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Spring Cleaning...sweeping with Nature! Greetings! Here comes Spring---surely it's around the corner. This Winter has been comparably a mild one for us, even so...we listen expectantly for the soft sounds of Spring to come closer. We can feel the moisture return after a dry winter. The ground swells with melting snow, the early rains bless us, the sap in the maple trees begin to flow, our wonderful lakes thaw to open. And just as in nature, our own moisture returns. 
The Vata season in Ayurveda--about November through February has the qualities of dry, windy, light (weight), dark (visual), and cold. To manage the impact of these qualities we may have tried to ground ourselves with more sugar and fats, overeaten, and spent more time indoors in low key activities. Also there are some major holidays in the winter that may have invited travel, rich foods and alcoholic drink. Now this is not to deny the beautiful parts of winter that we treasure. But more than in any other Ayurveda season, in the Winter Vata---we accumulate toxins. And because our systems are dry in the winter, those toxins get stuck and stored primarily in our abundant winter fat reserves. Nature returns moisture to us in the late Winter and early Spring as our Kapha moisture starts to move into the dry area of our stored toxins to loosen them for removal.
 If all goes well, we will move the winter toxins into our elimination systems and out. But if we have accumulated too many toxins, or our system is too dry, or we do not have the strength or sufficient agni (digestive fire), we may not be successful. Instead the toxins (known as ama in Ayurveda) may get loosened a bit and sluggishly move until they hit a vulnerable spot and stop. We may experience such consequences as swollen glands, headaches, allergic reactions, muscle aches, weight gain, or depression.
When we have released the toxins and the blockages they create, we restore the free flow of energy and information throughout our body bringing light to every cell and every thought. This is a good time of year to do a little extra to detox. We can rejuvenate and welcome spring with health and renewal.
Live with intention and be well, Rhonda |
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Ayurveda Detox is an Everyday Affair and a Healthy Ritual for the Transition of Seasons
Ayurveda believes that detoxification is a daily experience. Two of the easiest ways to detox is to sip hot spice water every 30 minutes throughout the day and to allow 3-6 hours between meals (no snacking) so that complete digestion can occur. [See the February 2012 issue for more on the great reasons not to snack]. 
Hot Spice Water: To make hot spice water, add 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, and 1/4 tsp coriander seeds to a thermos of boiled water. You can add a slice of fresh ginger for more detox effect.
The effect of the hot water on your tongue signals your body to digest. If you have just eaten that will be the focus for digestion. Between meals your body will pull out ama-laden fat cells to burn. The hot water alone is great -- the 4 digestive spices kick it up a notch. A note---try to drink less than 1/2 cup of hot water with a meal or you will dilute the proper concentrations of digestive juices and you can move everything through too quickly which impedes proper digestion.
Effect of Snacking: If we are always snacking and feeding our body, we will constantly be burning up the new foods we take in, but there will be no need to burn stored fat which is a container for much of the ama we host. Unless you are hypoglycemic or have other conditions that could be exacerbated, try the non-snacking approach for regular detox. It is really good to be hungry at meal time. If we are salivating with anticipation, the digestive juices are ready to do their job.
 More Ways to Detox: Simply eat more liquidy meals--like brothy soups. You may even want to blend up the soups so that they are very easy to digest. An oft recommended detox soup is made with mung beans--recipe at right. In Ayurveda they say the mung beans are like a magnet drawing out the ama. Kitchari, made with rice, mung beans or lentils and veggies, is also a good choice for a detox meal.
The change of seasons brings different environmental and psychological forces to us. We are in Vata season moving to Kapha season. We are creatures of habits and so to do a conscious cleanse between Ayurveda seasons will help you to drop some of your normal habits and begin some more healthful practices. This is an opportunity for us to become attentive to our lives.
For a seasonal detox, try focusing on a week long diet of the foods recommended in The Detox Diet.
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It's Not All About the Food: Detox Lifestyle Practices
Perhaps even more important than the foods we eat during detox, is the way in which we conduct ourselves. This is a good time to try some healthy behaviors. When we break from our regular habits and choose more consciously, we can enter an attentive sacred space.Can you find at least 3 or 4 or perhaps more practices that you will commit to during detox?
