"Spring Cleaning"

By Ann Renee Chavez

Springtime symbolizes a time of new beginnings, regeneration, and new growth. It is a time of awakening from the long dark winter. Therefore, springtime is the perfect time of year to do what I call a Wholistic Cleanse.

A Wholistic Cleanse involves not only a cleansing of the physical body but also a cleansing of the emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies. When we cleanse and remove toxins from our physical body it is strengthened and refreshed. This applies to our emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies as well. In essence, when we cleanse holistically we open the door to that new beginning, regeneration, and new growth of the springtime.

There are some general guidelines to keep in mind before and during the cleansing process. First, it is important to understand that this process is not a substitute for medical or psychological diagnosis or treatment, so check with your doctor before beginning this or any cleanse. It is also important to understand that this is a process and a time to be very gentle, supportive, and loving with yourself. This is a time to honor and nurture your self on all levels, holistically. Allow extra time for added rest and processing. If possible take a break from work and daily responsibilities. Preparing, as much as possible, before you actually begin the cleansing process will make the process much easier. Before you actually begin, stock up on all the items you will need during the cleansing process.

The Physical Body
It is important to approach the cleansing process slowly. If you are eating fast foods and drinking coffee everyday I would suggest modifying your diet before you attempt to cleanse. Slowly phase out the unhealthy foods and phase in a cleaner diet. In doing so, you increase your chances of sticking with and finishing the cleansing process. This will also make the whole process much easier on your physical and emotional bodies.

Foods to avoid while cleansing:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol and drugs
• Sugar (Stevia is a great herbal substitute)
• Salt (Braggs Liquid Amino Acids is a great substitute)
• Refined, starchy, and processed foods (such as bread and pasta)
• Chemicals, additives, dyes, and preservatives
• Vinegar (Fresh lemon juice is a great substitute)
• Shell Fish
• Peanuts or Peanut butter (Other nut butters, such as almond, are a great substitute)
• Dairy (Rice milk or Almond milk are great substitutes)
• Soy (If you consume soy, try and reduce or eliminate it during the cleanse)
• Conventionally grown food (Use organic whenever possible)

Suggested diet during a cleanse:

• 2 servings of lean protein each day (Fresh fish, chicken, eggs, or tempeh)
• 1 oz. raw nuts per day (Almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds)
• 4 pieces of raw fresh fruit per day (Eaten between meals as snacks. Eat two apples per day)
• 4 to 7 cups of raw fresh vegetables per day (Make sure to include dark leafy greens)
• 2 cups of whole grains per day (Wild rice, brown rice, millet or quinoa)
• 1 cup of beans, squash, yam, or sweet potato per day
• 2 Tablespoons of organic flax seed oil or olive oil per day (put it on your salad!)
• 8 to 10 glasses of filtered water per day, with fresh lemon juice added
• May use non-soy (whey based) protein drinks between meals
• Juicing
• Chicken or vegetable broths
• A good daily vitamin supplement
• Herbal Support

When you are away from home, prepare meals and snacks ahead of time and take them with you. In doing so, you will have what you need right at hand.

Using a juicer to create your own fresh organic juice is a wonderful support during the cleansing process. Always use organic fruits and vegetables. Drink your juice 20 minutes before meals and as soon as it is prepared. In doing so, your body is able to absorb the maximum benefits. I suggest juicing at least twice a day; first thing in the morning upon waking and once in the afternoon between lunch and dinner.

Suggested juicing combinations during a cleanse:

• Watermelon tonic; remove the rind, juice the fruit and seeds.
class = "sq">Morning Juice; 1 apple, 1 orange (remove rind), ¼ lemon, 3 carrots, handful of wheatgrass. class = "sq">Afternoon boost; handful of spinach, handful of parsley, 3 stalks celery, 4 carrots class = "sq">Cleansing tonic; 3 carrots, 1 beet, ½ cucumber. class = "sq">Immune Support; handful of parsley, 2 stalks celery, 2 carrots, ½ cucumber, 2 cloves garlic.

Suggested herbal support during a cleanse:

Suggested Essential Oil support during a cleanse:

I suggest daily Yoga and walks. This will help keep the cleansing process moving a long, assisting your body in flushing toxins.

