Cleanse, Clear, Detoxify. 3 ways to boost your immunity and get rid of heavy stagnation.
One important and approachable daily detox is to address the lymphatic system.
Just like that, Spring is tip toeing in. Nature is starting to release her dormancy. The Earth is waking up. You can see signs of life through the crocuses and daffodils. We have to begin this shift also as our whole being stretches and yawns to come back into action. Though, wildly fluctuating temperatures keep us confused. Our immune system struggles as viruses and allergens circulate. This is an important time to transition with any physical and emotional detox. Our senses are beginning to take stock in the awareness of a new season. Now is an opportunity to release any Kapha stagnation and accumulation from these last few months.
One important and approachable daily detox is to address the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes, thymus, spleen and tonsils (see they do have a function) work with the cardiovascular system to circulate the lymph. Relying on the heart to pump and move the lymph with the blood through the circulatory system to the liver and kidneys where it can be filtered and ultimately released as a waste. Lymph is also key to immunity since it transports white blood cells responsible for fighting infection and threatening organisms.
If you’re wondering how Yoga and Ayurveda fit into this equation, without its own pump, the lymphatic system relies on breath, movement, and muscular contraction to create a lymphatic flow and remove toxins from the body. Here are a few simple ways to cleanse and clear, removing winter’s heaviness.
Ha Kriya
This technique is one of my favorites. It peps up your morning releasing any Kapha stagnation and boosts your lymphatic system. It is also one of my go-tos when my heart needs a lift or I need to invigorate my sense of confidence.
Stand in Goddess Pose. Legs a little wider than the hips. Feet slightly turned out to keep the knees tracking in the same direction as the toes. Keep it relaxed. Just bend your knees enough to feel your legs engage and activate.
Extend your arms above the head as you inhale. Pull your arms back down to the body with a quick exhale, creating the sound “HA”. You may feel your naval center quickly pull in. Repeat this 8 times.
Reach your arms straight out in front of you as you inhale and once again quickly pull your elbow next to the ribs, creating the sound “HA”. Repeat this 8 times.
You’ll repeat this cycle once again. Reaching up 4 times with “HA”. Then out 4 times with “HA”.
Now, Reaching up 2 times with “HA”. Then out 2 times with “HA”
Then finally, repeat the cycle one last time alternating single reaches, up and then out for a total of 8.
Garshana/ Dry Brush your body
Its stimulating effect increases circulation and encourages lymphatic drainage of cellular waste. Bonus, it's a great way to remove any dry skin and rejuvenate the skin leaving a luster. You may follow it up with an oil massage for the body.
Use a body brush with soft natural bristles. You can do this just before showering.
Start at the extremities taking long strokes as you brush towards the heart.
Take time in places where the lymph nodes are clustered, the armpits and groin.
Use circular motions around the joints.
Move in a clockwise direction around the abdomen, lower right abdomen and upward, then across and above the navel and down around the left side. Follow the direction of your intestine.
Gently from the base of the neck, brush down to the heart.
Sweat, breathe, move. Repeat.
Sweating out the toxins helps to keep your lymphatic system clean. Moving the body keeps the system fine-tuned to free any accumulation of toxins and fatty deposits.
Settle onto the yoga mat for some deep diaphragmatic breathing. Enjoy the stretch and release of muscle contractions as you flow in your poses. Let this conscious connected movement of breath act as a pump for the system.
Whether you get bouncing on a mini trampoline, go for a run or spend some time in a sauna, sweating out the toxins help to keep your lymphatic system cleansed and purified.
Hop to some cardio in uplift yoga sculpt to get your heart rate up. This increases the blood and lymph flowing through the circulatory system and elevates your immunity.
What if you started to take all of these little actions in the direction of your immunity and wellness?
Build in some time to your schedule for breath and movement. Try dry brushing from head to toe before you shower. Power up your morning and mood with the Ha Kriya. You can begin to feel lighter and less sluggish physically, but also remove any heavy mental congestion that blocks your creativity. Just as your surroundings come to life for spring, you step into a fuller vitality. You are ready to go. Set up to thrive.
