Day 10

How did yesterday go with meditating and visualization? Can you incorporate mediation and visualization into your daily life?  
 
From my experience, meditation and visualization are the most profound tools that you can adapt to shift your life into the way YOU want to live!
 
If it is possible for you, even if you have to use a mirror, take a picture of yourself. At the end of the cleanse you can take another picture of yourself and see the improvement! 
 
Today I want to teach you another powerful cleansing technique:
 
The Intestinal Wash or Shankaprakshalana

The Intestinal Wash has several important benefits to the body and mind.  In this cleansing technique, salt water is used to remove blockages and impurities from the gastro-intestinal tract.  As a result it is effective for those suffering from constipation and digestive disorders such as stomach gas, stomach pains and hyperacidity. It is also very beneficial for urinary and kidney health as it prevents the formation of kidney stones and infection. Many diseases are related to intestinal health.  These include disorders resulting out of “impure” blood such as bad complexion, acne, boils and rashes.  Your general health will improve with this cleanse.  The intestinal wash is very effective for menstrual related problems in women including PMS and irregular cycles.  It is also recommended for woman who struggle with fertility.  The technique makes one have a higher sense of awareness while feeling sharper and lighter.
 

• It is recommended that this be done first thing in the morning on a day when you do not have much going on.  Before drinking or eating anything, prepare 3 liters of warm water with salt.  The water does not have to be boiled unless you suspect it to be impure, then it should be boiled and cooled.  

 

• Drink 2 cups of the water and then practice each set of 5 yoga asanas (postures), 8 times each.

 

• Drink 2 more cups of the water and again repeat the asanas.

 

• Repeat this once more, drinking water and doing the postures.  

 

• Around this time you may feel like going to the toilet.  You may get an urge earlier than the third round, in which case don’t ignore it, but go sit on the toilet until relieved. Then go back to where you left off.

 

• All the water will be evacuated in the course of the next few hours.  It should pass through the rectum, leaving the intestines and bowels clear of all matter.  So it is advised to stay close by a toilet for the morning.

 

• Wait at least half an hour after completing the drinking and exercising before eating anything.

 
5 Yoga Asanas for Intestinal Wash
(Do the best you can do, even if you’ve never done yoga before).
 
 1. Tadasana              

• Stand with feet together. Interlock fingers and turn palms downwards. 
• Inhale as you raise the arms up over your head. Slowly rise up on your toes, strengthening and lengthening the abdominal area.
• Hold the breath in while up in the tip toe stretch for just a few seconds, the exhale as you slowly come down again. 
• Resting your hands on top of your head between rounds
• Repeat
• 7 more consecutive breaths and no rest in between 
• All 8 rounds should take no more than 60 seconds.

 
2. Tirayaka Tadasana (Side Bending Stretch Pose) 

• Stand with your feet a bit more than shoulder width apart.
• Interlock your fingers, turning your palms downward.
• Inhale as you raise your arms up over your head.
• Exhale as you bend to the right side.
• Inhale as you straighten back up to the center.
• Exhale as you bend over to the left side.
• Inhale as you straighten back up to the center.
• Repeat bending to right and left 7 more times without a break in breathing.
• All 8 rounds should take no more than 60 seconds.

 
3. Kati Chakrasana (Waist Rotating Pose)

• Stand with feet shoulder width apart
• Inhale as you raise your arms level to shoulders.
• Keep feet flat on the floor as you twist the upper body to the right side, wrapping the right arm behind the waist and the left hand on to the right shoulder.
• Turn the head fully to the right to look behind
• Inhale back to the center
• Exhale as you twist to the opposite side.
• Return to the center position.
• Do 7 more twists to each side, flinging the arm loosely and fast from side to side.
• All 8 Rounds should take no more than 30 seconds.

 

4. Tiryaka Bhujangasana (Twisting Cobra)           

• Lie on the floor on your stomach, forehead on the mat, hands placed under the shoulders, feet shoulder width apart.
• Have the toes curled under and the heels raised up.
• As you inhale, push up into the cobra pose
• As you exhale, twist the upper body to the right, turning the head to look over the shoulder at the left foot.
• Inhale as you come back to the center.
• Exhale as you twist the body around the left, looking over your left shoulder at the right foot.
• Repeat the right and left twists 7 more times without a break.
• On the lsat exhalation, coming down to the starting position
• All 8 rounds take no more than 60 seconds.

 
5.Udarakarshanasana (The Abdominal Massage Pose)

• Squat on both feet, place hands on knees.
• Inhale at the center position.
• Exhale as you twist the upper body and head around to the right, dropping the left knee onto the floor.
• While twisting and holding for a few moments, push the right knee over the left thigh so as to exert a pressure into the lower abdomen.
• Inhale when coming back into the center position.
• Exhale as you twist to the left side, pushing the left knee and massaging in the groin area.
• Inhale back to the center position.
• Do 7 more twists to each side without a rest.
• All rounds should take no more than 60 seconds.

 
**On days when you do the intestinal Wash I recommend eating very lightly. Drinking smoothies and fresh juices. Maybe choose soups and salads to eat.
 
Meal Ideas:        
Breakfast: Buckwheat or Gluten-Free Pancakes
Lunch: Black Bean Burger and Sweet Potato Fries
Dinner: Indian-Style Red Lentils with Ginger
 
Recipes:
Sweet Potato Fries Recipe        
 Ingredients:

• 2 Sweet Potatoes (or more depending on how many people you are feeding)
• Grape Seed Oil or Coconut Oil
• Salt

 
Directions:

• Peel Sweet Potatoes and Slice into  stick slices
• In a frying pan, heat oil
• When very hot, throw in sweet potatoes
• Let cook into crispy
• Add salt

 
Indian-Style Red Lentils with Ginger Recipe
Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Red Lentils, dried rinsed and drained
• 1 Tbsp. ground Turmeric
• 5 cups water
• 2 Tbsp. Grape Seed oil (or other natural oil)
• 2 Tbsp. cumin seed
• 2 small Onions, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. Ginger Root, diced 
• 4 ozs. abaheim chile (or cayenne pepper, seeds removed)
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• Chopped Cilantro

 
Directions:

1.   Cook Lentils
2.   Heat oil in separate pan and add onions and stir for a few minutes
3.   Then add cumin seeds, ginger, and chiles (if using)
4.   When Lentils are soft, add them to the pan with onion mixture, Cook for a few more minutes, Add salt, Garnish with Cilantro