Detoxify.  Cleanse.  Purify.  Restore.

These trendy words are all over the fitness and wellness industry, and never more so than when people are primed to get their New Year’s resolutions in order in less than a week.

So what on Earth do they all mean?  Why are some of the products ridiculously expensive?  And why should you want to “detox” anyway?  How can a girl on a budget who of course craves the clear skin, radiant eyes, and flat abs cleansing promises do it cheaply but safely?

I’m here to help.  Let me preface by saying that you should ALWAYS be in good health confirmed by a medical doctor before beginning any sort of cleanse.  This is especially important if you have any pre-existing conditions or if you are on any medications as some natural herbs in cleansing products can interact with medical drugs.  So get checked first!

Now, as the holiday drinks and cookies begin to pile on, a New Year’s cleanse can sound very appealing.  Think long and hard about how far you want to go.  You always want to set a goal that is reasonable for you, your occupation, and your prior experience with detoxifying routines.  Any goal, even if its just to give up your beloved diet soda (yes, personal experience with that one… sigh…) or if it’s to go whole-hog vegan (pardon the irony), is a great goal.  Do it for you and no one else.

For the budget diva, at-home kits versus spa treatments are the way to go (but be on the look for New Year’s specials in the Red Eye and such… spas have really suffered in the recession and prices are LOW!). Peruse your local Whole Foods (or try Life Spring on Clark & Belmont, a great family-owned place with good prices) and compare prices and ingredients if you are looking to do an actual cleanse.  Many of these kits are glorified laxatives, so be aware of that, and many have the same exact ingredients but range in price.  You could be better off just filling your fridge with fresh produce, Kombucha, and buying some organic teas on your own.  Another but pricier option could be enlisting the help of a place like Karyn’s Inner Beauty Center in Lincoln Park, a sort of go-between where you do thing on your own but with support.

I’m a true believer of Yoga as a great detoxifier.  Its twisting & compressing poses give all of your systems a good squeeze to keep things moving, literally.  This is ESPECIALLY important for your lymphatic (read: immune) system which has no pump and relies on body movement to keep things going & draining.  I’m running my 2nd annual Detoxification Yoga series at Infuse Yoga Spa this year beginning Sunday, January 3rd, from 10am -12 noon for 6 weeks.  Last year an amazing group of women signed up and this year the series is already almost full with returning clients and customers who heard of the amazing comraderie and results.  Think of it like Detox for Dummies… each week is a themed topic (i.e. Nutrition) and a complimenting Yoga practice with discussion, fruit, teas and handouts after.

Whatever way you go, cleaning your system by treating your body right is always a great thing to do after the holidays.  Your skin, eyes, energy levels, and mood will thank you for it.

Now that’s hot.

Yours in Fitness,

Christy

christylyonsyoga@gmail.com
www.christylyonsyoga.com

As the new Get Hot columnist, let me tell you that I firsthand understand how expensive keeping fit, kicking butt, and getting zen with Yoga or Pilates can be. I’ve been teaching Yoga for over 2 years now at big-name gyms, corporate private classes, and at Yoga studios…and you’re right, it’s expensive (and no, teachers don’t see that cash)! My love affair with fitness combined with my lifestyle as a PoorLittleRichGirl have led me here and I hope that my column can help you have the best of both worlds.