brave SEASONAL CLEANSING REGIME

"Health is not everything,

But nothing is worth anything without it.

There is a difference between those two temporal blessings, health & money.

MONEY is the most envied but least enjoyed.

HEALTH is the most enjoyed

but least envied;

this superiority of the latter is still more obvious

when we reflect that the poorest man

would not part with health for money,

but the richest would gladly part with every cent for health.

WEALTH IS HEALTH - "

Turyiana Acharyia (Glenn Hudson-Ross)

In the west we have many misconceptions & errors in view when it comes to purification and fasting. We think of both requiring extreme approaches & fanatical methods - for short periods of time. But in actual fact, purification happens daily and seasonally, in spite of our damaging eating and behavioural habits. Your body, thankfully, is a fantastic detoxing instrument capable of ridding you of even the most harmful pesticides, additives as well as, the chemicals produced by your own negative emotions & thought patterns. However, one wouldn’t dream of continuing to drive your car at high speed, revving & flooding the engine, clogging it with cheap fuels, not replacing the water or anti-freeze when necessary. But we are happy to do this to our body! One would never live in your home for a year without cleaning it or throwing away the trash- But this is what we do to our first home - our body….

The reason why all great religions & teaching incorporate the idea of purification is because one can't experience meditation or even sit still enough to glimpse inner peace - let alone enlightenment - in a filthy temple! It’s just not physiologically possible for a toxin filled brain to fire evenly. Of course, the added benefits of well being, EASE rather than DIS EASE & living longer are reason enough to devote 2 weeks a year to cleansing this incredible instrument - YOUR BODY. So when is the best time to purify?

No doubt we can find a thousand reasons to delay but the time of year is of critical importance - again all great religions agree at least on this, Spring and Autumn -

The reason being that they all utilise the technology and life science of natural cycles, union within and without – which is simple what the word Yoga means, and therefore what the technology of Yoga and science of life, Ayurveda, teach. The body is as affected by seasonal change as is all in Nature and that, much like the ice on the great peaks of the Himalaya, our accumulations and stores of unwanted fats and toxins are going to melt in Spring and be stored (solidify) in Autumn - Some may even be experiencing this liquid in the form of sinusitis or hay fever, your body may be pushing these out through your biggest organ your skin in the form of a rash or diarrhea - if you're lucky!

For most, we have abused our bodies for so long they no longer have these options available, so our stores are staying there, forming the basis of a tumour, polluted glands or lymph, livers and kidneys so over-loaded they are struggling to function normally let alone clean! Ok so now that you're onboard, where to begin –

At Brave we will begin the BRAVE Cleansing Regime the first week of consistently warmer temperatures in Spring. For those in Recovery, once you become stronger (a year or two into your healing) it’s also a good idea to do this in Autumn so you don’t store all the toxins of your meds, anesthetic, chemo etc . Fasting is not recommended in early stages unless under strict supervision. Really that means admitting yourself to a registered Ayurvedic HOSPITAL not a spa, or retreat. Especially for those with serious medical histories. You would never trust your masseur down the road to administer meds prescribed by a cardiologist, the same bar applies to Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic purification treatments are known as Pancha Karma (5 PURIFICATORY ACTIONS) they are practiced in a Pancha Karma THEATER traditionally J that should be our clue!

The brave seasonal cleanse is a gentle regime, which if you follow it, will be generally safe for everyone. If you are under treatment or on medication, you must check with your health care professionals first.

STAGE 1 –

3 days: THURS/FRI eat your main meal at midday, lightly, quietly and in awareness

i.e. small easily digested meals with no meat, choose either a protein or a carbohydrate per meal - no combining, drink lots of water or warm Brave ginger root tea. If you have Brave dosha list, eat only things on your "best or small amounts" columns, if not you can use our brave Recovery Food list throughout the cleanse and for 4 weeks after. https://www.facebook.com/groups/beingbrave/10154187146327159/

Eat only the lightest meal at night, for example soup, a small portion of veggies etc

1 day - eat your main meal at midday, lightly, quietly and in awareness.

Skip your evening meal entirely & replace with 2 tablespoons of Pysillium seed husk mixed in half a glass of fruit juice or if you are not wheat intolerant or high kapha – a high fibre grain with WARM MILK ONLY.

