Spring Cleansing for Body, Mind, and Soul – Why It's Good for You

Ayurvedic wellness and cleansing program for home

For our mothers and grandmothers, it was an integral part: a thorough spring cleaning after winter. In China, dirt is even considered a hiding place for demons and a symbol of all the evils of the past year – therefore, homes are thoroughly cleaned before the Spring Festival.

A thorough house cleaning and decluttering of wardrobes, cellars, or attics are also signs of a new beginning. You free yourself from things that no longer belong to you and your life.

Our body feels the same way when we cleanse it and free it from old burdens.

For thousands of years, ancient Ayurvedic texts have recommended seasonal cleansing cures, as well as daily internal and external cleansing. This keeps us fit and healthy and strengthens our immune system.

In this article, we'll tell you how you can truly free your body from burdens with an Ayurvedic wellness and cleansing program at home, thus creating space for fresh energy and joy of life. And you will notice how much mental clarity and insight you gain in the process.

Perhaps you might even consciously combine this program with a mindful spring cleaning for mind and soul, reflecting, letting go, realigning yourself, changing things, or even starting an exciting new chapter in your life.

Internal cleansing from an Ayurvedic perspective

Due to improper diet, unhealthy daily routines, seasonal changes, environmental toxins, and chronic stress, waste and toxins accumulate in our bodies, which inevitably build up if we do not eliminate them. In Ayurveda, we speak of Ama (see notes) accumulating in the body, which is considered the most important cause of all kinds of imbalances or other problems. We can counteract this with traditional Ayurvedic cleansing and elimination techniques.

If we perform these regularly, it is not only good for the health of body, mind, and soul, but our "radiance" also increases. From an Ayurvedic perspective, comprehensive internal cleansing automatically ensures that we are optimally nourished. The Dhatus (tissues) improve, and with them our Ojas, the final extract of all Dhatus in the body, which, according to Ayurveda, is the finest body matter that makes us glow from within.

Together with Ayurveda expert Dr. Saurabh Sharma, we show you how you can personally use valuable Ayurvedic knowledge and lead a healthy and happy life without unnecessary burdens.

The ideal timing – in harmony with nature

Ayurveda recommends targeted intensive steps for internal cleansing with every change of season, so that any accumulated Ama (see notes) in our body cannot even accumulate. Just as every season has its own natural laws and great changes occur during the transition, when leaves fall in autumn and flowers and leaves grow anew in spring, so too are spring and autumn ideal times for detox cures for us.

In Ayurveda, we know two forms of internal cleansing:

• as clinical therapy (Panchakarma) and
• as a home cleansing program.

Panchakarma – 5-fold treatment by experts

The word Panchakarma comes from Sanskrit and means "5 treatments." It refers to five coordinated applications such as cleansing, herbal enemas, and nasal cleansing therapies, which mobilize old burdens, then eliminate them, and in their entirety provide a profound internal cleansing. This particularly intensive form of cleansing should absolutely be accompanied by an experienced Ayurvedic therapist, as is the case, for example, during a cure in an Ayurvedic clinic.

14-day home cleansing program – wellness time

In addition to a Panchakarma cure, Ayurveda offers various cleansing techniques as part of the daily routine that everyone can use in their own home. When performed correctly, we can do a lot for our internal cleansing even without therapeutic help, a kind of small "mini-Panchakarma" every single day. But you can do even more. Treat yourself twice a year to a two-week intensive Ayurvedic program at home with many applications and a routine in harmony with the laws of nature. Because nature is the best healer. Why not try it?

Daily routine – resonate with the rhythm of nature

Do you know the Ayurvedic daily routine? We recommend it during your wellness and cleansing program, and it already begins the evening before: If you relax in the evening instead of watching an exciting thriller or browsing social media channels, turn off your smartphone and go to bed early (preferably by 10 p.m. at the latest), your body can regenerate better at night and your sleep quality improves. Then you wake up earlier in the morning without an alarm clock, and it's easier to get up. A warm full bath or foot bath in the evening often helps to let go of the day's impressions.

You can also try one of Ayurveda's most famous herbal combinations, Triphala (the three fruits Haritaki, Amalaki, and Bibhitaki), before bed.

