April: CLEANSING & Clearing
Cleansing & Clearing
Spring is for cleaning, cleansing, and moving forward. It’s common practice to open windows, remove unnecessary clutter, clean, organize & feel renewed as the warmer weather appears. Our spiritual & physical bodies are no different. Spring is ideal for a cleanse & reset—ridding the body of toxic build-up, supporting the digestive fire (agni), and returning to the intentions set over the winter months. The seed of change has been planted, and now it’s time to tend to it’s growth from a place of renewed strength.
For the past several months of winter, we’ve been slowing down, drawing inward, and eating heavy & dense foods. Our digestive fire is strongest during the winter months, allowing for a heavier diet—however, our digestive system is only able to do so much. Many people eat more sweets and hard-to-digest foods during winter, making it difficult for the body to fully assimilate what’s being ingested. This creates the accumulation of ama (sticky, toxic byproduct) that begins to clog channels (shrotas), and ultimately effects the body’s ability to carry nutrients to the cells. Accumulation of toxins can often show up as sluggishness, lack of motivation, fatigue, brain fog, sinus & respiratory issues, frayed emotions, bad breath, white coating on tongue, and an overall feeling of heaviness.
Ayurveda teaches this accumulation of toxins in our body system can eventually manifest as health disorder or disease. Introducing a cleanse is beneficial during any seasonal change, but especially during the transition into springtime. Just as the warmer weather of spring begins to melt snow and thaw the ground, it also begins to liquify the impurities that are clogging the channels of our body. Cleanses help support the removal of toxins, stimulate the digestive fire, reestablish healthy lifestyle patterns, and offer a container to slow down & self-nurture. Gifting your body a seasonal cleanse is a beautiful way to (re)connect to the fresh & energetic human that you are.
The good news? Ayurvedic cleanses aren’t about starving yourself. That’s right! You can, and should, continue to eat throughout the cleanse. This will nourish and nurture the body through the detoxification process. It’s what you’re ingesting & what time of day you choose to eat that matters. No retreat center or spa needed—you can do this at home, in the comfort of pajamas & pet snuggles.
KAPHA Cleanse & Reset:
Detoxifying Diet:
Some choose to do the cleanse for one week, others for two. You do you! Choose a length of time that feels realistic and doable. If this is your first time, I’d recommend starting with one week. Most importantly, don’t let the cleanse stress you out! Below are several options for daily practices to add into the cleanse to help center & balance the mind-body interconnection. However, please only do what feels manageable for you on any given day. It’s best to incorporate these practices into your daily/weekly routine over time, allowing them to become a part of your lifestyle. It can feel overwhelming to incorporate them into your life all at once, in the course of a week…in addition to eating a mono diet. That’s a lot of change! I do encourage you to stick with the detoxifying diet throughout the cleanse length, if possible. You got this! You’re on your way to feeling fresh.
Diet Diva:
Kitchari is the traditional mono diet meal used throughout an Ayurvedic cleanse. It’s balancing for all body constitution types (tridoshic), a complete protein, and it helps remove toxins from the body while also improving digestion. Because of mung dal’s (lentils) astringency, there’s a natural scraping action, assisting the removal of toxic buildup (ama) from the intestinal lining. The high fiber content then helps move the loosened toxins through the GI tract, and out of the body. Mung dal for the win! The other main component of kitchari is basmati rice which nourishes, builds & regenerates body tissues. This is an important aspect of an Ayurvedic cleanse—not only removing toxins, but also nourishing & regenerating tissues to suppleness & health. But, that’s not all! Additionally, there are LOTS of digestive spices used in kitchari which not only taste amazing, but also help support a strong digestive fire (agni). This is a big deal in Ayurveda, as it’s viewed that the food we eat & the strength of our digestion is foundational to our health. Kitchari brings ALL the magic!
It’s common during an Ayurvedic cleanse to eat a breakfast of warmed & spiced cooked fruit. Kitchari is then eaten for lunch & dinner, with the option of choosing to skip dinner. Skipping a meal may not be appropriate for some. Listen to your body. If you’re becoming ‘hangry’ it’s important to eat a small portion of kitchari during dinnertime. I see you, Pitta people! However, if you’re not hungry, it’s safe to skip the evening meal. Be sure to drink plenty of warm water throughout the cleanse. Better yet, sip on CCF tea throughout the day! *See October’s content for more info on the beauty of CCF tea
Lunch Is Queen:
Our digestive fire (agni) is strongest between 10am-2pm, and weakest between 6-10am/pm. For this reason, lunch is best eaten as the largest meal of the day, sometime between 10am-2pm. If possible, keeping dinner the lightest meal of the day is extremely beneficial. When we eat large meals when our digestion is sluggish, it’s difficult for the body to fully break down and integrate the food. This lack of complete digestion can cause weight gain, sleep disruption, lack of energy, and ama (toxic) buildup to occur. Make the shift and see how you feel! I think you’ll agree, that lunch really is queen.
