Ayurvedic Cleansing Tips for Radiant Health

By Natalie Rousseau-Horscroft RYT • November 24th, 2011 • 14605 Views

Cleansing twice a year during the seasonal changes of Spring and Fall is highly recommended in helping you to reduce the presence of toxic buildup in your body and mind while allowing you to build a stronger power of digestion and immunity. In Ayurveda the term for the toxins that build up in the system is Ama, while the power of digestion is called Agni. Below are some tips on how to build your Agni and reduce your Ama so that you can enjoy radiant health and wellness all year long.

What is Agni? Agni is the Sanskrit word for the digestive fire that stimulates the breakdown of nutrients that we take into our bodies and it is considered the cornerstone of good health. In general when we speak about Agni we are speaking of the digestive capabilities of the body and specifically the Agni that is situated in the lower stomach and small intestines (Jathara Agni), but actually there are 13 different Agni’s that govern all metabolic functions and it can be said that all processes involving heat, light, transformation and conversion relate to Agni. So a strong and healthy Agni allows for the absorption, assimilation, metabolism, and digestion of nutrients from food but also allows for proper sense perception, cellular metabolism and mental assimilation. In short a healthy Agni affects both body and mind, which means that when we are cleansing we would be wise to become conscious of all that we take in to our bodies and minds through both our diet and our environment.

Signs of healthy Agni are:

• Strong digestive capabilities & a steady appetite

• Bright eyes & skin

• Pain free joints

• A desire for nourishing foods

• An aversion to foods and substances that are unhealthy

• Steady clear moods

• Healthy immune response

• Clean smelling urine, feces, and sweat

• A strong sense of energy that carries us through the day

• Inspiration and excitement for life

• A focused mind with an ability to grasp new information

Ways to Strengthen Your Agni:

• Don’t overeat (food or information!)

• Eat at regular mealtimes and avoid eating late at night

• Avoid ice cold drinks, especially with meals

• Sip warm water throughout the day

• Get enough sleep (the hours before midnight are worth twice as much as the hours after midnight!)

• Spice your food with gentle warming herbs such as Cumin, Ginger, or small amounts of Cayenne

• Get regular exercise

• Meditate daily or at least allow...

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Location:  Tofino, CA

My name is Natalie Rousseau-Horscroft and I am an Anusara-InspiredTM Yoga Teacher as well as an E-RYT 500 registered with the Yoga Alliance. I have been studying yoga since 2000 and have been teaching full time...