Making it to Day 10 takes both patience and persistence! Take a moment before you read on to honor your dedication to this process.

How are you? I hope you're feeling a bit more energized as we head into the home stretch of our cleanse. Please join our Zoom meeting tonight at 5:30 to connect with our community!

For those planning a castor oil flush tonight, I have included a recap of that process at the very bottom of this message.

Please ensure you have read it carefully before doing your flush on the 11th (or 12th), and please post any questions you may have to our group forum (or e-mail me shalalivingyoga@gmail.com).

Here are today's Cleanse Challenges:

1) Yoga Nidra: As a sweet treat to help you move into the weekend, I'm delighted to share a Yoga Nidra practice from Lillian, created just for our fall cleanse group. You can now find this guided practice at the bottom of our cleanse page. If you are having a quiet night in, I can't suggest anything else more highly!

(And for those new to it, yoga nidra is a nourishing guided practice into deeper states of awareness that is done while lying down – you'll find a full set of instructions on how to prepare with the recording!) If you can't get to this today, definitely make some time this weekend to soak in the nourishing healing that Yoga Nidra brings.

2) Sing...Slowly! Take a song you know very well (it could be anything from your current favorite song to a simple song from childhood) and sing a few lines at a normal pace. Next, sing it once more, but this time about 10% slower. Keep moving down in small increments until you are singing at less than half the normal speed. This may feel strange and awkward at first, but there is a profound effect on the nervous system that occurs when we take something familiar and introduce it at a slower speed. And with singing in particular, the body absorbs slower vibrations and instantly becomes just a bit more calm and at ease.

Castor Oil Flush Review

The Ayurvedic practice of virechana (using castor oil or another strong laxative herb or substance to stimulate bowel clearing) is one of the most potent ways to cap off your cleansing experience. Many people have anxiety about trying this process for the first time. I encourage you to remember that castor oil has been used in this way for millennia, dating back to the time of ancient Egypt.

Keep in mind the following tips for a successful castor oil experience:

• Use only organic castor oil.
• Do not consume castor oil if there is any chance you may be pregnant or if you have recently (within 18-24 months) had any type of abdominal surgery or have significant abdominal scarring.
• Anyone who has had a gallbladder removed, or has any other condition that impairs fat metabolism should skip the flush or consult your doctor.
• You should skip or delay the castor oil flush if you are menstruating (unless you are at the very tail end of your cycle). And finally, do not do a flush if there is a chance you are pregnant.

Mix in juice just prior to consuming – the recipe is in your main cleanse recipe pack. (Make sure your juice is not cold; the oil will congeal if it is. If your juice is premade or has been refrigerated, bring it to room temp before mixing.) 

Option 1: Take the castor oil tomorrow night, just before going to bed. Make sure to allow at least 2.5-3 hours (or more) between dinner and taking the oil. Go to bed, and connect with any intentions you have for this final flush, or your general cleanse intentions. You may be awoken one or more times needing to eliminate. Expect loose eliminations.

Option 2: Take the castor oil on the morning of March 12th, on an empty stomach. (It's fine if you have consumed some water or tea, but no food.) Spend the day resting, and allow the oil to work its magic.

After each elimination, be sure to drink 4-6 ounces of room temperature or warm water to stay hydrated. If your eliminations start to become mostly water, stop taking in fluids to signal to your body that you are complete. 

Spend the day after taking castor oil resting. A simple rice porridge is suggested once you begin to feel some hunger (recipe is also in your main recipe packet). If you feel hungrier later in the day, it is fine to have some juice, kitchari, or a simple vegetable soup/broth.