Herbal Allies:
Adding in herbal allies during and after the cleanse is a lovely way to support the body back to it’s strong, nourished & energized Self. Triphala and chyavanprash are Ayurvedic classics, and for a good reason. Triphala detoxifies, cleanses, balances, and revitalizes the body system; it’s considered a complete body cleanser. From the colon, to the liver, urinary tract, intestines, to the blood & channels (shrotas)…triphala’s gotchu! It’s best taken each night before bed with a little honey or ghee. While triphala is working to cleanse & clear the body systems, chyavanprash is busy rejuvenating & building ojas (vitality, baby!).Chyavanprash is a tasty jam made from 16+ herbs, and is highly revered for it’s regenerative & anti-aging properties. This nutritive jam nourishes the tissues, supports immunity (builds ojas), promotes muscle mass & systemic health, and is especially beneficial for the lungs (perfect for a spring cleanse!). Chyavanprash can be taken with any food—eating it with cooked fruit at breakfast, or stirring it into warm water are both lovely options. While triphala shouldn’t be taken as a long-term supplement, chyavanprash can be taken throughout the year for full-body support. Treat yo’ body to some herbs!
Slow Down & Tune In:
Since entering Kapha season, I know I’ve been telling you to get that body moving through energizing movements & exercise….but, now I’m gonna tell you to slow your roll. During the cleanse it’s important to maintain a more restful lifestyle, and let off the gas. Encouraging the body to detox during a cleanse, while also participating in strenuous workouts, is depleting & confusing to the body system. Instead, take this time to slow down & listen to your body. Below are some options to help tap in, restore, and support your body back to renewed balance:
•Abhyanga Massage- Giving yourself mini-massages with warm oil will help loosen impurities, while also offering a beautiful way to self-connect *Check out November’s content for a video demonstration
•Gentle Exercise- You’ll still want to find movement methods throughout the cleanse, just allow them to be gentle. An easy walk or slow & grounding yoga are great options to keep the body moving and flowing.
•Quiet Moments- Take a moment to soak in the quiet. Whether this is sitting in the sun, taking time to journal, treating your feet to a foot soak, a warm bath, kicking back with a hot tea for a few minute break…take the moment! Try to prioritize finding even a few minutes throughout the day to do nothing. For you.
Meaningful Connection—Make an effort to begin incorporating breathwork (pranayama), meditation, and/or rituals into your day and week. You’ll find several guided mediations & rituals throughout the SAMATVA Subscription content. I hope you’ll use them!
Easy Does It:
Once you’ve completed the cleanse, gently ease your body back into your regular diet and lifestyle. Avoid overloading your digestion with raw, heavy, processed or fried foods. Continue supporting your body post-cleanse by eating light, warm, and cooked foods. Eating a small piece of fresh ginger sprinkled with salt before meals, is a great way to support the digestive system as you transition from post-cleanse back to a more complex diet.
Take time during and after the cleanse to become aware of how you feel. What shifts do you notice? Are you sleeping more soundly? Has there been a shift in your energy level? Do your joints feel lighter? Any changes in your bowel movements? If you’re accustomed to bloating, has that improved? Are you able to hold a safe container for your emotions & witness what comes up? Without judgement. Observation is knowledge, and knowledge is power. It’s from this space that we’re able to grow & empower healthy change.
Cleanse Kit
Before starting a cleanse, first gather all the necessary items & ingredients. Below is a list of items to acquire; omit or add to the list, as desired.
What You Need:
•Kitchari ingredients •Ghee
•CCF Tea •Triphala
•Chyavanprash •Abhyanga oil
•Sage -or- other natural materials for ritual
Resources to find all your Cleanse Kit needs:
farmtrue: shopfarmtrue.com
Divya’s Kitchen: divyaskitchen.com
RASA Ayurveda: rasa-ayurveda.com
Banyan Botanicals: banyanbotanicals.com
Golden Egg Meditation
Find a quiet & comfortable space to lie down, cover up, and settle in with this guided visualization meditation. Take a break from the chaos, and reclaim the calm.
Bellows Breath
Bhastrika Pranayama -or- Bellows Breath is great to invite in during Kapha Season (right now!). It helps energize the body, increase alertness & mental clarity, stimulates digestion & lymphatic flow, opens the channels (shrotas), and supports the detoxification process. Try to complete about 15 rounds first thing in the morning -or- during the day when you’re feeling sluggish. Root down. Become present. And breathe….with a forceful exhale.
