Beauty from the Inside Out

During my travels around India, I met a very special woman. On a misty morning inside a small mountain side café where I was enjoying breakfast to the fresh morning air, sitting next to me was an older woman  sipping her latte and reading a book by Thick Nat Han. Curious by the golden yellow color of the latte on the table, I turned and asked what she was drinking. “This is Golden Milk – it’s made from turmeric and coconut milk” Her eyes lit up at the question and enthusiastically explained this drink as her favorite way to start the day during chilly winter mornings. 
 
From her gentle and warm smile, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful this woman was. She had lustrous brown hair that falls softly to her shoulders, perfectly complimenting the flowy white blouse that she wore. Barely wearing any make-up, her naturally rosy complexion was bright and luminous. I found out she’s a yoga teacher from South Africa here on an Ayurveda Detox Retreat holiday. We went on to have a long conversation about her many years of detox experience and some of her favorite Ayurveda beauty remedies that she loved and practiced. At the tender age of 61, she was the complete embodiment of love and light. 
 
Since this brief encounter, I was deeply motivated to further my research into Ayurveda in finding effective methods that can help woman look and feel more beautiful. As a woman, I constantly feel the influence and pressure to look a certain way. Images of gorgeous women are everywhere with the most perfect hair and body. It makes me feel insecure, it makes me want to look more like them. Then I go and splurge on expensive lipsticks and trendy cloths all in an attempt to look and feel prettier. But at the end of the day, taking off layers of clothing, wiping away the make-up, did I really love what I saw in the mirror? I see tiny wrinkles beside my eyes that cannot be covered with foundation. I see strands of grey hair showing the signs of aging. I see a bloated tummy and wish I could be two sizes smaller. I know many women look in the mirror and feel the same way. Our innate desire to be beautiful can’t be solved buying a new pair of shoes or getting a Botox injection. Materialistic pursuits are endless and leaves us feeling more empty than beautiful. Authentic real beauty has to be worked on from within. 
 
One of the key principle to cultivate beauty from the inside out is to have a strong and healthy digestive system. You are what you eat but more importantly, you are what you don’t eliminate. Improper digestion leads to build up of toxins in the body that will show up as in an array of health conditions such as weight gain, insomnia, hormone imbalance, lower immune system and much more. Thankfully our body is very forgiving and it has the power to naturally restore itself – only through conscious nourishment and proper rest.  
 
Detox is one of the most important method to reset our body functions and digestive system back to its normal state. Initially I hated the word detox, it was a foreign concept to me as I love to eat for food is an essential part of my daily joy! However, after my training with an Ayurveda doctor in India plus many trial and error through self-experimentation, detox is now an essential part of my beauty routine. I learned that detox is not about starving and depriving myself of food and things that I love. It’s about giving the mind and body proper rest so that that we’re able to enjoy these things we love even more. Base on my knowledge and personal experience, I designed a special Ayurvedic Detox & Renewal program at Origin Yoga & Wellness that would optimize the benefits of detox in the most comfortable and least intimidating way.
 
Here I’d like to answer some of the most common questions I receive about the Ayurvedic Detox & Renewal Retreat at Origin Yoga & Wellness. I hope you will find this information helpful! 
 
What is Ayurveda?
 
​Ayurveda is the world’s oldest holistic healing system originating from India. It is known as the science of life and teaches us how to preserve health and heal diseases by all living in harmony with nature. 
 
Why do we need detox & renewal?
 
The practice of detox, cleansing, and renewal is an essential teaching in Ayurveda to remove the accumulations of toxins from our mind and body. We accumulate toxins in the body through improper digestion, unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyle, and environmental pollution. Detox should be done in a safe and gentle way at least every three months, it is especially effective during changes in the season.  
 
What is an Ayurvedic detox?
 
Ayurvedic detox method is truly holistic encompassing not only on food that stimulate and cleanse our digestive system, it also includes gentle yoga, massages, meditation, time with nature, break from technology stimulus, and cleansing of our five senses. 
 
What makesAyurveda detox different than other detox methods?
 
What makes Ayurveda most unique is that it is comprehensive and personalized, focusing on cleansing all aspects of the mind and body in a way that is most suitable to your unique body type or Pratiki. From my own personal experience (and I’ve tried many types of detox – juicing, intermittent fasting, raw food etc.), Ayurveda detox is a gentle yet powerful one with benefits that can be felt in as little as 3-5 days. 
 
What benefits can I expect from Ayurveda detox?
 
Majority of benefits of detox can be felt happen AFTER the detox. It is important to follow the pre/post diet plans and lifestyle recommendation. For me, the lightness and energy I feel after every detox lasts for weeks. Some benefits you can expect from detox include:

• Restored digestion and metabolism functions
• Eliminations of toxins from the mind and body
• Improved sleep quality and energy level
• Improved mental clarity and concentration 
• Greater sense of connection to the self and to nature 
• Weight loss and reduced feeling of bloatedness

 
Are there any side effects to detox?
 
Everyone responds to a detox in different ways. Some common symptoms include fatigue, headache, minor constipation, frequent urinations and mood swings. Know that these are normal symptoms of detox as your body is adjusting to changing in lifestyle, diet, and withdrawals of certain food. It is therefore important to dedicate time and space for detox, ensuring it can done in a safe, relax, and supportive space. 
 
Is detox suitable for everyone?
 
In general, always consult your medical practitioner on drastic changes in your diet if you have pre-existing health condition. Ayurveda detox is a gentle, plant-based, holistic method that is suitable for most people. It is not recommended however during pregnancy and menstruation period.
 
Will I be hungry all the time?
 
Through the practice of mindful eating, you’ll be surprise how little food your body actually needs to feel full. During our Ayurvedic Detox & Renewal retreat ot Origin Yoga & Wellness, we follow a mono-diet three times a day and there is no limit to how much you can eat. The key is to learn to listen, nourish, and trust your body.   
 
What’s one method I can start doing at home?
 
My hope is for all guests visiting Origin to experience the detox method and continue to incorporate these learnings back home. You can pick and choose the ones that works best for you. My favorite one is starting each day with lemon water and salt (1 lemon + 1 teaspoon of sea salt + 750 ml of warm water), this ensure regular bowl movement, brighter skin and a healthy dose of vitamin C to boost my immune system! 
 
Regular detox combined with yoga and meditation has made the biggest difference in helping me feel beautiful inside and out. Through the process of detox, I fell in love with the naturalrhythm of my body. I also became much more in tuned on how the choices I make for diet and lifestyle effects my body in both physically and mentally. I look forward to the day I turn 61, when I can look and feel as beautiful as the woman I met by the mountain side café in India.