Using regular detoxification techniques for overall health and wellness is a great way to cleanse the body for optimum function, no matter the time of year. However, there are certain techniques specifically for the body during winter to gently detoxify without losing any vital energy.
Golden Milk Tea
Golden milk tea is an ancient recipe that has been passed down generations for its cleansing properties. The main ingredients of this Ayurvedic drink are warm coconut milk in combination with turmeric. Turmeric has long been hailed as anti-inflammatory and boosts immunity against colds and flu. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, is also beneficial for the digestive system as it increases the production of bile, which the liver uses to push toxins out of the body.
Hot Yoga
When the body is craving warmth… give it what it wants! However there is more than meets the eye when practicing hot yoga… the benefits go beyond it just feeling good when it’s below freezing outside. The cleansing experienced during hot yoga is more than just the sweat pouring out of your skin- sweating itself actually stimulates movement of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for the transportation of white blood cells in the body to fight infections. If the lymphatic system is not getting rid of toxins quick enough, it can slow your ability to get well again after sickness and make you feel sluggish.
If hot yoga sounds like a little too much for you, try sitting in a sauna or taking a hot Epsom bath instead.
Leafy Greens
Eating green is essential during the winter months. Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, Swiss chard, and collards are chock full of phytonutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, and K as well as B-vitamins and iron in some cases. These essential nutrients stimulate the immune system and promote detoxification. They provide support for your liver to eliminate toxins while also supporting the body to keep it strong and healthy. Next time you feel down, whip up a detox salad to lift your spirits!
Trataka Meditation
Keep your mind sharp and focused with this traditional yoga meditation. Winter itself does a good job of forcing us to turn inward, but if you find yourself hibernating too much, you may feel unmotivated and mentally sluggish. Trataka meditation can help you get back on track and cleanse the mind of negative thoughts.
It is performed by lighting a candle and staring at the flame as a meditation. It promotes mental focus and cleanses the third eye, which is the seat of intuitive knowledge. It also helps to still the mind of mental chatter and will strengthen your eyes.
Kapala Bhati
If you’re looking to internally heat the body through breathwork, the yogic pranayama technique kapala bhati is an excellent choice. Sometimes also called bellows breath, this breathing technique uses forceful, percussive breath while pumping the abdomen. It is cleansing for the digestive system and the third eye as well. Not only does it work to gently stimulate the movement of breath through the body, it also keeps mental chatter at bay. If you feel lightheaded at all performing this technique, stop immediately.
Lindsay Nova often calls herself “a one woman spiritual circus”. She is a firm believer in the wisdom of the body, the strength of the heart, and the power of the breath. After studying dance, yoga, and movement throughout the United States, she has dedicated her life to being an international creative fitness educator and multidimensional performance artist, inspiring and empowering others to take charge of their lives and live their own dreams. Currently she has been traveling through Central and South America with hula hoops and a yoga mat, teaching yoga, hiking volcanoes and ancient ruins, and trying shamanic medicines among other various adventures!