How to get ready for your Ayurvedic cleanse

The first time I tried an Ayurvedic cleanse (or any kind of cleanse, for that matter) I was 23 and had just come home from spending six months traveling in Europe. My digestion was a wreck from all the travel, and from subsisting mainly off various forms of bread products. When I came home I met with an Ayurvedic doctor for the first time, who suggested a Vata-balancing diet — this means lots of warm, moist, cooked foods!

I told her I wanted to do a cleanse, and she handed me a piece of paper with a recipe for kitchari (an Indian porridge made from rice and mung beans), and told me to eat only this food for three days or up to one week. I don’t remember her giving me much instruction other than that. She probably told me to get some extra rest during the cleanse, which I probably didn’t do. But I fondly remember my first experience making kitchari, sauteing cumin and mustard seeds in ghee, blending cilantro and shredded coconut, mixing it all into the warm yellow mush of rice and mung beans…

I did the cleanse for the minimum suggested length of three days, after which I was so ready to eat something other than kitchari. But my digestion had definitely improved. No more painful stomach cramps that often had me doubled over in misery! I also liked the freshness I felt in my body, and noticed I had quickly dropped a few pounds. So I began to practice the kitchari cleanse two times a year, and always looked forward to it.

Besides eating kitchari, I didn’t change my lifestyle much during a cleanse. I remember packing my kitchari in containers to take to class when I was in college, eating it cold in the car between school and work, still rushing around just as much as usual. It wasn’t until I began formally studying Ayurveda that I really started to understand the full potential of a cleanse. I began to see my cleanses as more of a personal retreat, a time to slow down, turn inward, and check in on my priorities.

The difference from my early experiences with cleansing to the way I do things now is huge! These days I plan my cleanses far in advance. There are things I want to consider so that I can make the most of the experience and get the full benefits. Most importantly, I see it not only as something I do to relieve digestive issues, lose weight or boost immunity. The emotional and spiritual aspects of a cleanse have become just as important.

If you’ve never practiced an Ayurvedic cleanse before, there are some things you should consider before jumping it. You’ll want to create space for your cleanse, rather than trying to fit it into your existing routine. Timing, preparation, and intention are all important elements to think about. So if you’re considering doing a cleanse – read this first!

Choose the right time

There are several factors to think about as far as the timing of your cleanse:

Season/weather

The recommended time to practice a cleanse is in the spring or fall, as close as possible to the equinox. When practiced at these times of seasonal transition, a cleanse can help prevent you from common illnesses that often come in the spring and fall. It is also a great way to prepare your body to switch to a new way of eating as the season shifts. For example, in the fall we are switching from a lighter, summer diet to warm, cooked, and slightly heavier winter foods.

To choose the best time, consider the weather where you live. It’s best to do a cleanse when the weather is beginning to shift, but is not extreme. For a fall cleanse, choose a time when the nights are starting to get colder but are not yet freezing. Cleansing when the weather is very hot or very cold is not recommended! Note that while the Equinox is a good marker, the best time may be earlier or later depending on your climate.

Moon cycle/menstrual cycle

If you are someone who has a menstrual cycle, there are benefits to cleansing at specific times in your cycle. The most traditional approach is to cleanse after ovulation, which happens mid-cycle. The week or two before your period is seen as a natural time of cleansing as the body prepares to release during menstruation. However, many women feel at their best in the earlier half of their cycle. If this is the case, you may choose to do your cleanse at a time when your energy is naturally high and you have the most strength. If you tend to get bad PMS symptoms later in your cycle, a cleanse may make that worse. It’s generally not recommended to cleanse while menstruating, because it can be depleting for the body.

If you don’t have a menstrual cycle, you can think about lining up your cleanse with the moon! The new moon is a powerful time to set intentions and try new things, so that can be a good time to start. The full moon also has its own energy, and is a good time to release and let go. There’s no strict rules about which to choose, but I like using the energy of the full or new moon to help plan my cleanse.

Personal schedule

This is by far the most important thing to consider when planning you cleanse! Choose a time when you can rest and relax as much as possible. This means a time with no big work deadlines, no parties, holidays or weddings, no travel plans. You don’t have to completely shut down your life while cleansing, but it’s best to do the minimum. You can still work, take care of your family, and tend to your daily needs. But try not to schedule any extra social commitments. Keep your evenings free to do some extra self-care and get to bed a little earlier than usual.

