Demystifying Detoxing

18. October 2009 by admin.

Detoxing has become a media buzz word and commercial event that can be viewed on perplexing things such as  labels of energy drinks, while on the other end of the spectrum Microsoft doesn’t even recognize it as word in their spell checker, what’s up with that?  Not being an expert, I am bringing you research from Giam, a very popular resource for healthy living.

From reading the celebrity rags, you may think that detox is something you do by either checking into a cushy rehabilitation facility or consuming nothing but liquids for 21 days. It seems either overly arduous or something only the rich and idle have time to do. But your body is designed to engage in detoxification every day. D-tox (detoxification) is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.

Daily life produces toxins—there’s no way around that. “We’re exposed to extreme amounts of toxins from air pollution, household chemicals, over-the-counter and prescription drugs, processed foods and other things,” says Isabel Clark, R.H.N., founder of Clark Wellness in Washington, D.C. The body has mechanisms for eliminating toxins, such as breathing, sweating, urinating and bowel movements, but sometimes it needs a little bit of help.

“A detox or cleanse will make you feel cleaner, clearer and lighter,” Clark says. It can also jump-start a weight-loss program, help you transition between seasons, regulate digestion and help you identify food allergies or trigger foods. In fact, a detox serves a powerful purpose, says Elson Haas, M.D., author of The New Detox Diet: The Complete Guide for Lifelong Vitality with Recipes, Menus and Detox Plans. “Detox is a process to help people heal,” he says.

Giam also reports, there are three main systems of the body that play a crucial role in the elimination of wastes — circulatory, digestive and lymph. The circulatory system pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen to and carrying waste products away from cells. The digestive system processes the food we eat, separating nutrients from waste and eliminating anything the body doesn’t need. And the lymphatic system collects intracellular fluid from throughout the body and transports it to the lymph nodes where anything harmful (such as bacteria or other contaminants) can be removed before the lymphatic fluid is returned to the bloodstream. It’s a robust system that works well on its own. But in order to help your body keep up with the heavy demands our stressful lives and nutrient-poor modern diet place on these systems, the trick is to give your body an assist so it can perform its natural detoxing function. And yoga is an ideal companion.  Most forms of vigorous exercise stimulate all three systems of elimination to some extent, thereby helping the body in its quest to detox. But yoga, with its focus on systematically stretching and compressing every part of the body, is particularly well-suited to keeping the waste-removal departments of the body functioning well.

“In a well-rounded yoga practice, every part of the body is pushed, pulled, twisted, turned and upended,” explains New York City yoga teacher Witold Fitz-Simon, founder of the yogaartandscience.com blog. “This facilitates the removal of waste products such as carbon dioxide, lactic acid and lymphatic fluid from the deep tissues and extremities of the body that a jog or a bike ride just don’t reach.”

During cleanse week, the three instructors are being very conscious of your journey, modifying poses along the way as  confirming our commitment that Yoga is an integral part to helping the body squeeze out the toxins, firm you up, de-bloat, reset metabolism, cleanse inner body and oxygenate your blood. Don’t miss classes this week being gentle on yourself throughout the practice.  

NEW IN TOWN:  Just off the barge is a new easy energizing way to detox and a perfect compliment to your cleanse this week.  Terese Jones is offering up (by appointment) at the White Lotus Center an Ionic Foot Bath.  With much scepticism, I’ve had the benefit of a dozen or so ionic foot baths with varied and wonderful results.  This new professional equipment she brings to town is very powerful and worth discussing with her. Terese gave Sarasvati and myself footbaths Friday night while we conspired about the poses and live music we will present during the workshop scheduled for October 23rd.  We both felt soothed and curious as we sat patiently in the bath and we would be happy to share our remarkable results.

Terese commented on how it’s a great compliment to any type of cleanse, renewing  your cells so they can excrete toxins that are accumulated in our day-to-day life.  Bringing more energy, life force to the body, the ionic footbath aids in rejuvenating the liver and kidneys allowing them to work more efficiently so the body can eliminate even more toxin while you cleanse as well as helps to pull toxin form the joints helping to create a pain free existence.  Cell renewal, one of the key components of the bath,  is also a great prevention to restoring the cells to their natural state and aids the body to remain disease free and efficient.  There are several testimonies about the healing effects to patients of cancer, MS, Parkinson’s and many others including Terese.  Along with a heavy metal detox program the footbaths helped her heal her liver after 8 years of pain and extensive medical testing from the best hospitals.  Safe and efficient the foot baths have aided many in weaning themselves from medication as potent as blood thinners to thyroid prescriptions.

Give Terese a call 907-209-9292, she recommends two foot baths during the cleanse, while space is limited she will make this opportunity a regular part of the community. 

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

(peace repeated 3 times, to honor your body, mind and soul)

Deby

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