- Eat 3 meals a day, do not snack (3-5 hours between meals).
- Eat to 75% full.
- Do not drink liquids immediately before or after a meal; limit liquids with your meal to 1/2 C of hot water.
- Make lunch the largest meal of the day --perhaps call it dinner to give it the right sense of substance.
- Eat warm cooked, freshly prepared food.
- Drink hot spice water or plain hot water rather than iced or cold beverages throughout the day.
- Eat in a settled, quiet atmosphere with reverence for your food.
- Do not work, read, do email, or watch TV while eating.
- Have routine times for eating and bedtime.
- Eat supper before 7pm.
 - Create beauty in the food you make and the table you set.
- Eat the purest and freshest food you can.
- Limit or eliminate meat during detox.
- Prepare your food with love and know that you are nourishing yourself with light and intelligence with every scrumptious, aromatic, flavorful bite.
- Enjoy...any bit that you do to detox is like a lever that will give you larger effects than the effort. Be sweet with yourself about the process.
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Classes:
Rhonda Egidio, Ph. D. is an Ayurvedic Practitioner with great passion for sharing the wisdom of Ayurveda and the simple yet effective practices that can make important upgrades to our digestion and overall radiant health. For more info visit: http://RadiantLifeAyurveda.com
Awake and Aware Natural Meditation Free Class
April 14, noon-1:30pm plus April 15 1:00-2:30pm plus April 22 1-2:30pm plus 30 minute individual session.
Attendance at all sessions is required as the preparation for individual sessions where you will receive your personal mantra.
Save the date and watch for details in next months issue
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Personal Ayurveda Assessment 
Rhonda Egidio Ph.D., provides Ayurvedic assessments of primary health concerns, diet, sleep and lifestyle and offers Ayurvedic recommendations. Your assessment includes pulse and tongue diagnosis and health interview to determine your Constitutional Dosha balance (prakruti) and more importantly your current imbalance (vikruti).
You will receive a detailed written summary of your dosha states/assessment results, a list of personal recommendations, and recipes and other resources to support you in restoring balance.
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| Cheers and blessings,
Rhonda Egidio, Radiant Life Ayurveda
Ayurveda information shared here is for general educational purposes and is not intended to substitute for medical or psychological advice. Please consult with a qualified medical professional in these matters. |
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Upcoming Events
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Awake and Aware: Natural Meditation April 14, 15, and 22.
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Mung Bean Detox Soup 
Ingredients
3/4 cup green mung beans (split green mung beans are best for cleansing)
4 cups water
½ tsp. turmeric powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp fennel powder
1/4 tsp asafoetida or Hing (from Indian stores, health shops )
1 rounded tablespoon chopped Cilantro
1 Tbsp ghee
Directions
Wash the mung beans in several changes of water and then soak them for at least 4 hours or overnight before cooking. Drain.
Put into saucepan with 4 cups of fresh water.
Simmer gently for 30 - 40 minutes or until the beans are soft adding more water if necessary.
Saute the spices in the ghee and add to the soup. simmer for a few minutes more.
Add some vegetables such as spinach, other greens, grated carrot or zucchini to vary the soup and if you get very hungry. Cool a little, garnish with cilantro and eat as a thick soup or blend for a more detox effect.
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Ayurveda Recipe Web Sites
During your detox week, eat light and liquidy foods--try some of the soups at these sites. After--during the rejuvenation period --go for more substance, variety and ghee in your diet.
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Online Spring Cleanse Information and Support
Sign up now at the Himalayan Institute's Web Site for a guided Spring Cleanse beginning March 24. They are publishers of the Yoga International Journal and you will receive free guidance on yoga, herbs, and diet for a challenging but gentle Spring Cleanse.
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Your Reception of Mailings
I will send out a monthly newsletter and perhaps an occasional additional mailing. If you do not wish to receive future mailings from Radiant Life Ayurveda,you may unsubscribe at the bottom of this email. This mailing list will not be sold or shared with others in respect for your privacy. Rhonda
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