The Cup Runneth Over - At Home Panchakarma

This is my version of an at home panchakarma that you can do at any time for a full body reset and detox, when you feel like you've really been through the ringer or as a monthly or weekly maintenance ritual. This eclipse season is also a great time to perhaps put a bit more focus on self care and sadhana (disciplines or practice), and dinacharya, our daily rituals. Spend a day dedicated to resetting and replenishing through these gentle processes, or 3 days for an even deeper cleanse. The heart must always pump to itself first so that it may nourish the rest of the body, as we must fill our cup so we are able to give. Out with the old, in with the new, as they say.

What is Panchakarma?

Panchakarma is a cleansing and detoxification of the entire being through techniques based on Ayurvedic sciences. Traditional purification processes often involve oil treatments, massage, herbal therapies and a specific cleansing diet. A full and more intensive Panchakarma can be carried out over several days by professional ayurvedic healers and is very powerful, but a lot of these practices and elements can also be done on your own at home as a indispensable part of your wellness routines.

Many of these practices may also be part of your daily Sadhana, but are done in cohesion with each other and with great intention during a designated detox regimen. It is ideal to do when you have a full day to dedicate or little else going on to completely immerse yourself in the purification processes. Detoxification and returning to homeostasis can actually be quite taxing as there is a lot of energy being moved and physiological changes, so be gentle with yourself always listen to your body, and enjoy the process!

From Morning to Night

1. Wake up. Scrape tongue thoroughly and follow with oil pulling for 15 minutes. If you know your dosha, use oil for your constitution or coconut oil.

2. Drink a glass of warm water with lemon.

3. Meditate 30 minutes, followed by a gentle yoga practice.

4. Brew an herbal tea of fresh ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch nutmeg. Sip slowly.

5. Using a natural bristled body brush, dry brush your entire body starting with the feet. Brush toward the heart. Follow with a warm shower.

6. Enjoy a nourishing warm breakfast of Kitchari. Recipe below.

7. Read or relax in nature if it is available to you. Play some calming music or listen to the sounds of nature.

8. Brew a tea of tulsi and rose petal.

9. Do a late afternoon or evening gentle yoga routine.

10. Do a self massage of the entire body using oil, known as Abhyanga. Use oil for your dosha or almond oil. Warm oil between hands and massage deeply and thoroughly into every inch of the body. As you massage, play and sing a mantra or silently repeat Sat Nam as you pay close attention to each part, infusing your whole being with love and clearing away any energetic cobwebs. Take as long as you need. This process can be very freeing but also sometimes uncomfortable or surprisingly painful as energies that have been stuck in our bodies come to the surface. Be gentle with yourself. Allow the chanting of mantra to help channel and transmute these energies, or tears to flow freely. Take your time.

11. Run shower hot and sit close to but not quite in the water. Drop some eucalyptus, lavender or clary sage oil into the shower and allow the steam to permeate your senses and airways. Splash a little water on yourself as you continue mantra or chant Sat Nam, or visualize and feel your entire being coming back into perfect balance, toxins leaving, but don't wash off oil. Gently pat yourself dry when finished and change into comfortable loose clothing.

12. Enjoy another meal of Kitchari for dinner. If you are finding yourself unsatiated try adding a handful of nuts.

13. Rest or just relax, read if you'd like or take a gentle walk. It is also a good time to do some reflective journaling or drawing. Notice what arises without judgement and record some notes as you continue to allow the energies to shift in your body, mind and field.

14. Meditate 30 minutes.

15. Brew an herbal tea of tulsi and rose again if you'd like or other gentle herbal tea such as chamomile.

16. Ensure all lights, phone or internet signals and external sound and light sources are turned off and prepare for sleep, try to be in bed asleep by sundown or 10pm.

As always, listen to yourself and do what feels best, we never need to cause harm to ourselves for the sake of a yoga practice or regime.

Below is a very simple Kitchari recipe that you can adapt to suit your tastes and personal constitution (dosha), but the amazing thing about this Kitchari is that it is balancing for all. There are tons of recipes and more info on this online as well as numerous quizzes to determine your dominant dosha.

Ingredients:

Moong Dal

Basmati Rice

Spice Blend - 1 tsp cumin, turmeric, ginger, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, salt, pepper (I also like to add a tsp of curry blend with cardamom to soothe vata or coriander to soothe pitta)

Ghee

Lime Juice

Cilantro

Soak rice and lentils. Heat spices on low with ghee and add rice and lentils, cook thoroughly. You can also add some vegetables like chopped carrot. Serve with a spoon of ghee , chopped cilantro and squeeze of lime.