Spring Cleaning

If you have been a client of the Chrysalis for any length of time, you know that for many years I have done a bi-yearly cleanse, not for weight loss, but for general overall and of course, skin health. Afterwards, I think more clearly, feel “awake”, invigorated and energetic.

Since skin is the largest organ in our bodies and part of your excretory (and many other) systems, it makes sense that when everything is functioning optimally, your skin will be a healthy, beautiful expression of that.

Here are some guidelines for cleansing regardless of the specific program you choose:

• Choose a cleanse that fits your lifestyle.
• Plan ahead.  Do your cleansing during a time when you can focus on the meals, juicing, mind-body work and timing of any supplements needed for your cleanse.
• Listen to your body.  Don’t over-do or go to extremes.
• Limit or eliminate dense animal protein sources from your diet during this time.  Give your liver and kidneys a break from digesting meats and free them up to aid in the cleanse.
• Make sure you are drinking copious amounts of clean filtered water.  Fresh, low-sugar juices are great during this time as well.
• Limit or eliminate sugar, alcohol, “drive-thru” and packaged foods.  Concentrate on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Move.  Get exercise.  See the list below for some suggestions.

Ancient cultures such as Native American, Polynesian and Asian have used cleansing as a ritual for balancing mind, body & Spirit for centuries, so it only makes sense to incorporate all aspects of ourselves into a cleanse. After all, that’s what the term “holistic” means, “taking in to account all parts of the whole as intimately connected.”

Here are some suggestions for body work modalities that could be incorporated into a cleanse:

• Massage therapy (deep tissue and/or lymphatic drainage are best)
• Far-infrared sauna
• Dry brushing of the skin
• Soaking baths with seaweed or baking soda
• Yoga with emphasis on twisting postures or hot yoga
• Walking.  Fast walking with lots of arm movement is great for moving along the lymphatic system.

If you’ve been feeling sluggish, foggy, bloated, etc., cleansing is worth investigating. And, as I tell my skin care clients, it’s best towork with your licensed health care practitioner to find a cleansing regimen that is tailored to your specific needs and safe for you.  Cleansing can be such a great addition to a health maintenance plan and doing it in a careful balanced way is critical for a positive outcome.