Posted By: Dean Kasal
Here in the Midwest fall is in full swing. And while I begrudgingly let go of sunny days, outdoor yoga, and fresh garden goodies, my heart has turned. Autumn has always been my favorite season. Maybe it’s that snap of cool weather and the vibrant colors all around us, or the warm promise of days spent at home with family. There’s something very intuitive about the fall. As the leaves turn and die I find myself wanting to start anew, to let go of things that no longer serve me, to find beginnings as well as endings.
In the process of beginning again I’ve always been guided to renew my body. When I was in my early 20′s this might have meant a new trend in fitness, a 30-day challenge of some sort, eating cabbage soup for a week straight… I was always searching for something to give me that feeling of health, of glowing from the inside out, of having a fresh start in my body to match the new beginnings I felt in my life. I believe now that I’ve always yearned to live in harmony with the cycles of nature, and that I knew, on some level, that my body required a cleansing at this time of year, just as the earth sheds the excess in preparation for winter.
What I know now is that the fall is in fact the perfect time to cleanse. In both alternative and conventional medicine we know that the lungs and large intestines are linked to common cold weather ailments- dry skin, rashes, breathing problems, cough and more. A fall cleanse is geared at supporting these larger organs of the body, clearing them of toxins, and preparing them for optimum function during the winter months.
During the fall we also start to experience drops in temperature, rain, cold and damp. The body is pushed to adapt to the environment, and the less toxic our systems, the more easily homeostasis can be maintained. Not to mention a run down, toxic, overloaded body is more prone to the sickness and disease that circulate this time of year.
Cleansing is more than just releasing toxins from our cells. A truly healing cleanse can calm your whole being, body and mind. Stress shows up as physical symptoms in our bodies. Your cells don’t know the difference between toxic food, negative thoughts, or a crazy schedule and work environment. To them, all stress is aggravating and can cause inflammation, and when left unchecked, fatigue, burnout, and disease. When you allow yourself the chance to truly rest, rejuvenate, and nourish, you give your entire life a reboot. From feeling lighter and cleaner physically, to experiencing more peace, clarity, and calm amidst the business of daily life, a cleanse can be completely re-centering and healing on every level.