Yoga for Detox

     We all know that spring is a time of new beginnings.  Nature is reawakening, plants and regrowing, and animals are giving birth.  It is also a time of detoxing; getting rid of all the excess our bodies naturally stored over the winter.

     More often than not, many people believe that detoxing/cleansing is a weight loss tool.  While this can be the case for some people, it is not necessarily the ultimate goal.  Cleansing is a time to purge toxins from the blood stream, allowing fresh new blood and nutrients to enter the body and flood it with good energy and life.  Having just gone through a cleanse myself, I have received the beautiful benefits of a cleanse, have felt the effects of the detoxing process, felt the vibrant energy from being clean, and have even gone back full circle to feel "clogged" again.  Through this clogged feeling, I have been able to understand why it happened...I ate clogging food...

When I was eating the life-promoting and vibrant raw vegan diet, I felt so energetic and alive!  As soon as the cleanse was over and I had pancakes (although they were vegan) for the first time in 21 days, I immediately felt gross.  The pancakes tasted amazing and I felt happy enjoying every morsel, but the aftermath was astonishing!  I felt tired!  I never had one time after eating a raw vegan meal in which I felt tired.  Every meal/snack gave me energy and life, which is why I am going to begin transforming my lifestyle into a raw vegan one.  Vegan is one thing, but raw is beautiful!

While I am in the process of making this transition (as with all transitions, you must do it slowly so that it is a lifestyle change and not just a fad that will not last), I will also be doing more detoxifying yoga.  The beautiful thing about yoga is that is cleanses the blood by allowing circulation through gentle  movements that stimulate energy and life.  All twists and inversions (those happen to be two of my favorite things in yoga) are detoxifying.  Inversions send blood flowing in the opposite direction, allowing your heart to relax a bit and more blood flows to your brain and thyroid (helping with hormone and metabolism regulation).  Twists, on the other hand, squeeze the inner organs and massage the intestines which facilitates digestion and cleansing of the digestive system.

Luana ola!

Final Week of Cleansing (Week 3)

Day 15:
This week is loaded with simply juices and smoothies!  I've already had 2 juices plus a banana and apple.  But, I needed those extra 2 pieces of fruit because I did a 17 mile bike ride today!  Why would I do such a thing, you might ask?  Well, first of all, I hate driving in a car...second, why not get exercise while you run errands?!  I had to make a couple mindless stops and the stores were located in the same strip mall about 4.5 miles away.  The ride added up 3 extra miles because I was trying to find a good place to tie up my bike and ended up circling the mall twice! Ha!  Here's to plenty of energy from all of this beautiful living food!
Day 16:
Funny story about today.  After my morning cup of lemon water, I had an apple and banana.  Just before lunch, I started to get a bit hungry, so I went to make a juice;  I was craving carrot juice.  I looked on the recipe list for today and saw that the juice of the day was carrot, celery, parsley, lemon, and apple!  It was so amazing how my body and the cleanse worked so well together!  Needless to say, it was absolutely delicious and hit the spot.
Day 17:
Although its a bit dreary out today, my spirits are up and I still feel alive.  So many times before this cleanse, I would feel awful on rainy/overcast days.  Not to say that I still feel better when the sun's out (because I definitely do!), but I don't have that dull feeling I used to get.  And my knees aren't as stiff!  Huge plus!
Day 18:

Day 19:

Day 20:

Day 21:
Wow!  I was so busy with life that I did not have time to write down my experiences each day for the past 3 days!  I know I know, typical Kathy...ha!  Well, I am officially finished with the cleanse and I feel so great!  Although I did lose some weight, that's not the important thing here.  The ultimate experience was the amazing detoxing that I had and how good I feel now that it's over!  I have so much energy and I feel happy, alive, and healthy.  I truly belive that this experience has also helped me to understand what my body truly craves/wants/ and needs; and it has helped me to deepen my yoga postures!