STAGE 2-

1 DAY : on waking

Try and make this a SUNDAY when you don’t have many demands placed on you –

warm water with lemon or Brave ginger root Tea. Take 2 tablespoons of Pysillium seed husk mixed in half a glass of juice, then have liquids only for this one day ONLY FOR THE ENTIRE DAY

In addition to Brave Tea these should be only fresh fruit & veggie juices DILUTED BY 1/3 with fresh spring water. Our bodies are not designed to process concentrated juices without their fibre etc & MUST BE DILUTED. Ideally, a mix of fresh CARROT, CABBAGE & CELERY with 1/3 spring water if you have a juicer, or simply buy a juice of your choice add some fresh ginger & lemon & dilute. If you have high kapha or are suffering from kapha conditions – hay fever, weight gain, infection, eczema, psoriasis - grapefruit, cranberry or pomegranate with a teaspoon of fresh honey is best. OR warm your juices

DRINK EVERY 2 HOURS/ YOU MUST INGEST 2 PINTS throughout the day –

DO NOT SKIP You need the liquid to begin to clear the channels of the body.

DO NOT ALSO OVERDO LIQUID – it’s dangerous and can cause renal failure

STAGE 3 –

3 DAYS

(FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN 3RD-7TH STAGE RECOVERY/WEAK/ON MEDS)

7 DAYS

(ONLY for those who are completely recovered and relatively healthy)

1 DAY 1 ONLY (EVERYONE) on waking warm water with lemon or Brave ginger root Tea, 2 tablespoons of Pysillium seed husk mixed in half a glass of juice. A big glass of juice before 9 o' clock.

FOR THIS FIRST MORNING ONLY –

9 – 10am - eat an apple very slowly chew well until 'liquid' –

THEN 11.30 - 1pm - Raw salad of finely grated carrot, cabbage, apple or pear with a dressing of a suitable oil, honey and vinegar as per your Brave food list.

5 -7pm - papaya or any fruit or veg with finely grated ginger (excluding melon which should always be eaten alone and never at night) as per your food list OR ANY SOUP of your choice

DAY 2/3/4 (OPTIONAL 5/6/7)

7.00 – 8.30am - a grated salad of 2 to 3 fruits and 1 veg with sprinkled sunflower/pumpkin seed /almonds eg. Banana, apple, orange and beetroot or carrot; or pear, beetroot, banana and papaya. A HABIT TO KEEP FOR LIFE remembering that in Autumn and Winter – you should gently WARM the fruit & veg!

so if you are practising this cleanse in Autumn or you accumulate KAPHA please warm your juices and your fruit

11.30 - 1pm - Raw salad of finely grated carrot, cabbage, apple or pear with a dressing of a suitable oil, honey and vinegar as per your Brave food list. if you are practising this cleanse in Autumn or you accumulate KAPHA please warm your dressing

5-7pm - papaya or any veg or fruits with finely grated ginger (excluding melon which should always be eaten alone and never at night) as per your food list OR ANY SOUP of your choice if you are practising this cleanse in Autumn or you accumulate KAPHA please have only warm fruit or veg or soup

DRINK OR EAT EVERY 2 HOURS/ YOU MUST STILL INGEST AT LEAST A PINT throughout the day –

DON'T SKIP EATING OR DRINKING

You need the liquid to begin to clear the channels of the body.

Don’t eat when you are thirsty or drink when you are hungry

DON’T DRINK MORE THAN ½ GLASS LIQUID WITH FOOD –

EVER

STAGE 4 –

FOR THOSE DOING THE SHORTER 3 DAY OPTION

And those doing the 7 day - MON/TUES/WED/THURS/FRI/SAT/SUN

on waking warm water with lemon or Brave Tea, 2 tablespoons of Pysillium seed husk mixed in half a glass of juice. A big glass of juice before 9 o' clock.

You must PRACTICE ABHYANGA AT LEAST 3x THIS WEEK

(exfoliate with a DRY BRUSH and massage with appropriate constitutional/dosha oil –

see our group files for this and our tea recipes) if you are practising this cleanse in Autumn or you accumulate KAPHA please warm your juices and your fruit

7.30 - 9.00 - a grated salad of 2 to 3 fruits and 1 veg with sprinkled sunflower/pumpkin seed /almonds

eg. Banana, apple, orange and beetroot or carrot; or pear, beetroot, banana and papaya. A HABIT TO KEEP FOR LIFE

11.30 - 1pm - Raw salad of your choice you can use a warm salad dressing & lightly toasted seeds & nuts - or a bowl of steamed or stir fry veg, ideally from your Brave food list

you can add nuts & seeds & a warm dressing.

