Petra Lindros explains for us why nurturing our health is key to wealth and some top tips to help us all achieve that goal through a detoxification of mind and body

Having recently returned to Marbella from my annual retreat to Sri Lanka I wanted to focus my monthly blog on some real core basics of wellness and why it is so vital to nurture our bodies and minds in the right way. Fortunately, for those of us who live or are able to visit Marbella, we have absolutely everything we need on our doorsteps to live long, healthy and wealthy lives.

According to the Eastern way to look at health, the natural state of the body is strong and healthy. They claim that originally we are full of energy, have vibrant skin, a brilliant digestion, a fast healing response, healthy needs and that we are full of enthusiasm.

Up until 20 years old we are bursting with energy and abundance. Very little is needed to function, even though we might not offer the body the right amount of food or sleep. From ages 20 to 60 we enter a phase where repair and rejuvenation are more difficult, and from age 60 onwards, if we have not looked after ourselves, we creak all the way to the end of the road.  We are finally coming to understand that the physical state of the body also is intimately connected with the state of the mind and heart.

Fortunately, nowadays western and eastern medicine agree that most of the time the root of discomfort and disease are toxins, that are either self-created or from the environment around us. I think of toxins as anything that does not serve my life anymore, but is still “hanging around”. It may be yesterday’s poorly digested dinner, last week’s argument, last year’s shock or the last decade’s disappointment.
It is in toxic material that disease or conditions thrive. Toxins can lead to inflammation, infection, growth and blockages as well as clouded thinking.

The top toxins would include:

• Industrial pollutants
• Pharmaceutical drugs
• Agricultural pesticides and insecticides
• Intensively farmed meats
• Refined sugar, alcohol and smoking
• Stress, loneliness and depression

The very good news is that the natural response of the body is to heal itself no matter what, but we do need to help it on the way. It is strongly recommended to detoxify since the mechanism of the body becomes compromised due to age, diet and other environmental factors. Detoxification can be defined as a process where toxic substances get eliminated from your system so a healthy balance is found.
We can detox intensely for 1-7 days, or simply give the digestive system a break once a week or once a month. During that time you add more nutrients to assist the body’s cleansing, while at the same time remove the substances that are clogging the body’s energy lines.

Some foods, drinks and tips that will assist your body to clean and rejuvenate cells and organs are:

• Green tea (strengthen the immune system)
• Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, kale, cabbage and anti-cancer vegetables)
• Garlic (preventing cell damage)
• Onions, celery, apples and turmeric (anti-inflammatory)
• Grapes and any berries (reverse any cellular damage)
• Hot Water (a wonderful medicine to strengthen digestion)
• Positive thinking (being grateful, hopeful, helpful and peaceful)

Many of the wonderful organic and health focused cafés in Marbella such as Dezentral, OWL or Phosh Food will be able to help you by preparing juices including many of the right detox ingredients!

It is also important to note that breathing cleanses the body. If detoxing is not for you, you may want to simply focus on taking deep breaths. It is said that 60-70% of the toxins in our body leave through the lungs via exhalation and the other 30-40% leave through urine, faeces, and skin...

Our body is our temple, and we are good at pampering the body and face every day, all year long. However, because we cannot scrub our inner body we need to use the above skills in order to keep our tissues, organs and mind healthy.

ABOUT PETRA
Petra is a Yoga Alliance certified Hatha and Raja Yoga teacher and has been teaching since 2005. Her trademark is an energizing workout, which combines graceful movements with powerful breathing and a focused gaze. Working with all students abilities, she helps to create a personal yoga program suited to each individual's needs whether they are living or travelling to Marbella.
If you would like to arrange a consultation or talk with Petra find her details on her page here /wellness/yoga-flow-with-petra