How to Prepare
For a Detox Yoga Retreat?
A detox yoga retreat is great to give the body a break from processed foods, toxins from the environment, emotional upheavals, and stress. A cleanse gives the body and mind the tools to rest, recuperate, and reset.
A detox yoga retreat would involve special diets with the objective of cleansing and purifying the digestive tract and eliminate toxins from the body.
In Ayurveda, great emphasis is laid on a cleanse and you will find that a lot of detox yoga retreats integrate Ayurveda. That said, the process of a cleanse begins much before you step into your retreat.
Engaging in the preparation phase helps to make the actual detox more productive and beneficial. So, how to prepare for a detox yoga retreat?
- Set up a clear intention of why you want to cleanse.
- Plan your timing. Make sure you are not involved in external activities or works that need your energy.
- Clean up your diet at least one week before going to your detox yoga retreat.
- Remain active. Get moving in the lead up to your detox yoga retreat to help release toxins, prevent fatigue and kick-start the purifying process.
- Manage your expectations and be easy with yourself.
To find out more about the details of how to prepare for a detox yoga retreat, continue reading!
1. Set a clear intention
Before going on a detox yoga retreat, sitting down and reflecting on why you want to do it and what it is that you want to achieve and cleanse will help bring clarity of purpose.
Think also about what your long term goals are regarding your well-being.
Perhaps it is because you are looking to get into shape and lose some pounds, or breaking a bad habit, or because you take care of your body and mind and you see it as healthy maintenance.
Detoxing can also be life-supporting and can definitely help with inflammation problems, acidity, chronic illness and even emotional suffering.
Whatever the reason is, get clear about your vision, write it down and keep it where you can see it and read it often.
Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita
2. Plan your timing
A detox yoga retreat involves a lot of purging.
It is an intense process for the body and mind and it helps to make sure that you are not involved in external activities that need your energy.
Coming to the detox yoga retreat without things to take care of at work or at home gives you the time and space to honor that process.
For women, it is good to avoid being on the detox yoga retreat on the days of menstruation. This is because the body is already releasing toxins when it is bleeding.
Combining that with a cleanse can be quite intense for the body and is not recommended in Ayurveda.
3. Clean up your diet
For an effective detox to happen, it is important to start cleaning your diet much in advance.
You can allocate around a week to the preparation phase where you eliminate certain foods and substances from your diet.
It is good to completely do away with or significantly reduce your consumption of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, or any other recreational drugs.
Also good is to reduce your consumption of processed foods, meat, sugar and any artificial sweeteners, and fast food.
4. Remain active
Did you know that exercise can enhance the health boosting benefits of a detox yoga retreat?
Staying active is key before starting your detox program.
Get the blood pumping around your system, the body sweating and muscles working to help release toxins, prevent fatigue and start the cleansing process.
The best types of exercise to complete before a detox are low impact gentle exercise such as yoga, Pilates and walking.
Try this 20 min yoga class by Boho Beautiful. It is intended to work your whole entire body with a great focus on helping your digestive system.
5. Keep your mind open
Keeping an attitude of openness enables being receptive to possibilities.
Whether you are starting with your detox process or have some experience, letting the experience unfold by itself, as it does, will be precious and transformative.
Having preconceived notions or expectations of how a detox yoga retreat should feel like can lead to frustration.
However, if you are open to the experience, you will learn to pay attention and see clearly. That is worth everything.
And, why not also take advantage of this retreat to do a digital detox? Find out if you need a one in this article: what is a digital detox?