Implement a successful preparation phase

You don’t want to go straight from your normal diet to your cleanse diet. A preparation phase is helpful to prepare the body for a new way of eating and get the most from the process. Here are some tips for planning a successful preparation phase.

Decide how long. I recommend anywhere from four to seven days. Depending on how much you feel you need to “clean up” your diet, you may want to aim for a longer period.

Plan what to cut out. Some common suggestions are meat, wheat, dairy, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. If any of these are a big part of your routine, try to cut back in a way that works for you. I always recommend stating your goal before you start! It’s easy to slip up, so it’s helpful to have a clear intention for yourself of what you are cutting out.

Taper off the harder things. Caffeine, for example, can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if you stop cold turkey. I’d recommend switching from coffee to green tea and slowly lowering your caffeine intake over the course of the week. Then you may be ready to go into your cleanse caffeine-free!

Plan your meals! Meal prep will help you out so much when you’re trying to make changes to your diet. If you find yourself starving at the end of the day with no plan for dinner, it’s all too easy to order a pizza or grab the first thing you can find in your cupboard. Try to plan a few days worth of healthy meals, with an emphasis on veggies! Think a big salad with quinoa, rice with steamed veggies, or a baked sweet potato topped with beans and sauteed greens.

Plan your mini-retreat

Now that you’ve picked the best time and prepared your body, you can plan your mini-retreat to set yourself up for a blissful cleanse experience!

Block off your calendar for at least three days. You may have obligations you can’t avoid, but do what you can. Let your family and friends know that you will be practicing a cleanse and unplugging for a few days. I highly recommend using this time to do a digital detox as well! That means no social media, email, Netflix, etc. Of course, practice in a way that is sustainable for you.

Plan some extra self-care. During the cleanse is a great time to practice gentle yoga, self massage, baths, etc. If you can get away to a spa, it would actually be a lovely time to get a professional massage, sit in a sauna or a steam room. Choose at least one loving act of self-care that you can plan for yourself during the cleanse.

Create an altar or meditation space. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy – it can just be a candle and your journal set on your nightstand. I also love creating mini “kitchen altars” with candles, flowers or spices in pretty containers. This is a nice way to bring an element of the sacred into your life during the cleanse. Whenever you see your altar you will be reminded of your intention, and that you are doing something powerful for yourself.

Design your morning and evening ritual. Again, keep it simple! A morning prayer, lighting a candle, or writing in a journal is a great place to start. In the evening, a mediation, breathing practice or relaxing bath is a great way to wind down. It doesn’t matter what you include in your ritual, but planning something and sticking to it will create a nurturing container for your days of cleansing.

Set your intention

Lastly, setting a personal intention for your cleanse will truly deepen your experience and will help you stay committed if challenges arise. Let this guide inspire you to create an intention-setting ritual before your cleanse.

Before you begin the cleanse, set aside 15 minutes to get clear on your intention. Sit at your altar space, light a candle, and have a journal handy.

Ask yourself why you felt called to go through this experience. Perhaps there is a clear physical goal, such as addressing digestive issues. Maybe your reason is more spiritual. Whatever your reason is, imagine the outcome you would love to get from your cleanse.

Take a few minutes to sit with your eyes closed and allow yourself to feel this outcome, as if it’s already happened. Imagine yourself feeling clear, healthy and peaceful at the end of the cleanse. Tapping into the feeling state that you want to reach is a powerful way to change your own vibration to align with that goal.

After getting clear on your intention and feeling it in your body, take a few minutes to write down notes from the experience. If you feel discouraged or lost at any point during your cleanse, come back to what you wrote. Remember your reason for doing the cleanse, and the state you are working toward. Let this be your guide!

Remember, doing a cleanse isn’t about getting everything perfect. My own experience with cleansing has changed over the past 8 years as I’ve continued to practice, and yours will too. But the better you can set yourself up before your cleanse, the more potential you’ll have for an enjoyable and powerful experience!

To download my free Fall Cleanse shopping list and recipe guide, click here!