The Emotional Body
Foods affect not only your physical body but your emotional body as well. Our emotions and reactions can also become very tied to food, depending on our childhood experiences with food. Therefore, I suggest keeping a cleansing journal. Journaling can be an important healing tool during the cleansing process. Recording your emotions, feelings and dreams provides you with great insight and profound healing opportunities. Journaling is a powerful tool and greatly enriches the cleansing process. Begin keeping your cleansing journal before you begin your cleansing process. Ask yourself and journal around the following questions; "Why do I want to cleanse? What is my goal in doing this? What do I hope to accomplish?" Also journal about your feelings around food before you begin the cleansing process. How do you feel about eating? How do you feel about food? What is your relationship with food? How do you interact with food? What role did food play in your childhood? This can be very insightful and helpful information. Self reflection is an amazing healing tool.

Track and be aware of your emotions and your interactions with others during the cleansing process. Journal about what comes up. The cleansing process can be an emotional time. Release your emotions in healthy ways that do not harm yourself or others. Do not put a lid on your feelings when they come up, allow yourself to release the emotion. Remember you are cleansing, you want to remove toxins from your bodies. You want to release emotion, not keep it bottled up where it can become toxic.

It is also important to surround yourself with people who are supportive of your process. It can be helpful to avoid toxic people who attempt to sabotage what you are doing during your cleansing process.

The Mental Body
Your thoughts, what you think, what is running through your mind day-in and day-out drastically affect you and your health. Monitor your thoughts, notice what you are thinking. Are they your thoughts? Or are they your mother's, your father's, society's? Are your thoughts full of "shoulds?" Are your thoughts positive? Or are you constantly "putting yourself down?" Toxic thoughts create a toxic environment. Remember you are cleansing. I suggest the use of positive daily affirmations, this can be very helpful. Replace the negative self-talk with positive statements about yourself and repeat them often throughout the day.

Daily meditation and spiritual reading can also be a powerful mental body support. As can daily walks out in the fresh air and sunshine. As little as 15 minutes a day can make a big difference. In doing so, you provide yourself with the opportunity to clear your head and fill it with positive thoughts of gratitude and positive affirmations.

The Spiritual Body
Support your spiritual body by creating a sacred living space for yourself. Create a space you want to be in, a space that provides you a feeling of warm retreat and hearth. Wall color, candles, incense, music and fresh flowers all help you create a sacred living space.

Regular aura cleansing helps remove "toxins" from your upper bodies. I suggest a nightly salt soak. Simply mix ¼ cup sea salt with ½ cup Epsom salts. Mix the salts into a very warm tub of water. You may also add 7 drops of essential oil of Lavender to the bath water. Soak for 20 minutes. If the salt irritates your skin, simply rinse off with clean fresh water after your soak. You can also make this a wonderful ritual. For instance, put on a guided meditation or soothing music, light candles and incense, and turn off the lights. This is also a great time to drink a cup of herbal tea.

Daily use of a guided chakra meditation or any other chakra clearing tools you may have will help support the cleansing process. Movement meditation or trance dance are powerful energetic cleansers.

Joining a spiritual group or attending a spiritual workshop can provide a great support for your spiritual body.

Cleansing Time Table
(The following are strictly suggestions)

• A Light Cleanse: Three days following the suggested diet under "Physical Body." No fasting, you may include meat. Include the use of herbal teas and tinctures.
• A Moderate Cleanse: Three days of a light cleansing (see above), three days of juicing and broths only, followed by three days of light cleansing (see above). Include the use of herbal teas and tinctures.
• A Fasting Cleanse: Three days of a light cleanse (see above), one day of juicing and broths only, one day of fasting (water only), one day of juicing and broths only, three days of a light cleanse (see above). Include the use of herbal teas and tinctures. This type of cleanse is recommended only for someone who has had experience with fasting and cleansing.

     One size does not fit all! Listen to your body. If this is your first attempt at a cleanse I suggest a three-day light cleanse only. If you are experienced and have done cleansing before a two week cleanse may better suit your needs. As with anything, it is important to use your own judgment.