‘The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.’ – B.K.S. Iyengar
Not always might we feel like our body is a temple of sparkling cleanliness, shining in all its beauty. The question ‘why not’ becomes apparent and as a naturopath we would always look into the health of our cells to find a sensible answer.
One reason for feeling either ‘a bit under the weather’ or in worse cases ‘seriously ill’ is the accumulation of toxins in our bodies. Detoxification can be as simple as eliminating toxins that we are regularly exposed to, whilst introducing healthy habits into our daily lives.
Tips to stay clean
- Eat fresh and organic foods
- Reduce the intake of fried and processed foods
- Have a daily practice of yoga and meditation
- Rid your home of chemical household and cleaning products
- Spend time in nature with the plants and trees
- Limit your exposure to electromagnetic radiation
- Drink 2 litres of water and 1 fresh green juice daily
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption
- Receive regular massage treatments
For deeper cleansing it is beneficial to see a health practitioner who can assess your individual health in order to create a bespoke detox programme. A deliciously healthy eating plan is often combined with supplements to support the liver, colon and kidneys in their elimination processes. A great way to kickstart your day is a protein rich detox smoothie:
Detox smoothie recipe (serves 1)
1 cup spinach or torn kale leaves
½ cup chopped cucumber
½ cup chopped cellery
1 small pear
1 banana
1 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon of fresh mint & parsley
½ lemon
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
¼ inch of peeled and sliced ginger root
Method: Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until heavenly smooth. Sweeten with a teaspoon of honey if at all desired and enjoy gracefully.
Yet another, more intense option to purify our threefold being is via juice cleansing, a modern trend, deeply steeped in spiritual health traditions. It is essential to prepare your body by eating only fruits and vegetables 2 days before and 2 days after a juice fast. (340)During the main part you are drinking around 2 litres of freshly pressed juices, filled with nutritional vibrancy. It is recommended to do a juice cleanse while being off work, to fully enjoy it´s benefits.
Detox juice recipe (serves 1)
½ cucumber
1 cup cos lettuce
1 cup broccolil
1 green Apple
½ lime
3 teaspoons of fresh Rosemary
It´s easy to indulge a juice a day, ideally 20 minutes before or 1 hour after eating to have a small but effective daily detox routine. Remember, your body is your temple- keep it shiny.
During the last decade Vanessa has become an expert in delivering genuinely balancing as well as purifying treatments, ensuring her clients feel radiant inside and out. During her sessions she combines brainwave relaxation music, aromatherapy and skilful massage techniques. Vanessa qualified from the Esalen Institute in 2007 (California) and the College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2010 (London)- specializing in the field of massage, nutrition and detoxification.
Vanessa works in triyoga Camden.
