Heading for the hardcore detox? Stop right there!

Detox, pleasure and pain of modern life: who wouldn’t think of it after long periods of stress, food disorder, work overload and techy addiction? Who wouldn’t undergo strict diets and treatments to get back into shape?
Well, apparently, it seems to be the fastest and easiest answer to our bad habits but, sometimes, it simply isn’t.

Our guest blogger Anandi, explains why we need to ponder our choices when it comes to detox. 

When you assess your own life, consider it with the eye of a gardener. Underneath the surface lays rich, fertile soil waiting to nurture the seeds you sow. Even more than you can imagine will grow there if given a chance. ”• Steve Goodier

We have become obsessed with the detox. We are on line looking for the next marvellous detoxification system, laxatives, lotions and potions…oh and of course there are the colonic therapies. My question is, are we ready and strong enough to cope with the hardcore approach?

In Ayurveda, the concern is the nectar of life which they call tejas and ojas. Metaphorically speaking tejas is the energy behind the flame of a fire and ojas is the nectar created by the transformation of that energy. If you are low in these aspects of the vital life force, you certainly will be building up toxins, which are called ama. But straight to the detox is not necessarily the answer.

Imagine being completely run down, exhausted and just feeling rough. Someone says ‘detox’ and you are off to start a week-long fast? Think about it, your resources are already low and now you are starving yourself? Your system is really not ready for it and you are just depleting yourself even more. In Ayurveda, they recommend nurture of the vital essence first, and then the detox. We need fresh natural water to quench our thirst, proper nourishment from our food, enjoyment through senses, love and devotion to something greater than ourselves. This is the way to unlock our vital essence and transform from within instead of attacking and destroying from without!

We live in a high tech world with designer drugs. We have lost our vital essence and our ability for inner contentment and bliss. We are over stimulated and burnt out, connected only to the internet and our cell phones. We have become depleted, just like the rest of the world. If you are really interested in your long term health try starting with nurture.

Take a bit of time out for yourself, whether it’s time to meditate, just be outside in nature, or simply disconnecting yourself from the internet. Whatever it is, you need to re-charge before the heavy detox. Most people need to change the way they sleep, eat, work, relate, and the way they breathe. We need to re-connect to the wellspring of contentment, taking a positive proactive approach and get rid of negativity. Only then can rejuvenation begin. Nurture, detox, heal…then watch your vitality grow!

Enjoy the journey.

Love

Anandi

Call our wellness experts on 020 7843 3597 or enquire here for advice on how to best prepare your body for a detox retreat.