Rather than sending your body the signal that it needs to change or shrink in 2011, consider allowing it recover gracefully from the holidays and start the New Year with self-love and gratitude. With most folks over-indulging throughout the festivities, however, many people will turn to cleanses or detoxification programs to clear out their systems in January – might be the time when to call Sublime Wellness Center for those celebrating New Year’s Eve too intense. There are a variety of choices available, from strict detox regimes with no allowances, to gentle cleanses that integrate your current routine. Whether you choose a plan that is mild, medium or intense, recovering from the holidays should incorporate our three favorite R’s – refresh, renew and relax!
REFRESH: This principle is all about getting your energy back. What do you find fun? What energizes and recharges you? Maybe this is getting a massage, enjoying the hot tub, cutting up fresh fruit and eating it watching the sun rise. Whatever revives your spirit is a good launching-pad to recover from the holidays.
RENEW: If you were refinishing an old table, what would you do? Probably strip off the old paint, condition the wood and either varnish or re-paint it in your chosen color. Similarly with your body, cleansing can be a nurturing three-step process of releasing those habits that do not serve you any longer, allowing your body time to rest and repair, then beginning anew with intention, love and mindfulness.
RELAX: This is a vital, if overlooked component to recovering from the holidays. Stress is estimated be a factor in 75% of all illness. From frantic, crowded shopping to preparing large, involved meals for family, to cleaning up after everyone, stress seems to be synonymous with celebration! So whether you enjoy Hot Stone massage, hiking at night using night vision glasses, jogging, or bubble baths take time out for your own well-being.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Most cleanse programs focus primarily on what you can or cannot eat. Consider cleansing in other areas of your life for a more satisfying and enduring experience. For example, take a look in your closet – have you ever worn those pink faux snake-skin boots to more than a Halloween party? If not, perhaps they can be donated to a charitable organization. Not only will it create more space in your closet (and your life) for fresh energy and perhaps fabulous new boots, many charities will give a tax-deductible receipt that will help out at tax time! A helpful gauge is to ask if you’ve used or worn an item in the past season. If not, that means that you have not touched that item for over 6 months – if that’s the case do you really need it cluttering up your life?!
2. Similarly for detoxification – it may be helpful to cut alcohol out of your diet for a week, but are you still eating genetically-modified foods loaded with pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones? Are you cleaning your bathroom with toxic chemicals and sitting in front of the computer screen absorbing electromagnetic radiation for eight hours per day? Perhaps setting aside 30minutes for stillness and quiet, light meditation or to spend time with nature would also help release modern contaminants from your life.
3. Choose a cleanse that suits your personality and daily life. Choosing a super-intense fast that you can only maintain for a couple of days then quit, will only confuse your body and set your emotions at ‘failure’. Take time to focus on yourself and what your goals are, as each cleanse is unique in its purpose, method and time frame. Just because the hottest celebrity swears by a certain program does not mean it will work for your individual lifestyle. Got two kids, two dogs and two jobs? Probably not the best idea to go on an ultra low-calorie juice fast for two weeks!
Remember that it’s ok to celebrate your body, rather than punish it during this process. Allow the energy of the New Year to carry you into a new respect for and understanding of yourself.
Hopefully your holidays were a study in merriment, joy and gratitude, but if they weren’t, consider allowing that for yourself in the New Year. As a wise woman once said – everything in moderation, even moderation!