Types of Detox to Kick Start Fat Release

by Yumi Sakugawa

Many of us find that our diets and lives get off balance -- we celebrate the holidays and eat more sweets than we'd like, or we have a big project due at work and stay up all night drinking diet cola.

For some people, the solution to getting your mind and body back in order is to follow a self-cleanse. The purpose of going through a self-cleanse or a detox--is to rid the body of poisonous toxins that have accumulated within our inner organs and tissue. These toxins may come from eating too much junk food, living a stressful lifestyle, breathing in polluted air or, in many cases, all of the above.

Your body will strongly benefit from undergoing a self-cleanse. But which type of cleanse is right for you? A fast that eliminates specific foods from your diet? A 7-day liquids-only fast? We have listed ten cleanses below in the order of difficulty that will aid you in your path to physical self-purification.

Whatever cleanse you choose to pursue, keep in mind that many of these cleanses are a way to clean and restore your body, not an easy way to lose weight. Each cleansing technique has its own benefits, and its own unique way of balancing the body. Read full article

Featured Detox Destinations: Grail Springs Health Spa & Wellness Center

Located in Bancroft, Ontario, in the heart of the Canadian Shield, the Grail Springs Health Spa & Wellness Center is a holistic retreat specializing in detoxification, life-transformation, and weight-loss programs. A former SpaFinder Readers' Choice Award winner in the categories of "Best Body, Mind, & Spirit" and "Best Weight Loss" spa, Grail Springs is led by founder Madeleine Marentatte, whose best-selling Grail Springs Holistic Detox: For Body, Mind, and Spirit inspired the 2- to 21-day wellness programs. Learn more about Grail Springs

Read More

Creating Sacred Space

What is a sacred space? At its most basic, it is a place which invites the contemplation of divine mystery, and encourages an attitude of spiritual openness. A sacred space is not necessarily where answers are grasped or understood. Rather it is where questions are asked, conversations occur, rituals are perpetuated, dances are performed, songs are sung, and silence is heard—all in the attempt to find answers.

Type of sacred space: A sacred space could be as simple as a table top, a corner of the bedroom, your garden, a place just for you to enjoy precious moments alone.It does not require a whole room. This might be a spot left clear with special cushions for meditating. Or it could be a shelf transformed into a home altar. A sacred space can be a small table top, a spot on the dresser, an isolated corner, or an idle spot that collects clutter and dust.

Remember your sacred space is a place to reflect and to contemplate on what is important to you; to allow you to connect with your inner self without interference and in solitude.

Read More

How to Increase Your Energy Through Fruit Smoothies

Why drink fruit smoothies? Smoothies capture the sweetness and health benefits of fruits and vegetables in a glass. Smoothies can be a complete breakfast solution, dessert, healthy snack, or meal replacement. Not only are smoothies fun to make, but they taste good as well.

Here's a fruit smoothie recipe to get you started.

Berry Blast

1 cup raspberries
1 cup blueberries
1 apple
3 big handfuls of baby spinach
2 cups of water

Blend together the apples, raspberries, blueberries and water for 30 seconds. Add the baby spinach and blend until smooth.


Health Benefits: In this recipe berries bring a sweet fragrance with a subtle tart overtone and make this low GI treat a real winner. Research is suggesting that raspberries have the potential to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and tumor formation. Raspberries contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and prevents damage to cell membranes. Whilst fresh berries are best, freezing does not destroy their anti-oxidant activity and is sometimes more convenient. Berries are also heart-healthy foods. In a Finnish study, subjects who ate two serves of berries a day were found to have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol.

Spinach has been found to have thirteen different flavonoid compounds with anti-cancer properties. Spinach has been shown to slow down the growth of cancer cells in the stomach and the prostrate and to be inversely related to the incidence of breast cancer. Spinach has also been shown to protect against osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer and arthritis.

Read More

How to Make Drinking Water More Interesting

Getting the recommended eight glasses of water a day can be difficult, but with refreshing spa water you can make your intake of water more interesting. Spa water is not your average H20, but with a few steps you can create your own version.

Instructions

1. Fill the bottom of a clean pitcher with your ingredients. You can make any flavor you choose, the ingredients dictating the measurements. For instance, citrus spa water made from lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit will require only one sliced fruit, but cucumber may require two whole vegetables. My favorite is lemon and orange slices. Read full article

Read More

Laughter is Great for the Soul

Have you laughed today? Humor is a universal language. It's a contagious emotion and a natural diversion. It brings other people in and breaks down barriers. Best of all it is FREE and has no known side effects.

Laughing is found to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, increase muscle flexion, and boost immune function. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

Laughter is infectious. Hospitals around the country are incorporating formal and informal laughter therapy programs into their therapeutic regimens. In countries such as India, laughing clubs -- in which participants gather in the early morning for the sole purpose of laughing -- have become very popular. Laughing yoga has taken root in the East in countries such as China and is becoming increasingly popular in the West.

FEATURED SPA: The Oaks at Ojai

For more than three decades, The Oaks at Ojai has offered its guests approachable, affordable fitness, nutrition and stress-relief in an atmosphere of down-to-earth charm. Even suggesting that guests 'leave the designer sweats at home,' The Oaks strives to give guests a life-affirming experience, while helping them create healthy lifestyle habits that may be continued at home. Located in the relaxed town of Ojai, just south of Santa Barbara, visitors enjoy the benefits of sunny southern California and close proximity to hiking trails and stunning mountain-ridged horizons. The Oaks at Ojai is perfect for those who want to recuperate from a busy work week or just take a break from the world. Learn more...

Interested in Booking with The Oaks at Ojai?  

Call 281.409.3663

Read More