Turn Social-Distancing into Ayurvedic Spring Cleansing

OK, time to decompress a little from the apocalypse everyone!

While we can’t deny the current global health crisis and while some may argue that it’s not possible to find a silver lining in all the loss of human lives we are experiencing, we can do our bit to help ourselves and other by raising our awareness and vibration.

Firstly by stay at home and staying ‘clean’, giving space to those on the front line to continue to do play their role without the fear.

I want to use this opportunity to help you turn self-isolation on its head and use this time for a ‘holistic spring cleanse’. It’s the perfect time to reflect on our personal longer-term health goals and wellness habits. Although we shouldn’t need a health crisis to start thinking ‘Ayurveda’, it’s never a bad time to start. In my book I talk extensively about detoxification and why spring is the ideal time for it. Guess what in case you didn’t notice in the mayhem, we have already transitioned into spring!

Social Distancing

As far as I am concerned, an Ayurvedic spring cleanse is more that a body detox, it is a cleanse of the entire lifestyle, including time out for self reflection, so the current social distancing protocol already means you have started your cleanse – hurrah. This is a time for self love, self compassion and personal and spiritual development.

Environmental Decluttering

Being predominately house bound also easily supports the second part of the cleanse and that is to declutter our living spaces. Have you ever noticed the satisfaction that you get from being in clear and calm spaces and the impact that is has on our mind and subsequently our health. Spring is a time for newness and clearing out what is no longer needed, perhaps reviving your space with some new colour, bringing the outdoors in with some house plants or place uplifting pictures, candles, crystals and images around that support us. Less really is more and right now we are being shown how little we survive on so little and what really holds value. If you are even more open-minded you might want to explore vastu shastra - the art of understanding humans and our dwelling (positioning, colours, design etc.).

Body Detoxification

Spring is the most perfect time to cleanse our physical body with a deep dietary cleanse as it’s the Kapha season and all the stagnant toxins in the body start to liquefy and move around. We can reduce all the heavy food items so the digestive system can take a rest and have a deeper cleanse. Reduce or remove, meats, dairy, eggs, fish, wheat, oats and stimulants (caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, cigarettes etc.). This can be a couple of week of focussing on 2-3 meals a day that are warm, cooked, light and easy to digest, plenty of spices and no snacking between meals. In Ayurveda kitchari is a perfect cleansing meal option. Drinking plenty of warm fluids. Take some digestive herbs such as triphala, trikatu and hinguwastak. Opt for foods that are bitter and pungent in taste to help clear out toxins during this time avoid too much sweet, sour and salty foods as well as cold, dull, wet and heavy foods. We aim to strengthen digestion, energy, vitality and ultimately immunity through and stronger gut microbiome. All while we reduce accumulated toxins (ama).

Mind Decompression

Think of our mind much like a computer hard drive. We keep taking in and storing more and more information and if we don’t regularly clear out the files it slows the machine down and can eventually crash. So like the body we need to regularly cleanse the mind. It’s a great time to disengage with work and mind activities that feel like a strain. Retreat and have some quiet time. Time to reflect, contemplate and meditate and most of all breath. We an use so many tools to help us cleanse our mind, such as pranayama, affirmations, tapping, mantras, mudras, meditation, nature, sound and most importantly rest through sleep. By adhering to our natural circadian and diurnal rhythms we can allow our mind and body to naturally reset.  When we relax the mind and nervous system we can improve concentration, mind clarity as well as memory. We can foster relaxation, creativity, enthusiasm as a zest for life while we give our brain and adrenal glands the much-needed rest.

Sensory Deflation

We don’t just digest through our stomach but we are also constantly digesting information that comes through our sensory organs. We absorb and digest through our eyes (sight), ears (sound), nose (smell), skin (touch), tongue (taste) and this can be healing or keeling. What are we consuming on a regular basis and is this nourishing our mind, body and soul? We might has digital access on tap but this does not mean its good for us. How about we take a digital detox everyday for 20-60 minutes – you decide. Our senses are overloaded with unnatural substances. What about instead venturing into nature, taking in some morning sun, eating natural organic foods, exploring natural floral and herbal essences that heal, self-massage, listening to relaxing music or even taking a sound bath.

The best way to get a personalised cleanse programme is to consult an Ayurvedic Practitioner: apa.uk.com.