I am so thankful for the ladies that went through this experience with me and for all that I learned.  I might have a fun surprise for you all in the near future (hint: it has to do with this cleanse), but for now, I would love to hear about your experiences cleansing and/or any questions you might have about the process even if you have never done a cleanse before.

Thank you so much for following me through this process, and please come back and check in for more health updates, facts, and everyday journeys through life!

Luana ola!

Cleanse Week 2

Day 8:
This week, we have cut down to one "chewing-required meal" (aka salad).  This means 2 juices, 2 smoothies, and a fruit meal plus a salad.  I still can't believe how much food I am eating!  It fills me up and I feel so good.

Day 9:
I am starting to get tired of all this drinking...smoothies that is.   The juices are great, but the texture and taste of some of the smoothies is starting to get to me (hang in there self, one more week!).  I do love smoothies,  but I really enjoy crunch and texture in my food.

Day 10:
Some of the other cleansers and I were talking about what we are going to do after the cleanse is over.  Andrew (who is not cleansing) said we should go to a buffet and load up!  I replied, "ha! I don't think so.  After what I went through the first couple of days in detox, I'm not going to waste it and fill up on more toxins".  So, I came to the conclusion that I will continue to eat mostly raw.  I'm thinking 70-80% to start off with and see how it goes.  It is so convenient to have my meals made for me 6 days of the week that I need to make sure my skills of raw foods are in a secure place before taking another big leap.  By the way, this was a VERY big leap for me!  I'll tell you all about it in my final post of the cleanse :)

Day 11:
2 people dropped the cleanse due to having too much to do.  I fully respect these two people because they did such a good job the first week and have such busy lives that it became one more thing on their already over-booked schedule.  Therefore, for 2 days out of the week, the other 5 of us are making our own food.  It worked out perfectly for me because the driving 30 min 2 times each day was getting exhausting!  So for today, and tomorrow (Mother's Day), I get to make my own 2 smoothies, 2 juices, and salad.  Speaking of salads, there is an AMAZING raw vegan caesar dressing that I have been thoroughly enjoying.  As always, I have found some wonderful modifications to appeal to all people and of course, less expensive (i.e. the recipe called for Macadamia and pine nuts, 2 of the most expensive nuts out there, so I found a lovely alternative).  I will be sharing these recipes with you all at the end of the cleanse!

Day 12:
A Happy Mothers Day to all women (mother or not!).  I did go a little off the cleanse today just because we had bought tickets to the Zoo, which included brunch for Mother's Day.  We did this way before the cleanse got started, so I kept to the plan slightly, but enjoyed plenty of vegetables, fruits, and of course a few sweets.  It all tasted great going down, but the rest of the day I felt sluggish and tired due to all the heavy food. That, and I might have eaten too much...;)  But you know what, I don't feel guilty because it is okay to enjoy and have decadent food every now and then. The important thing is that I listened to my body for when it was time to stop, and I still have one more week on the cleanse!  Happy Cleansing!
Day 13:
Today is my day to prep for everyone.  I will be running around like a crazy person, collecting jars, buying groceries, and making food for the other 4 ladies!  After my juice this morning, I already feel more clean and light even after yesterday's food.
Day 14:
Wow! 2 weeks down and 1 to go.  I am absolutely LOVING the way that I feel while eating raw.  The day after Mother's Day, I was really lethargic, moody, and tired.  It is so amazing how our bodies respond to food.  My body definitely knew that all those sweets and cooked foods were "dead" and offered me no life.  As soon as I got back to eating raw, my energy has shot back up and I am as happy as a clam once again! (Any one know the origins of that phrase, because I use it all the time and have no idea what it means or why we say it, I just know when to use it!)

Luana ola!

