January 29th, 2018
While a detox can be incredibly beneficial for your health, it is not sustainable long term. My goal with this detox series is to equip you with daily habits that make cleansing a part of your everyday routine, not just a seasonal or resolution driven fad. It’s easy to carry out some simple, daily actions that encourage your body’s natural ability to detoxify and that will keep you feeling great all year long!
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Rest + Digest
Your nervous system has two modes of operation: a stressed state (“fight or flight”) or a calm and relaxed state. Constantly operating in a stressed state can suppress your digestion and detoxification pathways. Your lungs are an organ of detoxification, and a few simple deep breaths can take you quickly from fight or flight mode to rest and digest. Sit up tall. Take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. It’s easy! Set a reminder on your phone 3x/day to step away from your workspace and take 5 rounds of deep, intentional breath. Trust us, your body (and mind) will thank you!
We get it. You’re busy and your calendar is full! A quick meal on-the-go can sound like a great idea when you’re rushing between meetings or classes! However, when you eat mindlessly, in a stressed state, you are preventing proper digestion and leaving room for toxic build up! Try taking a real lunch BREAK, put your phone down, sit away from your desk, and focus on the task at hand … eating (the right way). You might be surprised at how full and satisfied you feel while your food effectively breaks down, giving you the proper nourishment you need!
Want to take it a step further? Carve out time to include a yoga class in your lunch break routine! Meraki Yoga Studio has Restore Flow at 1:15pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday giving you the perfect post meal class to rest + digest.
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Sweat + Stretch
Have you ever scrolled across the quotes on pinterest saying, “Sweat is fat crying,” or “Sweat is weakness leaving the body,”? That sweat leaving your body is actually full of toxins. Taking a hot yoga class, stretching before bed or even taking a hot shower increases circulation in your body, allowing for waste to properly be excreted. This simple step can be included in your daily routine to naturally detoxify.
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Nourish Your Gut
Hippocrates 2,000 years ago said, “All disease begins in the gut.” And he’s right! If you want to be the healthiest you, focus on nourishing your gut. Beneficial bacteria in your body’s intestines is largely responsible for:
- Critical functions of the body’s digestive and immune systems.
- Vitamin and mineral absorption
- Hormone regulation
- Your ability to eliminate toxins
- Your overall mental health
The best way to tend to a healthy gut is by eating probiotic rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and pickled veggies, and drinking probiotic filled beverages like kombucha, kefir, or apple cider vinegar.
Good news! Meraki Yoga Studio has kombucha on tap, making probiotics easily accessible (and super delicious) for you!
I like detoxing 2 or 3 times each year, but I find it easier to feel my best when I am following these detox practices each day. These simple, detoxifying habits keep you healthy in the short and long term when combined with a nutritious lifestyle!
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If you’ve enjoyed this detox series, check out my instagram: @returningtotheroot for more holistic nutrition tips!