Triphala is nourishing and supports the formation of Ojas (see above). According to Ayurveda, Ojas promotes longevity, physical strength, an attractive radiance, and happiness. Triphala Plus is an outstanding Rasayana that harmonizes Pitta throughout the body. Many Ayurvedic practitioners value it for promoting bowel motility (see notes).

After waking up, you then dedicate yourself entirely to cleansing: Brushing your teeth and cleaning your tongue free your body from metabolic waste products that have accumulated in your mouth – and especially on your tongue – during the night. Gandusha (oil pulling), drinking warm water, emptying your bladder and bowels, Abhyanga: all of these are integral parts of the Ayurvedic morning routine and support our body in internal cleansing.

Abhyanga – Wellness program for every day

A special highlight of the Ayurvedic morning routine is Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic self-massage with oil. By gently massaging our body with precious Ayurvedic herbal oils, we improve tissue circulation and free body and mind from troublesome burdens. From an Ayurvedic perspective, Abhyanga helps maintain good Dhatus (tissues) and provides strength (Bala). Treat yourself to this wonderful time for yourself, enjoy the scent of pure natural oils and the soothing relaxation that spreads within you during the self-massage. It's best to watch our explanatory video so you know exactly how to do it and what to consider.

If you are a strong Kapha type or have an excessive accumulation of Kapha in your physiology, you could enjoy an Ayurvedic dry massage with Garshan gloves made of high-quality raw silk instead of an oil massage. Tip: Our YouTube webinar #33 shows you how to proceed. Our high-quality Maharishi Ayurveda Garshan gloves also include detailed massage instructions.

A Garshan dry massage improves circulation, stimulates blood flow, and strengthens tissues. It also helps to reduce Ama (see notes).

Time for yourself

Gentle Yoga Asanas, balancing breathing exercises (Pranayama) and meditation are further integral parts of an Ayurvedic daily routine, and you could firmly plan them now during the cleansing and wellness program. In this way, you also support your body in elimination, reduce a possible accumulation of Ama, and your mind can wonderfully calm down, relax and regenerate.

If you can take the time, brisk morning walks – even before the oil massage – are highly recommended. In general, light exercise during the day is also ideal. Always ensure you can still breathe easily through your nose and only exert yourself to 50% of your capacity.

By the way: In our YouTube webinar #11, Dr. Sharma shows you the yogic alternate nostril breathing, an easy Pranayama technique. So you can start immediately.

Proper nutrition – strengthening & cleansing at the same time

From an Ayurvedic perspective, a strong digestive fire (Agni) not only ensures good utilization of our food and thus less Ama, but also good elimination. Any potential increase in Kapha and/or Vata is also reduced, as they are easily balanced with good digestive fire.

What does this mean for our diet? We can strengthen our Agni by

• cook our food well – not too little and not too much
• eat the right things at the right time – slowly and mindfully
• chew carefully
• eat with joy
• banish all electronic devices during meals and enjoy our dishes with mindfulness
• drink more warm or hot water as well as herbal teas
• eat something light in the evening, such as a traditional Khichari or vegetable soup
• regularly use spices like ginger, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon

Spices like ginger and cumin not only add an Agni-supporting flavor to your dishes; you can also make a decoction from them, which gives an extra boost to the internal cleansing processes.

During the cleansing program, you should pay particular attention to eating light, choosing fresh and rather bitter vegetables, i.e., those with bitter and astringent (contracting) tastes, such as chicory, artichoke, or green leafy vegetables, because they ignite and stimulate your Agni. A strong Agni also gives us more energy and reduces fatigue and exhaustion.

Conversely, sweet, sour, and salty foods slow down our Agni. If we consume sweets, carbonated drinks, yogurt, or cold beverages during our cleansing program, it leads to the creation of Mand Agni and further weakens our Agni, which is already less powerful in spring.

Restraint is therefore also advised with heavy fats and carbonated drinks. They would bring unnecessary burdens into our body and further increase the Vata that is already present due to the change of seasons, because the actual change of seasons is stimulated by the Vata Dosha; Vata symbolizes changes. To feel better, it is advisable to consume things that reduce Vata during the cleansing program in spring and autumn.

Perhaps you'd like to tell us how our two-week wellness and cleansing program went for you and what changes you experienced.

Wishing you much joy in trying it out and lots of fresh energy,
Your Maharishi Ayurveda Team

We thank our experts Dr. Richa Shrivastava and Vaidya Dr. Saurabh Sharma for their professional support!