Cleanse Week 1

Day 1:  I feel really good!  It helps that the sun is out and it's actually warm (81*!!!), though.  I can already tell that this raw food cleanse is going to feel so great to my body and mind.  Today I had lemon water, cleansing juice, and a green smoothie for breakfast.  Lunch was a delicious vegan Caesar salad, I had a bunch of fruit for a snack, and a bed of lettuce topped with raw, vegan chili!  The latter just happened to be my favorite meal of the day!!  Once I am don ewith this cleanse, I will definitely be putting this on the usual meal list!!   It's a little difficult getting the meals from the people that are doing this with me, but I think all the kinks will be worked out perfectly after these first few days.

Day 2: Amazing difference today...I still have lots of energy, but a different type of energy.  The type of energy I feel today is more like an awareness, it is a peaceful energy, and I feel very focused and centered.  I have had a couple detoxing symptoms including a slight headache, tired body, and these little bumps appeared on the back of my hands.  The funnny thing about the symptoms, though, is they make me feel really good because I know they are a good sign!  Still loving the food, and have been getting cold, so warm tea has definitely been a regular part of my evenings.

Day 3: I was so tired this morning!  It is definitely due to the detoxing process, but man it wiped me out.   Luckily, I had very little going on, so I was able to do some computer work and take a nap as needed.  I was also very hungry and I finished my breakfast, snack, and lunch by 11am.  When I finally got full enough to regain some enery, it was nearing 2pm.  I did a bit of yoga and kept resting just to make sure.  By the time evening came, I was ready for my dinner and a snack later that evening as well.  Maybe the hunger had more to do with needing to drink water/tea?  Although I've been drinking a lot...anyways, I can't believe how fast this cleanse is going by.  Day 3 down!

Day 4:
I had so much energy today!  I slept so soundly last night and woke up nice and hungry.  After drinking my morning juice and smoothie, I had enough energy to carry me through a 6 mile bike ride and teach a vinyasa yoga class.  I felt good all throughout the day and my hunger has finally been calmed.  I felt completely satisfied with the 5 meals offered.  The little bumps on my hands are still there.

Day 5:
Wahoo!  This energy from raw foods is amazing!  The bumps on my hands are slowly going away too!  I did a 7 mile bike ride, but the best part is that my muscles recovered very quickly and I was up for a shorter bike ride/walk with Andrew in the afternoon.  Here's to health and happy Cinco de Mayo!

Day 6:
 Still loads of energy! Feeling great!

Day 7:
I can't believe it's been a week already.  Prepping only once a week sure has its purks, but the time that goes into that one day is about 2-3 hours.  But overall, it's not bad considering all you have to focus on (in terms of food) for the other 6 days is just getting it and eating!  So amazing.  I've lost about 5 pounds already too!

Can't wait to see whats in store these next 2 weeks...I'll keep you posted, so be sure to come visit me this time next week :)

Luana ola!

21 Day Cleanse

I am so excited to share with you a wonderful weekend recap and some info about a cleanse I will be starting up soon!

First things first, this past weekend:

1. Friday I had a really fun Jazzersize experience with Andrew's mom.  It was a "beach body" theme and the focus of each routine was on the lower half of the body.  I have been to Jazz before and have found it fun, but not super challenging...this class was not the same!  My legs were burning so bad and I was sweating like a crazy person only 30 min into the hour long class!  I'd say it was a great workout, and super fun!  
2. Saturday I taught my Vinyasa class at Xsport and did some grocery shopping at Costco before going on a cute picnic with Andrew in the afternoon.  We ended up going to the forest preserve to play a little Frisbee before laying out on our yoga mats to do some reading (both of us have exams coming up...).  Then, after I took a short nap, we got some Gelato before heading home for dinner and a movie. 
3. Sunday was so much fun!  Andrew and I did the March for Babies in Elk Grove in the morning.   It was a beautiful 3 mile walk and we got free coffee, bagels, and danish!  After the walk, I drove straight to Essencia's studio to meet up with my fellow yogis and give a short presentation on Ayurveda (post about that coming soon).  All of the girls were so much fun and we had a blast sharing information and eating a bounty of delicious raw foods!

