HEALTH: ‘Fall forward’ with Ayurvedic cleansing for an irresistible life

A sampling of Ayurvedic cleanse foods. Submitted photo

With this change of season it is the perfect time to consider where you are with your health.  Fall forward is about moving in a positive direction with your health and looking ahead to a lifetime of vitality and longevity.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, fall is the perfect time to cleanse. Through age-old proven Ayurvedic lifestyle practices we can be assured of better digestion, peaceful sleep and vibrant energy. As we are moving into autumn, this is the ideal time to embrace a sustainable way of health for your personal lifestyle, whether it be busy or spacious. By paying attention to your body as it transitions from season to season you can transform your health on every level.

The beauty of these practices is that they are simple and very accessible no matter what your schedule. If you are feeling overwhelmed, overworked or overweight the thing is to just begin! Commit to at least three of these practical Ayurvedic tips for cleansing in the fall and you will notice an almost immediate improvement in your digestion, energy, and outlook.

Five simple Ayurvedic practices you can start right away.

1. Tongue scraping –The first thing you do after you wake up before anything else! Scraping the tongue with a tongue scraper (or you can use the back of a spoon) is – shall we say— mind blowing! Toxins that accumulate on the tongue overnight are best scraped away gently several times before brushing teeth.
2.  Hot water and lemon – After tongue scraping, add a slice of lemon to some hot water and drink a nice big cuppa. Clears away congestion, strengthens digestion, and cuts cravings. Do this before ingesting anything else in the morning. Then cut up some lemons to go and make this your drink of choice throughout the day.
3. No eating at least three hours before bed. You want to be resting and not digesting when you’re ready to hit the hay!
4. Breath work or meditative practice – Even five minutes a day can change your life. Find the time.
5. Daily self massage (abhyanga) – Oils such as sesame tones the skin, strengthens muscles, nourishes the body tissues, and soothes the emotions. The word for oil in Sanskrit is sneha and it means love. So give yourself some! Warmed sesame oil applied in long strokes to the whole body before your shower in the morning will give you glowing skin and vibrant health for years to come.

What happens when you don’t cleanse seasonally?

Imagine not taking your car for an oil change at least once a year even if you don’t drive it that much. Think of the congestion, accumulation, rust, breaking down over time, etc. And then imagine if on top of that you drive it into the ground with long trips, stop-and-start driving, neglect, no car-washes, no or very little TLC. Like your car, your body will take misuse for a while and keep going on very little care. However, signs of disease and discomfort will start to show up and this is very stressful. In Ayurveda we focus on transformation rather than feeling stuck in old habits and patterns. Make a commitment to your health and your life with new awareness and excitement. Get yourself ready for the fall.

Cleansing, according to Ayurveda, is about removing toxins from the deeper tissue layers of the body to be eventually eliminated through the digestive tract. It is all about cutting out trigger foods for a period of time that are stimulating or rajasic such as garlic, chilli peppers, refined sugars, processed foods and animal foods. These are all foods that create cravings and clog the tissues. The main food in an Ayurvedic cleanse is a simple Ayurvedic ‘super food’ called kitchari. A staple in many diets already, this mono-meal of split mung beans and basmati rice with spices and ghee is easy to digest, easy to prepare, and easy to eat as a delicious nourishing meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An Ayurvedic cleanse can go from 7 days to several months depending on the state of health, however a simple home cleanse can recharge your body and mind, bring a glow to your skin and get you back to feeling fantastically you,

A 21-day guided fall online Ayurvedic cleanse called Thrive is being offered by two Ayurvedic experts with a great passion for an irresistible life! Glynnis and Madhuri, who collectively have over 30 years experience in the healing arts of Yoga and Ayurveda have joined forces in Vancouver and created this home cleanse with the busy person in mind. It is accessible, simple, and fully guided to support you in conjunction with your own schedule.

For more information on Ayurveda and the Thrive fall cleanse visit: http://glynnisandmadhuri.com/ayurvedic-workshops/ayurvedic-online-fall-cleanse-2012/

With vibrant health and fragrant blessings,
Spice Mistress Glynnis Osher

Glynnis Osher is a health and wellness writer for Vancouver Desi.  Email her at  glynnis@themysticmasala.com and visit www.themysticmasala.com

Tags: ayurveda positive outlook, detox, diet, digestion, energy, Fall cleansing, health, kitchari, meditation, overweight, overwhelmed, overworked, pranayama, rejuvenate, seasonal cleanse, thrive, tune up, weight loss, yoga