Day 4
Good morning,
You’ve made it to the halfway point of the cleanse!
If you took your saltwater colon cleanse early this morning, you will likely have experienced a series of mostly liquid bowel movements. If you have not yet eliminated, there is no need to worry. Continue to drink still water without salt in small amounts only when you are thirsty. Don't try to flush it out by drinking lots of water, as the salinity of the water you ingest should not be altered.
If you do not experience a BM today, it might be related to dryness/dehydration or excessive dairy and meat in the (non-detox) diet. You can repeat the saltwater cleanse again tomorrow, and the second round should produce the intended results. If you forgot to do it today, it's no problem to do it tomorrow or on day 6 instead. And if you really loved it, you can do a second cleanse tomorrow!
You are well on your way to detoxifying your body. You may now find a more opaque layer of ama surfacing through the tongue. Vata often sees a thin, grayish, bitter layer, Pitta often sees a sour, green/yellow layer, and Kapha most often finds a thick, white, sweet layer (all qualities of the individual doshas). Be sure to scrape this off whenever you have the opportunity. You might also notice less of a smell from your eliminated matter and gas.
As you continue your fast, your digestive fire will build, allowing the body to burn off toxicity that has accumulated in your system from air pollutants, chemicals in the food and water you consume, overeating, drug residue etc.
Sometimes during a cleanse, and particularly during a fast, as you push beyond habits so deeply ingrained as your eating patterns, you will feel a loss of control, which may manifest itself in bursts of anger or anxiety – do your best to be compassionate and understanding with yourself. In standing beside your intention to complete this cleanse, you are choosing patience and mindfulness over instant gratification. You are aligning yourself with respect, self-love and discipline instead of the demands of the lower mind.
In the end, this practice will free you from the bondage of habit and the thought that you need something outside of yourself to keep going. Just like giving a child everything it demands isn't always best for the child, there is a real wisdom in disciplining ourselves and tapping into the higher mind to choose nourishment, even if we pass through a layer of disappointment first.
If you begin to feel that twinge of self-pity, check in with yourself, and remember that you are very much in control. You simply need to zoom out to the big picture again: you're parting with baggage that weighs you down. Take a breath, retreat back to your intentions and remember why you are doing this. Unless you're feeling very out of sorts, shaky and/or lightheaded, stick to the liquids.
If you cannot regain your strength with more juice, broth, a smoothie or a little almond milk, please let me know. We will work through it and adjust your fast so that it is working for you. Everyone moves through physical and emotional highs and lows, but if it comes to a point of feeling sick, either physically or mentally, it would be best to adjust or end the juice fast early, and I can walk you through this so you remain on track.
This afternoon or tonight, treat yourself to the chocolate banana shake in your manual. It makes 2-3 servings, but just about 6 oz should be a delicious, sweet snack as you make it over the hill of the juice fast.
Be proud of yourself today and take a few moments to sit in a space of gratitude for the opportunity you've created and the privilege we have to take this deep rest. Through rest, we can hear the voice of the heart and reconnect once again with the highest, truest self. For this reason, Ayurveda considers rest one of the four pillars of wellness, no less vital than nutrition, exercise and the use of proper herbs.
If rest is AS important as anything else you do, a completely healthy diet and a perfect exercise regimen without ample rest and reflection is not truly wellness. Think about the many smaller, less complex machines in your life that need to be powered down from time to time to function at peak efficiency. You are no different, and your rest is never a waste of time or a sign of laziness. Your stillness is part of your fuel. Use this downtime to think about where you can incorporate more as part of your daily routine.
Let any emotions come up and out today, knowing that you are detoxifying your mind and your energy body as well. You are choosing awareness over instant gratification, and that is a powerful choice that will strengthen your control in other areas of your life.
Your yoga class today will be slow, full of restorative shapes to offer the muscles and nervous system a deeply healing rest.
Warmly,
Lauren