Yoga Detox November

Picture from yoga-photos. So beautiful.

If you weren't aware yet, recently I have been studying a yoga course- a yoga diploma to be exact! This is not a 2 week intensive course, as tempting as it sounded, I chose the longer road where theory, history, meditation and spiritual integration are as important as the physical yoga practice. This course is absolutely fascinating but it is a lot of work and demands a lot of my energy outside of work. As the saying goes, you get out what you put in...

Every year I do a detox, some more intense than others and I'd have to say diet wise I eat ideally most of the time. This is normally as a Summer preparation, to be super healthy by Christmas. This year I've decided to do a Yoga Detox. My theory is I eat so well all of the time and the next level is fasting, which I'm not in real need for. Instead I'll be committing myself to yoga everyday, focussing on core strength, flexibility, grounding and mind/ body integration. My normal yoga routine is 1 hour 3 or 4 times a week but for the month of November I'll be doing an hour a day, every day.

Seane Corn's Detox Flow Yoga A Guided Practice to Purify Body, Mind, and Spirit, is my source of inspiration and what I'll be referring to a lot throughout the month. 

How does yoga detoxify?
On a physical level yoga like all exercise stimulates the circulation of blood and Qi/ Prana/ Life force, "switches" on certain organs and glands, moves the lymphatic system, improves the respiratory function and encourages waste flow out of the body but that's not REALLY what yoga is about. Yoga is about becoming one with yourself and the universe, to not identify with your mind/ ego, to discover who you are and be at peace with that and everything else. Consistent yoga practice will calm the mind and consequencely stabilise the emotions.

We can say this is a "karmic" detox, let me explain how...
                                                                                                                                                                   
Yoga and Vegetarianism by Sharon Gannon
"Karma means "action" and includes every thought, word, and deed we have done."
In my words Karma is experience.

"We energetically relive past karmic experiences that have been stored in the cells and tissues of our physical body."
Everything we have experienced is brought to consciousness, up to the surface through yoga postures.

"Our bodies don't lie: they tell the story of our past."
Our karma is part of our cellular memory. It's what makes us who we are and is never forgotten, perhaps it becomes a part of our DNA.

"For something to be a yoga practice, it must help us purify these karmas"
If we have stored all of our experiences in our body then we can use the body, by practicing yoga, to make peace with our karmic experiences. No more skeletons in the closet...

"While we are engaged in certain asanas, particular physical and mental feelings arise. These feelings provide valuable insight into the nature of our personality- self."
 As the karma is released we feel it, learn from it and let it go and become more "enlightened" or aware.


By the way, "Yoga and Vegetarianism" has a cute and quirky cover but don't be fooled by the pretty girl on the front (I was!). Sharon Gannon, a long term vegan, speaks about the ethics of using animal products, the exploitation, history and the reality of today's animal product industry in the name of fashion, health, politics, science and survival. I admit that one part brought tears to my eyes and I had to put the book down!

Why am I doing this?
My intention is to commit more to my health (yes!) but also in dedication to clearing some karma. 30 days of yoga to "detoxify" myself on every level and to see where a fully practicing yogini lifestyle could take me. Will I gain more insight into myself or my life? Besides firmer thighs and sparkly eyes, what else will reveal itself to me?
I'd like to motivate anyone else who reads my blog to consider doing something similar. Commit to your health for the month of November. It can be a small goal such as a daily walk, a freshly squeezed vegetable/ fruit juice or 10 minutes of solitude/ meditation/ "me" time. Make one thing happen this month for an hour a day to honour your health.

What will I be doing exactly?
1. An hour's yoga practice a day (minimum)...
It doesn't seem like much but I have to work, rest, study and play still PLUS my sister is getting married this month and I still need to keep up the commitments I have to everything else.

2. Weekly journal...
To reflect on how I'm feeling; what I'm looking like and what I've been doing. As long as it's somewhat interesting, I'll post it.

3. Final yoga sequence... my take on the month and what I've achieved.

4. Karmic detox completed : )