Westen - The yoga-body cleanse : a 7-day Ayurvedic detox to rejuvenate your body and calm your mind

THE

YOGA-BODY

CLEANSE

A 7-DAY AYURVEDIC DETOX

TO REJUVENATE YOUR BODY

AND CALM YOUR MIND

ROBIN WESTEN

Copyright 2013 Robin Westen. Design and concept 2013 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Published in the U.S. by

ULYSSES PRESS

P.O. Box 3440

Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-321-9

Library of Congress Control Number 2013947594

Acquisitions Editor: Katherine Furman

Managing Editor: Claire Chun

Editor: Lauren Harrison

Proofreader: Elyce Berrigan-Dunlop

Front cover design: Rebecca Lown

Interior design and layout: what!design @ whatweb.com

Cover photograph: ifong/shutterstock.com

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Distributed by Publishers Group West

NOTE TO READERS

This book has been written and published strictly for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice or to be any form of medical treatment. You should always consult your physician before altering or changing any aspect of your medical treatment and/or undertaking a diet regimen, including the guidelines as described in this book. Do not stop or change any prescription medications without the guidance and advice of your physician. Any use of the information in this book is made on the readers good judgment after consulting with his or her physician and is the readers sole responsibility. This book is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition and is not a substitute for a physician.

With gratitude to Tara Glazier extraordinary yoga teacher, visionary founder, and owner of Brooklyns Abaya Yoga who helped deepen my practice, open my heart, and turn me on to the transformational power of detox cleansing.

CONTENTS

As a yoga practitioner and meditator for over 15 years, Ive noodled around with lots of esoteric and practical disciplines while trying to get a hold of what this life, my life, is all about. I figure, here I am GO FOR IT!

Im not alone in doing this. If youre reading The Yoga-Body Cleanse right now, youve probably also explored the nooks and crannies of your own being and in the process rooted around in the forest of different schools of thought as to how to approach your body. My explorations have taken me to several Zen and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries on the East Coast, a Balinese shaking energy adept, a hardcore tai chi master in Manhattan, several healers around the country including one who poked the top of my head with explosive vigor, dozens of channelers (while writing a book on the phenomenon). Ive enjoyed time with a renowned Chinese qigong teacher, accomplished acupuncturists and Reiki practitioners, as well as lymphatic drainage, Swedish, Shiatsu, hot stone, deep tissue, and Thai massage therapists. Ive also checked out brief stints of psychotherapy, chanted with yogas rock star Krishna Das, been hugged by the Indian saint Amma, sat with Insight Meditation founder Sharon Saltzberg, and joined a mind-blowing retreat in Maui with Baba Ram Dass, the author of my personal bible, Be Here Now. Or to put it another way, Ive been around. And this is where Ive landed.

My focus for the past several years has been on heart-opening yoga, introduced to me by Tara Glazier, the founder and owner of Abhaya Yoga, a light-splattered studio overlooking New York Citys skyline and the powerful currents of the East River. I had been practicing yoga for at least a decade before then. But in those days, it was a physical pursuit with occasional insights. Mostly I practiced bringing my competitive nature to the mat. At Abhaya there was a total turnaround. It didnt happen overnight (if only change was so easy!), but slowly it dawned on me that opening, rather than forcing or even trying, was key. In the process, and over a couple of years, I experienced a new level of readiness a growing and brilliant emptiness. I guess the old adage Nature abhors a vacuum is true, because I opened and became receptive, and in rushed expansive wonder.

Along with yoga, which resulted in periods of intense joy, I began to crave a more serious meditation practice. With not much fanfare, I found myself waking earlier and setting a morning schedule that includes, without fail, 30 minutes of sitting. My ritual involves simply lighting a stick of incense, placing a cushion on the floor in front of a small alter that displays a portrait of revered Hindu saint, Neem Karoli Baba, who continues to inspire my trip, then settling down to breathe and watch my mind jump around. Sometimes my brain takes a break and when it does, again, theres a release, and again, an opening.

Simultaneously with this shift came a heightened awareness of my bodys sluggishness. I noticed my energy was lagging, my emotional reactions too often teetering on a high wire, my digestive system slacking off; my skin was dull and my outlook flickered with negativity, anxiety, and fear. I suspected the cloudiness had something to do with my diet, so I cut back on sugary treats, coffee, gave up the morning croissant, and passed on a second glass of red wine with my evening meal. Yes, I noticed a difference. But these changes were hardly enough to turn my world around. But as luck would have it, an Ayurvedic (the traditional system of Indian medicine that treats and integrates the body, mind, and spirit using a comprehensive holistic approach) detox juice cleanse was announced at my yoga studio. I was the first to sign up and inwardly, I made a commitment to not only devote myself wholly to the cleanse, but to consciously add treatments to the program that would enable me to bring my life into sharper focus.

What youll find within the pages of The Yoga-Body Cleanse is the culmination of my numerous experiences. Stuff that didnt work well in terms of diet, such as yogurt shakes or pampering treatments like dips in a hot tub, were nixed from the program. Others that rocked my world are emphasized, namely a foundational focus on Ayurvedic guidelines, restorative yoga poses, deep breathing, meditation, homemade natural pampering treatments, and most importantly, maintaining an introspective yet positive attitude. There are plenty of simple recipes to help move along the benefits of the cleanse as well as simple instructions for each of the daily practices. And because Im someone who appreciates the energy offered by a cheerleading section, theres lots of encouragement, including upbeat affirmations and quotes from inspirational figures. When a boost is needed, tacking up a few thought-provoking words might help you stick to the cleanse, even move to the next level.

There are several quizzes included in the book. None of them are too taxing, but they reveal important aspects of your being and can help you figure out where you need to place special attention. For example, at the start of the The Yoga-Body Cleanse theres a quiz to identify which toxins are most prevalent in your daily life. As in the other tests that follow, theres an analysis that offers solutions to your personal issues. Theres also a quiz to help you identify your Dosha, or nature, based on the three principles of Ayurveda: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. This step will guide you to a deeper understanding of which treatments, foods, juices, meditations, and poses will be most effective for your cleanse. Whenever you take a quiz, its a good idea to allow yourself time to approach the questions with serious consideration. Also, be honest with your answers. There are no right or wrong responses, only illuminating ones.