5 yoga poses to detox mind and body

We all know it. We can feel it. Spring is in the air. Here at Urban Remedy we love the change of season because it means it’s time for a good clean out.

We cleanse through three of the body's main systems. The circulatory system pumps blood throughout the body – taking oxygen to cells whilst carrying the waste away. The digestive system processes the food we eat – absorbing the nutrients we need and eliminating anything we don’t. And then we have the lymphatic system, which collects fluid from our cells and sends it to the lymph nodes to ditch any harmful bacteria.  The eliminatory organs (lower digestive system, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin) then help us to expel all of those nasty little toxins.

That’s a pretty good system when it comes to detoxing! However, over the winter season, our diet is a little heavier, we're a little less active than usual, and our eliminatory organs may be feeling a little sluggish. When Spring arrives, we often need a helping hand to assist the natural detoxification process.

We regularly give you tips on how to cleanse your body through diet. But what about exercise? This week, with the help of our Resident Health Coach, Claire Obeid (who just happens to be an amazing yoga teacher), we thought we’d share a few of our favourite cleansing yoga poses to help you banish those winter cobwebs and kickstart detoxification.

Yoga, like most forms of exercise, stimulates the three systems of cleansing, but it packs a little more punch. The systematic stretching and compressing action, coupled with calm breathing, is particularly good at enhancing waste-removal from the deep tissues and extremities (which some forms of exercises just can’t do).

Here are our 5 cleansing yoga poses:

1. Standing Forward Bend – calms the nervous system whilst gently compressing the abdomen to stimulate digestion and elimination

2. Downward Facing Dog – gently tones the belly, aids circulation of blood and lymph and stimulates digestion

3. Lunging Twist – strengthens the legs whilst deeply twisting through the abdomen to squeeze and release the digestive organs

4. Seated Twist – releases the hips whilst squeezing the abdominal organs

5. Meditation – helps you calm your breath, centre your focus and quieten your mind to reduce stress and enhance detoxification

Happy spring cleaning!

Yoga to dust off the winter cobwebs…

We’ve recently passed the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year and the depths of winter – which can only mean one thing… spring is oh-so-close! Don’t we know it here at UR; having just planned the summer menu, we are already thinking about bikinis and beach action.

And what does spring bring? A time of renewal and rebirth… and the chance to come out of hibernation.

But maybe, right now, you are feeling a little stuck. A little heavy, lethargic or flat? No wonder, it’s winter! A sure fire cure is to hit-up a delicious yoga class that will help you feel whole again, and loosen you up – mind and body – to dust off those winter cobwebs.

There are plenty of styles to choose from – Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, Power, Qi… (wow!) so there isn’t really an excuse, is there? Yoga caters for a multitude of tastes – whether you like a dynamic, cardio work out (Ashtanga/Power/Vinyasa) or a more grounded, static focus (Hatha/Iyengar). Not to mention the amazing advantages you get by combining yoga and healthy eating or cleansing.

And just to give you an even bigger nudge (can you tell that we really, really like yoga?) we have a fantastic offer for you today! A FREE 10 class pass from YogaPass.

YogaPass has close to 500 participating studios across Australia and New Zealand which teach a rich variety of styles and lineages. YogaPass does exactly what it says on the label. It allows you to buy a pass (or multiple passes) to attend casual classes at your selection of studios so that you can discover what kind of yoga is ‘your’ kind of yoga. Each studio is listed on www.yogapass.com.au  with full contact details and location.

All you need to do is head over to our Facebook page (and like us, if you haven’t already!) to enter the competition.

Too easy. Get your stretch on and feel winter melt away!

Happy yoga-ing!

Image courtesy of NERONI photo

www.weheartit.com

Easy DIY detox yoga sequence

As promised, here is an easy DIY detox yoga sequence.  The postures are suitable for all levels and you only need to set aside 20-30 minutes. This is a great sequence to do in the morning as it helps to get your body into detox mode for the day.

The purpose of this routine is to stimulate the body's natural detox processes as well as firm up the body, improve circulation and reduce fluid retention. It includes mainly twists and backbends which are both ideal for detoxification.

