetness is a stress-soothing balm on busy, bustling mornings. Life seems more comfortable after this rich, nourishing breakfast treat.
via Roasted Coconut Sesame Oatmeal – Ayurvedic Diet & Recipes.
Just a note about the Joyful Belly site: it will ask you for an e-mail address before sharing the recipe. Let me know if you have any problems with that.
Since Fall 2010, to better support my yoga practice, I have been doing fall and spring cleanses with the same practitioner. This year, at the prompting of an adventurous yoga friend, I decided to work with a different practitioner. (The buddy system prevails.) To the extent that we are what we eat, I think of this like any other sādhanā, or “practice.” It’s something that has been worked into the seasonal observances of many traditional cultures. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about my experience with this sort of practice.
21-Day Cleanse and Sugar Detox
October 10-31, 2013
Summer heat and acidity gets trapped in the body, making allergies, joint inflammation and tempers flare. It’s important to take time each fall to cool down and clear out your system with a high mineral, super alkalizing, whole foods diet. Sugar is one of the biggest sources of excess acidity in our diets. It can single handedly weaken every system in your body. From premature wrinkles to hypoglycemia and insomnia, from anxiety, loss of focus and mood instability to excess weight and joint pain, sugar is making you who you are, and it’s not for the better.
During this cleanse you’re going to kick the sugar habit for 21-days and feel how good it feels to feel good. (The dates for this cleanse are not coincidental – the Halloween candy-binge is a huge source of late fall and winter illnesses, and this year, you’re not even going to give them a chance!)
via Online Fall Cleanse and Detox | Charlotte Clews, Yoga and Ayurveda in Maine and Beyond.
Wholehearted Yoga 