Welcome to day 3!

Yesterday I mentioned that “cleanse” might not be the best word for this process, but there is an element of cleansing, removing processed foods that cause inflammation, and caffeine and sugar that interfere with the body’s proper secretion of hormones. So, while you are “cleansing” in that way, it’s not so much for purity’s sake as it is simply a means to become more in touch with your body. By reducing inflammation, and starting to regulate your endocrine system you’ll gain the ability to really listen to the messages your body is sending you.

This week is an opportunity for you to become more embodied - more in your body. You’ll start to connect more deeply to your body’s natural rhythms, and begin to see that your body’s rhythms long to be in sync with nature’s rhythms. As we say in āyurveda the microcosm reflects the macrocosm, or at least it does when we step out of the way and support our body in its rhythmic cycles rather than resisting them. As you become more in touch with your body you’ll start to become keenly aware of when your body needs more support, more rest. We live in a culture that does not value listening to the body, and we often miss it’s cues until it’s too late and we end up injured, sick, or worse. Learning to listen to your body and notice its signs of depletion will help you come through the vata season strong and healthy rather than run down, weakened, and prone to catching every bug that’s out there.

Today’s practice will help you drop into your body and remind you to flow with its rhythms.

Dinacharya:

Yoga āsana and meditation help build support for the nervous system and the mind, but as we enter into the fall season your body’s tissues need some nourishment as well. The traditional āyurvedic practice of abhyanga, or self massage, is deeply nourishing and supports healthy tissues throughout the cold vata months. Abhyanga is one of the self-care practices I look forward to inviting back into my routine every fall. It feels so luxurious to devote this loving attention to yourself, to tenderly touch your own body, and to become more intimately acquainted with your home. Grab yourself some sesame oil (or pick up a bottle of Daily Massage Oil from the studio), check out this link, and treat yourself tonight!!

a Look ahead to tomorrow:

Tomorrow we begin a Food Sadhana (the word sadhana means “spiritual practice in Sanskrit). Traditionally this food sadhana is a mono-diet of the easy to digest stew called kitchari. I encourage you to give it a try, but remember that this week is NOT about perfection, it’s about building support (when you join me again in the spring we’ll dive deeper into your relationship with food and we’ll get more serious about the food sadhana). What’s important this week is that you continue to consume a whole foods, mostly plant based diet that is warm (but not heating to the digestive system) as well as easy to digest. Most people enjoy the mono-diet, because the simple act of removing decision making around what to eat can be supportive in and of itself, and leave you more space to continue learning your body’s cues. Check out this informative piece about kitchari, and follow the link in the article to find ways to add some variety while still supporting your digestion. The video below is a quick demo from the spring cleanse on how I like to cook my kitchari. I generally make each meal fresh, however, if you need to cook ahead so you can take lunch with your to work, etc., I recommend storing the kitchari and the rice separately.