The sequence
Warm up by doing some sun salutations. I usually do three rounds of Surya Namaskar A and three rounds of the Surya Namaskar B holding the downward dog for 5 breaths.

Hold each of the following postures for 5 to 10 breaths.

1. Tadasana - Mountain Pose


2. Adho mukha svanasana - Downward dog



3. Eka pada rajakapotasana – One legged pigeon pose (both sides)


4. Parsvakonasana – Extended side angle pose (both sides)

5. Twisted lunge (both sides)


6. High lunge (both sides)

7. Virabadrasana 3 – Warrior 3 (both sides)

8. Paschimottanasana – Seated forward bend


9. Bharadvajasana – Bharadvaja’s twist (both sides)


10. Ustrasana – Camel pose


11. Balasana – Child’s pose

13. Viparita Karani - Legs up the wall pose


12. Savasana – Spend five minutes (or more if you have time) in this relaxing posture. I like to say to myself "let go" with every exhalation for the first minute or so of this posture.


This sequence will boost the detoxification process and really get things moving in your body. It's a great sequence to do everyday if you have the time, and especially while you are doing a cleanse.

Feel free to comment or email me if you have any specific questions. I'm more than happy to help.

Enjoy!

Images courtesy of Yoga Journal.

What's all the fuss about coconut water?

Everybody seems to be banging on about coconut water lately and it looks like we’re about to see bottled coconut water on the market in Australia. It’s quite big in the US, with flavoured coconut waters becoming increasingly popular, including lime flavoured coconut water (yep, that’s lime in the coconut).

I’ll have to try it myself, but I don’t imagine that it will be as good as the real thing; that is, drinking the water from young, fresh coconuts.

I spent a few months in India last year and every morning after yoga practice, we’d all go outside and the coconut man would be waiting to lop off the top of a coconut and hand it to you with a straw. Once you had finished drinking the water, you would give it back and he would fashion a spoon from the shell and hand it back to you so you could scoop out the flesh. So yummy. There were quite a few yogis at the time who would do regular coconut water fasts and just drink coconut water for days on end. (I think that’s fine for a day or so, but I obviously prefer juice cleansing as you get a many more different nutrients packed into the juices, but I digress…)

Coconut water is delicious and quite different to coconut milk (which is made from ground coconut flesh and coconut water). It has a yummy salty sweet flavor and is very easy to drink.

So what’s so good about it?

Coconut water is a natural isotonic beverage (meaning it’s designed to replace the fluid and salts lost from the body during exercise) containing the same level of electrolyte balance as we have in our blood. In times of war and famine, it has been used as an intravenous fluid and saved many lives.

It's naturally fat-free, relatively low in sugar and carbohydrates and helps to boost metabolism, promote weight loss, cleanse the digestive system and detoxify and fight viruses, among other things! I’ll also let you in on a little secret… it’s a brilliant hangover remedy.

Basically it’s a super healthy, nutrient-packed drink. We recommend it to our cleansers as a supplement to the juices if they are feeling hungry, but you can drink it any time.

If you’re so inclined, you can buy fresh, young coconuts from health food stores and specialty fruit and veg stores for about $3-4.

Enjoy.

and so this is christmas...

I absolutely love Christmas. My favourite things about Christmas are (in no particular order); Christmas carols (especially Bruce Springsteen's Santa Clause is Coming to Town - if I could play that all year round, I would), Christmas trees and lights, the festive spirit and energy, spending time with my family, and of course presents (both giving and receiving - I can admit that I love getting presents). I also love all the parties and the eating and drinking that go with them at this time of year. I am generally very healthy - daily yoga practice, eating well (perhaps a little bit too much sugar), cleansing regularly, moderate drinking, loads of sleep, massages, enough sun to get my Vitamin D requirements but not so much to damage my skin, swimming in the ocean - basically I look after myself as well as I can, whilst trying to maintain a balance. However at this time of year, I tend to let go a little and indulge; I drink a little more, I eat a little more, I stay out a little later. And why not?!? It's Christmas after all.

It's all about balance. Enjoy the silly season because it's so much fun and it only happens once a year. And then in January, you can refocus and work towards a more balanced, healthy lifestyle.

So give yourself permission. Don't feel guilty. Enjoy yourself.