*This article was published in April 2017 in the Corcoran Newspaper / Corcoran Neighborhood Association.
Happy spring from all of us at Imbue Yoga! I’m here to answer any yoga related questions you might have to my best ability. If you have a question about yoga or meditation, shoot me an email at imbueyoga@gmail.com and maybe you’ll be in next month’s addition!
Q: I keep hearing about cleanses and spring detoxes. Is yoga “detoxifying?”
A: Short answer, yes. Long, convoluted answer, I’m not a fan of the word “detox” because it implies that we are toxic. Yes, we are exposed to toxins in food, water & air all the time but our liver works really hard to purge these toxins from our bodies. Certain yoga practices, namely asana (postures & stretching – which is what most of us know of as yoga) can help circulate & change blood flow which DOES have an impact on our organs. These postures when practiced while flowing together (vinyasa) can build heat and get us to sweat which “feels” cleansing — which is why some folks get hooked on hot yoga … however – and I may make some enemies here – scientifically, twists & power yoga flow don’t exactly MAKE our liver “detox” our cells more than it normally would.
To take on some spring cleaning of your lifestyle, I recommend yoga classes (of course!) to get those touted benefits of stress reduction, improved sleep, increased circulation, burning a few calories, toning muscles & making new friends. Adding mindfulness to your eating habits: more fresh, local produce (Midtown Farmer’s Market is almost here!), chewing slowly, paying attention to alcohol intake. Make sleep a sacred time. Try simple meditations like noticing your breath for 2-5 minutes. Walk through the neighborhood, slow down, and stop to smell the flowers.