3 minute read
Spring Cleaning
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR CLUTTER FROM THE INSIDE OUT
By auDrey zona
Welcome, Spring! We’ve been at this winter thing long enough. It’s time for us to take a deep breath, stretch, shed the layers and come out of hibernation. We’ve used COVID (and the cold of the past few months) as an excuse to hunker down and cozy up. But now that the weather is warming up, we’re throwing open the windows and letting the light in.
Of course, once that light hits us, we’re going to have to take stock of where we are in our bodies, our minds and our inner beings. So, this spring it’s time to refresh, detoxify and explore something new. Right now is a great time to make note of what’s working for you, what you want to change and, most importantly, how you are feeling physically, mentally and spiritually.
Let’s start with your body. How are you feeling? No, don’t say fine. Really think about it. Visit each part of your body, inside and out, and take a moment to feel it and take note. But be positive; no beating yourself up.
Maybe you’ll decide that it’s time to do a little spring cleaning from the inside out. Luckily, this is the perfect time for a cleanse. Why? Because once the weather warms, your body has some spare energy so it’s more receptive to a good internal scrubbing. If you’re up for a juice cleanse, go for it. But not all of us have the discipline or interest in something so hardcore. One easier option for sprucing up your insides is to incorporate liver cleansing herbs into your recipes and diet. Cooking with ingredients like turmeric, garlic and ginger will help so will drinking green tea.
Ingredients: -1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice -1 ½ cups of filtered water and/or almond milk -1 large handful of organic baby spinach -2 stalks of organic celery, cut into pieces -½ cucumber chopped -1 large handful fresh mint -¼ avocado -Juice of a lemon -ice cubes
Another easy tweak to your diet is a daily glass of celery juice to relieve inflammation. It’s also loaded with wellness promoting antioxidants or try my Glowing Green Smoothie. Both are invigorating and taste fresh, like spring. Not into making your own? You’re in luck. There are lots of great places to get smoothies and juices in Bergen County. Make it an intention to find your favorite one.
Of course, spring is also when the produce aisles start filling with even more delicious fruit and veggie options. Cooler foods, or anything in season, are just what you need to help welcome the warmth. Focus on adding raw foods to your diet to help with weight loss, improve your energy and vitality and help manage chronic diseases. Plus, eating raw is better for the environment – always nice when your self-improvement goals align with your planet improvement goals.
Directions: Place all ingredients into your high-speed blender and voila. Enjoy! You may need to add more water or ice for your desired consistency.
To put a little spring in your step, maybe it’s time to try a new workout. Have you been to dance class lately? Now is a terrific time to get back to it if you haven’t been in a while or try it out if you’ve been curious about it. Or maybe you want to try swimming, or even just a new walking trail or route. Even better, try rebounding. Yes, those tiny trampolines that look like so much fun when toddlers use them. Rebounders are easy on the joints and give you a great cardio and bone strengthening workout. They’re also great for relieving stress, helping to manage blood sugar and improving function in the immune, circulatory and lymphatic system. No matter what you choose, refreshing your routine will do wonders for both your