Now for the cleanse:
I will be starting a 21 day green smoothie cleanse with 6 other people.  I won't get into too many details, yet, but I will say that I am super excited to be eating a diet made completely from plants!  100% raw vegan for 21 days!

Cleansing can be a scary adventure if you are unaware of how to go about it, or have no one to do it with.  That being said, if you want to cleanse your system in a way that is EXACTLY like juicing, but in the convenience of a capsule or delicious gummy, check out Juice Plus!  Today I just got a 26% bonus because of my wonderful group of friends!  Email or facebook message me if you would like to learn more about getting healthy and cleaning out your body of toxins; heck it's even a great business opportunity if you'd like to make some extra cash on the side!

Spring is officially in the air, so take some deep Ujjayi breaths of fresh air and give your body what it wants and needs :)

Luana ola!

You Are Beautiful, Part 2

Did anyone do the challenge I sent out last week?  If not, check it out here!!

This past week, I have personally been able to see more beauty in life.  Despite the rapid weather changes surrounding the Midwest and the craziness going on around the globe, I have been trying harder than ever to see the light.  It is during these times, when there is darkness, that we need to find inner beauty and light to share with the world! So please share your experiences in the comments below.

As for a quick update on my life, a lot has been going on so this will be a big list of wonderful things that are beginning and ending:

1. Next week is finals week to end my first year in post-bac program to become an RD

2. I'm going to a fun workout this Friday with Andrew's mom.  It is going to be Zumba-like, but not officially "zumba"

3. Saturday will be my second time teaching yoga at Xsport!  Last week went well, but I was so nervous that I was shaking for the first half!  Now that I know what to expect and I have talked to my teacher as well as some friends, I think I will be much more confident and calm.

4. Sunday will be the opening of Essencia's brand new studio!  I will be hosting an Ayurveda workshop and we will be practicing yoga and sharing delicious raw, vegan foods!  Ahh I can't wait!!!

5. I will be starting a Raw Vegan Smoothie/Juice cleanse with some yoga friends soon and am also super excited about that!

Wow, that's a lot of excitement happening this week!  For being such a stressful week that just past, it is just what I need.  Isn't it amazing how nature just balances itself out?  It seems like whenever you have a bad day/week/time there is always something good that comes into your life at the end to make it all worth while. If you are going through a tough time right now during this change of seasons, hang on tight, talk to a friend, and drink some herbal tea because it will pass soon and a whole new beautiful world will be waiting for your beautiful self!

Luana ola!

You Are Beautiful

After watching this video by Dove soap, I am in tears from how true and how beautiful this video was.

It is so true that we are all our worst critic.  We find every little "flaw" in ourselves.  I put flaw in quotes, because these things we think are flaws are characteristics/personality/unique traits that no one else in the world has exactly like us! Beauty is so much more than skin deep.   Embrace what you feel is a flaw and see yourself how the world sees you; you are that beautiful!

Here's a quick thing I would like each of you to do this week.  Take 5 minutes at some point during the week and describe your face.  Just your face.  Try to write it down in great detail; freckles, moles, jaw line, etc.with detailed description.  Basically, if you notice it about yourself, jot it down, but don't look in a mirror.  Then, have someone who knows what you look like fairly well do the same thing.  When they are done, read both of the descriptions out loud and notice the difference!  I can almost guarantee that your friend/spouse/other will put so much more beauty into your face than you give yourself credit for.

Finally, leave a comment with how you felt after reading the results.  I am trying to show women and men alike that they are more beautiful than they think, so please help me out :)

I'll be posting my results next Monday in a follow-up post.

Note:  When typing in "beauty" in google images, the only pictures that appear are of faces and models...I sense something wrong here...Check out Healthy Tipping Point for more amazing inspiration!  And come back to see me for updates!

Luana ola!