In the past week, THREE of my clients have mentioned that they’re thinking about doing a cleanse soon. I totally get it: it’s February, winter is showing no signs of relenting, we’re plugging away at our New Year’s Resolutions but haven’t seen the results yet. We’re impatient for spring, for renewal, for change. And a cleanse seems like a perfect way to jump start it, right?
Sorry, guys, not quite yet.
This season is all about that uncomfortable space. February is the time that seeds are taking root under the earth, getting ready to work so hard to push up to the light. We look at the ground and see frozen dead earth, but what’s going on underneath is a different story. The same is true for us. We have our icy winter exteriors but are craving the light. Hold on, it’s coming. Be patient.
I do a group supported cleanse in the fall and spring because I want to ready my body for the shifts that happen when we transition from the dark and light half of the year. It’s not necessary, but I feel better in my body acknowledging the shifts. But cleanses are not meant to be done constantly and they sure aren’t meant to be done in the dead of winter. Those little seeds, whatever they are for you, need strength to burst through the frozen earth. Once there, they can relax a bit and ease up on sustenance.
And that’s not to say that I believe in extreme cleansing. All of my cleanses are done exclusively with whole foods. No potions, no juices, no daylight hours fasting. Just mindfulness and some common allergen removal. So while it would be fine to eat this way all the time, the reality is that most of us like a bit of dairy and soy in our lives. Cleansing requires a lot of preparation and intention and I think this is the wrong time of year to put energy into that. Try to hang in there with the mid winter blahs a few more weeks and join in on the Spring Cleanse March 16th.