Seeds of Change
Wanting to understand what in the WORLD is happening astrologically? Join Lisa De La Fleur as she dives in!
Are you interested in learning more about your own astrological chart? Contact Lisa directly for a one-on-one session. She’ll tap into your personal chart, what it means, and what you can expect over the coming months.
lisa.delafleur@gmail.com
Tri-doshic Kitchary Recipe
Here is an easy kitchari recipe full of sustenance, nourishment & mind-body support. Take time to be present while cooking the kitchari, knowing that the love you put into creating, will be given back to you throughout this cleanse. This is a beautiful way to embrace self-love & new beginnings with renewed strength.
*This recipe makes 2-3 servings (usually enough for one day).
What You Need:
1/2 c. Basmati Rice
1/4 c. Split Yellow Mung Dal -or- Red Lentils
4-6 c. Hot Water (adjust as needed for desired consistency)
1.5 Tbsp Ghee
3/4 tsp. Cumin Powder
3/4 tsp. Turmeric Powder
3/4 tsp. Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp. Fennel Powder
1/4 tsp. Black Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp. Mineral Salt
1 pinch Asofoetida (Hing)
1 Bayleaf (optional)
Veggies of Choice: zucchini, asparagus, kale, carrots and/or chard are all great springtime options
Garnish (optional, but recommended!): cilantro, lime and/or ginger are delicious choices
*If this ingredient list seems daunting, Banyan Botanicals, RASA Ayurveda, and Divya’s Kitchen have all created a delicious Kitchari Spice Mix ready for you to use! See ‘Cleanse Kit’ above for links.
What To Do:
•Separately wash and soak the rice and dal overnight -or- for 3 hrs. Drain when ready to begin cooking. * If there’s not enough time for soaking, simply lengthen the cooking time.
•Sauté the spices & ghee together for about 1 minute. If you’re using whole seeds instead of powder, sauté until they begin popping.
•Add the mung dal (lentils), rice & salt. Sauté for about 2 minutes longer.
•Add the water & bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down the heat to a simmer & add the bayleaf, if you’d like!
•Simmer for about 45 minutes or until the dal is mostly cooked (it’ll begin to look as though it’s falling apart, no longer whole)
•Add your chosen, chopped veggies. Bring back to a boil (adding extra water, if needed) & simmer for 20-30 minutes -or- until veggies are tender
•The kitchari should be moist, like a thick soup—if it’s clumpy, thick and/or dry just add more water until you get the desired consistency
•Garnish with cilantro, squeeze of lime, pinch of salt or fresh grated ginger. Garnishes are optional, but definitely recommended! They’re quite tasty & really help the dish come alive. And if you’re eating this for several consecutive days, you’re gonna want it to taste alive! Trust me. Go for the garnish.
•Say a blessing of thanks, and eat slowly, savoring the flavors. You’re giving your digestive system a reset, and a little break, and that’s pretty cool. Enjoy!
Morning Hand Gazing Ritual
Upon waking, and before getting out of bed, take a moment to hand gaze. Three powerful goddesses -Lakshmi, Saraswati & Shakti- are symbolized through our hands. Below is a traditional prayer used to honor these goddesses, found within each of us.
Our fingers symbolize Lakshmi as they allow us to give, receive, sustain & prosper. Our palms are like a book, and with our knowledge we are able to create our own destiny. Saraswati is our guide to knowledge, and is symbolized through the palms of our hands. The power & energy to use our hands is in our wrists. The ability to use our resources & knowledge for transformation is represented through the goddesss, Shakti.
Reciting this prayer each morning is a way of offering thanks & gratitude for these 3 powerful goddesses who represent the divine manifestations within each of us: creation, sustenance, transformation. Start by simply gazing at the palms, smile & offer thanks. You can bring the hands together in Lotus Mudra—align your head, heart & hands by allowing the fingers to open and close like a book, watching them as they move. After reciting the prayer, touch the ground with your right hand, then the forehead with the same hand. Look up towards the sky, bow down toward the ground, offering great love & respect to Mama Earth.
Karagre Vasate Lakshmi
Karamadhye Saraswati
Karamoole Sthita Gauri
Prabhate Karadarshanam
Here is an alternative prayer to recite, if preferred:
Divine, you are inside of me
within my very breath
within each bird, each mighty mountain.
Your sweet touch reaches everything and I am well protected.
Thank you Divine for this beautiful day before me.
May joy, love, peace, and compassion be a part of my life
and all those around me on this day.
I am healing, and I am healed.
This beautiful morning practice helps affirm that health, abundance, personal power, knowledge, and destiny all lie within your hands. As you think, so you become. Allow your thoughts, speech, and actions paint the canvas that your hands hold, guiding you to be of service to the highest good.