Do you feel sluggish from winter? Is your motivation lower than you’d like? Do things seem to be in a rut? The Lotus Center is offering a guided 10-day spring cleanse, using Ayurvedic principles, to shift energy and lighten things up.
Ayurveda translates to “knowledge of life.” It is the physiological compliment to yoga. The healing wisdom of Ayurveda is deep. Like yoga, it is over 5,000 years old. According to Ayurveda, the change of seasons is an ideal time to bring our bodies into balance. It is also a time to create new and lasting habits and routines that can help us sustain health and vitality indefinitely.
The 10-day spring cleanse will focus on the Ayurevedic principles of “food as medicine.” Additional principles focus on balancing and strengthening the digestive organs and their processes so the food we ingest, which can actually be a form of medicine, can be as effective as possible.
Certain bodies respond differently to certain foods, depending on the dominant dosha. A dosha is our prominent physical constitution. And there are three – vata, pitta, and kapha. A vata constitution is more air-based, thin and wiry, quick minded and unpredictable. A pitta constitution is more fiery, medium and strong build, leader-like and demanding. A kapha constitution is of solid build, resilient, patient and very deliberate. These are basic thumbnail descriptions and each of us usually has more than one dosha. Usually, though, one is more dominant. More information about doshas will be covered in during the cleanse.
The spring cleanse focuses on certain foods – foods of the season, and eliminates other foods – mainly meat, wheat, dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. That may seem like a large challenge, but after the third day, cravings usually abate. Specific herbs are used to support and clear the gut, liver, gallbladder, lymph system, kidneys, and digestive tract. There are more components and it can be a bit complicated. That is why it is so helpful to be guided through the experience.
Cate Bradley will lead the cleanse with assistance from Izzy Blasucci. Cate has been doing Ayurvedic cleanses each spring and fall for the last nine years. The health and wellbeing benefits are so great that she wants others to experience them also. It is extremely helpful to have support and guidance during a cleanse to ease the hurdles that come up from changing our relationship to food and noticing how we feel.
There will be a free introductory overview on Wednesday April 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lotus Center, 211 W. Broadway in Silver City open to the public, to explain the cleanse and order the necessary herbs. The Lotus Center will pass on their bulk order discount to participants. The 10-day cleanse begins April 13-23.
If you are curious, come to the April 1 meeting to learn more. If you are ready to feel better and more energetic, plan on doing the full cleanse. You will be glad you did.
The cleanse is offered for a $25 donation to the Lotus Center, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds will benefit the Lotus Center.
For more information call Cate at 520-235-4313.