OR if you now feel that your body is asking for more, you are getting naturally hungry etc

You can now gradually come off the regime by adding, to your lunch ONLY–

a protein

or carbohydrate –

DO NOT MIX THE TWO e.g. baked potatoes, rice, couscous, pasta - or cottage cheese, soya, WHITE meat if need be - fish / chicken etc

6-7pm - papaya or any fruit or veg with finely grated ginger (excluding melon which should always be eaten alone & never at night) as per your Dosha list OR ANY SOUP of your choice

Again –

DRINK OR EAT EVERY 2 HOURS/ YOU MUST STILL INGEST AT LEAST A PINT throughout the day –

DO NOT SKIP EATING OR DRINKING You need the liquid to begin to clear the channels of the body.Don’t eat when you are thirsty or drink when you are hungry

Continue your Tea, Brave ginger root Tea or other, & with your 2 tablespoons of Pysillium seed husk mixed in half a glass of juice if you are having only one bowel movement a day & no diarrhea is present.

You can also now add veg soup, miso or any other tea.

If you really need to, you can add one cup of black coffee per day J

Please don’t become OBSESSIVE –

especially the vata pitta’s and Pittas J

RESIST the fanaticism it’s violence against your body

food should be uncomplicated & enjoyable Food is your medicine.

This regime is particularly helpful for those with eating disorders if you don’t go too far–

it ‘ll help you renegotiate your relationship with food, your body and it’s right to nourishment.So Please only practice the 3 day option in the second stage.

the PRACTICES:

Rest, relaxation routine

Meditate

PRACTICE MORE Yoga ASANA, PRANAYAMA & NIDRA than usual

KEEP A HAPPY HEARTMIND & positive view.

Read uplifting books, walk in Nature, surround yourself with like-minded people

Remember to never drink more than a 1/2 glass of liquid 10 minutes before, or 20 mins after your meal not WITH it so as not to dilute your digestive juices

Eat COLOUR, eat LIVE

CHEW YOUR SOLIDS until they are LIQUIDS,

CHEW YOUR LIQUIDS as if they are SOLIDS

CLEAN YOUR TONGUE! use the back of a spoon or tongue scrapper always go downwards only

Practice ABHYANGA (self massage) regularly.

Your body stores toxins in its fats and oils. Drinking water can help to re-hydrate, help the body’s systems optimize but it CANNOT detox your system. Only oil can help the body eliminate oil. Self massage with an appropriate oil to YOUR constitution will expedite your cleansing process.

If you are not near to Brave or able to find Ayurvedically blended oils you can use the following:

GRAPE SEED OIL --- ALL constitutions

Sesame or Nut --- Vata ONLY

Coconut or Olive --- Pitta only

lentil flour or powder --- kapha only

We are on the other end of a screen if you need support like if u get tempted by the evil fast food tokoloshi :)

Thank you to Turiyana Acharyia for the inspiration and knowledge.

We have phsyllium husk, Tongue scrapers and organic dosha oils at Brave, they will soon be available on our website at

www.beingbrave.org.

If you are in the early stages of recovery please contact us first and we will send you a Regime adapted to your condition

If you're presently under the direction of a doctor, consult with them FIRST before embarking on the regime.

Om Amritayeshwari Namah

brave is a registered non-profit that has supported over 2000 people through their Recovery from Serious Physical Trauma - on a donation basis. Using an integrated rehabilitative approach, we practice a daily brave Recovery Regime of Breath, Yoga Therapy, Ayurvedic nutrition, Inversion Therapy, Somatics, Homeopathy and Peer to peer support. United, we are committed to using the Physical Trauma Recovery Experience as an opportunity for building a new life filled with unlimited possibility.Based in the BoKaap, Cape Town, over the past 9 years, our community has grown across continents, injuries, abilities and disabilities, cultures and conditions toward one goal - well BEing The information shared is not intended as a substitute for the advice and treatment by your doctors and/or health care professionals from all disciplines, Allopathic, Homeopathic, Ayurvedic. It is designed to compliment and enhance a Health Care Regime. If you are injured, have an illness and/or are pregnant, you must seek professional treatment and advice from registered, reputable health care provider before practising any of the techniques, practises or treatments recorded, published and depicted by brave and it's members.